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The Carolina Panthers will welcome the Minnesota Vikings for their Week 3 matchup at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday.
According to OddsShark, the Panthers are a seven-point home favorite over the Vikings. The over-under is set at 43. The computer expects Carolina to be victorious 23.4-15.4. The computer is expecting the Panthers to cover and under on the point total.
The Vikings had already lost their starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in the preseason, who tore his ACL. Now, they’re without All-pro running back Adrian Peterson, who has to undergo knee surgery.
Sam Bradford is coming off a solid performance against Green Bay in which he acquired 286 passing yards, and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Adam Thielen and tight end Kyle Rudolph combined for 15 receptions. However, their ground game has struggled even with Peterson.
Carolina had a tough season opener against the Denver Broncos, but rebounded last week with a dominant 46-point win against San Francisco.
The Panthers are also dealing with injuries to their starting running back, Jonathan Stewart who is sidelined by a hamstring injury. Cameron Artis-Payne is expected to start in his place.
Dual-threat quarterback Cam Newton has the ability to lead a balanced attack. He’s amassed 547 passing yards, and 91 rushing yards so far in 2016. Newton is averaging 5.4 yards per carry, which will pose a challenge for Minnesota.
The Vikings will continue to lean heavily on a defense that ranks fifth in total defense and sixth against the run.
This match-up will feature two of the NFL’s top 10 defenses. Ultimately, the game will come down to who gets better play from their quarterback. Although Minnesota’s defense has been excellent in their 2-0 start, it won’t be enough to topple the reigning NFC champions on the road.
Heavy’s Pick: Carolina Panthers 23, Minnesota Vikings 17