Panthers at Vikings live game updates: Minnesota rallies to beat Panthers in wild finish

For an analysis of the Panthers’ 28-27 loss to the Vikings, we have you covered here.

The Carolina Panthers snapped their five-game losing streak last Sunday with a rare shutout, blanking the Detroit Lions, 20-0.

Winning back-to-back games won’t be easy today in Minnesota. Even though the Vikings are sitting a half game above the Lions in the NFC North cellar at 4-6, they still tout one of the NFL’s most potent offenses which could give the Panthers (4-7) fits.

The Observer’s Jonathan M. Alexander is at U.S. Bank Stadium today covering Panthers-Vikings game and our crew will have live coverage here throughout the afternoon, along with plenty of analysis and commentary after.

The Minnesota Vikings stole one from the Carolina Panthers Sunday.

On a day when Carolina defensive back Jeremy Chinn tied a 72-year-old NFL record and the Panthers forced three turnovers, including one with less than three minutes to play, the Vikings rallied for a 28-27 win.

Carolina (4-8) got its final turnover with 2:10 to play. The Panthers punted from their 49. Vikings receiver Chad Beebe called fair catch at the Vikings 14, but the ball bounced off his chest and Carolina’s Myles Hartsfield recovered at the Vikings 9.

Minnesota’s defense, however, stood up and forced a field goal attempt. So when Slye made a short kick, Carolina led 27-21 -- instead of scoring a put-away touchdown -- with 1:54 to play.

Next, Vikings QB Kirk Cousins drove the Vikings down the field, eventually hitting Beebe with his first NFL touchdown with 46 seconds to play. Beebe made up for his gaffe, catching three passes on the drive, including the game-winner.

Carolina got into position to steal the game, after a long pass from Teddy Bridgewater to Curtis Samuel, but Joey Slye missed from 54 yards at the buzzer. Slye hooked the ball to the left.

Earlier Sunday, Carolina was down 10-7 at halftime before Chinn, a promising rookie, made the two biggest plays of his young career.

Within a space of 10 seconds, Chinn scooped up a Kirk Cousins fumble and caught a ball stripped from Dalvin Cook. He ran free to the end zone both times. In a blink, Carolina jumped ahead 21-10 early in the third quarter.

That was the first time in 72 years that an NFL player had two fumble returns for a touchdown in the same game.

The Vikings kept fighting, though, and after Kirk Cousins hit Justin Jefferson with a 10-yard pass — their second TD hookup of the game — Minnesota converted a 2-point conversion and was down 24-21 with less than six minutes to play.

That set up the final frenetic finish.

▪ For the game, Bridgewater -- who appeared to injure his left arm on the play before Slye’s kick -- finished completing 19-of-36 passes for 267 yards and a touchdown. He had a red zone interception in the first half.

Mike Davis ran 15 times for 55 yards.

Cousins completed 34-of-45 passs for 307 yards and three touchdowns for the VIkings, who didn’t get a big performance from star running back Dalvin Cook (18 carries, 58 yards)

CHAD BEEBE TD, VIKINGS 28, PANTHERS 27

0:46, Fourth Quarter: Beebe caught a 12-yard touchdown from Kirk Cousins, completing a hurry-up 75-yard drive. Just earlier, Beebe’s muffed punt and fumble gave Carolina the ball inside the Vikings 10. Carolina could only get a field goal on that drive.

Beebe caught three passes on the drive and scored his first NFL TD.

JOEY SLYE FIELD GOAL, PANTHERS 27, VIKINGS 21

1:54, Fourth Quarter: Joey Slye made a 21-yard field goal after the Vikings prevented the Panthers from scoring after a turnover inside the 10.

Panthers receiver DJ Moore hurt

With 1:54 remaning, Moore tried to reach behind himself to catch a touchdown pass from Teddy Bridgewater and landed awkward. He landed on his left leg but grabbed his right calf and ankle area when he was on the ground.

Moore was later officially listed with an ankle injury.

JUSTIN JEFFERSON TD: PANTHERS 24, VIKINGS 21

5:31, Fourth Quarter: Jefferson ran an inside out move on Troy Pride, and Kirk Cousins hit him with a 10-yard scoring pass. It was the duo’s second of the game.

Minnesota also converted a two-point conversion, when Cousins faked a handoff to Dalvin Cook to hit Bisi Johnson in the end zone.

JOEY SLYE FG: PANTHERS 24, VIKINGS 13

The Panthers put together a nice putaway drive after Minnesota got within a field goal. DJ Moore caught a key third down pass from Bridgewater, and later Bridgewater found Robby Anderson for a pretty long gain.

That pass got Carolina to the Vikings 31. On third and 10, Bridgewater hit Samuel for a 9-yard gain.

On fourth and 1 with 11:51 to play, ahead 21-13, Carolina tried to draw the Vikings offside. The attempt failed and Joey Slye’s 40-yard field goal -- which just snuck inside the right upright -- gave the Panthers a two-score lead.

DAN BAILEY FG, PANTHERS 21, VIKINGS 13

14:49, Fourth Quarter: The Vikings drove down the field after their blocked field goal, even converting a third and 13 inside the Panthers 40. But near the goal line the Panthers defense stiffened. Dan Bailey’s kick got the Vikings within one score.

