PANTHERS:

 

• QB Cam Newton