Panthers field goal blocked

The Vikings got a big stop in the red zone, preventing the Panthers from taking a two-touchdown lead. First, Minnesota stopped Carolina quarterback Teddy Bridgewater from scrambling for a first down. Next, Vikings defensive end DJ Wonnum blocked Joey Slye’s 28-yard field goal attempt late in the third quarter. Carolina leads 21-10.

JEREMY CHINN TD, PANTHERS 21, VIKINGS 10

13:51, Third Quarter: Chinn scored for the second time in 10 seconds.

Vikings running back Dalvin Cook was stood up in the pile, on a rushing attempt, and the ball was pulled away from him. Chinn caught it in the air and took off running. It has been more than 70 years since an NFL defensive player had two fumble returns for a touchdown in the same game.

JEREMY CHINN TD: PANTHERS 14, VIKINGS 10

14:01, Third Quarter: On third and 8 at his 27, Vikings QB Kirk Cousins dropped back to pass, but Carolina defensive lineman Zach Kerr bull rushed Vikings center Brett Jones and ran into and over Cousins, who lost the ball. Chinn picked it up at the 17 and ran in the end zone. Chinn celebrated his first NFL touchdown by dunking the ball over the goal post.

HALFTIME: VIKINGS 10, PANTHERS 7

The Panthers have been to move the ball on the Vikings in the first half, but haven’t been able to score much against a team that allows more than 30 points per game at home.

A Teddy Bridgewater red zone interception didn’t help either.

At halftime, the Panthers have rushed for 76 yards on 16 carries. Bridgewater has completed 7-of-15 passes for 96 yards.

For Minnesota, Kirk Cousins is 13-of-18 for 84 yards and the Panthers have slowed Vikings star Dalvin Cook, one of the league’s best running backs. Cook has 35 yards on 11 carries.

JEREMY CHINN TD: PANTHERS 14, VIKINGS 10

14:01, Third Quarter: On third and 8 at his 27, Vikings QB Kirk Cousins dropped back to pass, but Carolina defensive lineman Zach Kerr bull rushed Vikings center Brett Jones and ran into and over Cousins, who lost the ball. Chinn picked it up at the 17 and ran in the end zone. Chinn celebrated his first NFL touchdown by dunking the ball over the goal post.

DAN BAILEY FIELD GOAL: VIKINGS 10, PANTHERS 7

0:00, Second Quarter: The Vikings cost themselves with a false start and delay of game on the final drive of the half, ending with a 53-yard field goal from Dan Bailey.

ROBBY ANDERSON TD: PANTHERS 7, VIKINGS 7

1:52, Second Quarter: On third and 11 at the Vikings 41, Minnesota -- which has allowed 33 points per game at home -- tried to blitz Teddy Bridgewater. That left one of Carolina’s fastest players, receiver Robby Anderson, running free with Ifeadi Odenigbo, a 6-3, 258-pound Vikings defensive end. Anderson ran away from Odenigbo and Bridgewater hit Anderson, moving towards the right sideline, with an accurate pass before the Vikings pass rush could get home.

Anderson ran untouched to the end zone.

Bridgewater made up for missing DJ Moore on what could’ve been a long play-action pass score on the same drive.

Carolina’s scoring drive was 11 plays, 81 yards. Bridgewater was 5-for-6 for 71 yards on the drive, which included a fourth and 1 Mike Davis run near midfield.

Panthers drive stalls in red zone with turnover

On second and 14 in the red zone, the Panthers tried a Mike Davis run up the middle. On third and 11 at the Vikings 12, Bridgewater threw an interception looking for Davis across the middle. Eric Kendricks got his third pick of he season.

JUSTIN JEFFERSON TD: VIKINGS 7, PANTHERS 0

5:34, First Quarter: On third and 8 at the Panthers 12, Jefferson ran a slant route in front of Panthers defensive back Rasul Douglas and caught a rather easy scoring pass from QB Kirk Cousins. It was Jefferson’s fifth touchdown catch of his rookie year.

Christian McCaffrey is still injured and won’t play vs. Vikings

Panthers coach Matt Rhule said Friday that he was pessimistic that Christian McCaffrey would be able to play in Minnesota but that the All-Pro running back would still make the trip this weekend. Plans changed Saturday when McCaffrey was officially ruled out and did not travel to Minneapolis.

A full list of inactive players is available here.

Teddy Bridgewater is returning to Minnesota

For the first time as a starting quarterback, the Panthers’ Teddy Bridgewater will face the team that drafted him 32nd overall in 2014. Bridgewater was selected by the Vikings to be the face of their franchise and was well on his way until a devastating knee injury sidetracked his career in the 2016 preseason.

What channel is the Vikings-Panthers game on and how do I stream it?

Today’s 1 p.m. kickoff between Vikings and Panthers at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis will be broadcast on FOX. You can stream the game on FoxSports.com by logging in through your cable or satellite provider. It’s also available on YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV with a valid subscription.

If you are unable to view the game, we will provide live updates and video and photo highlights on this page.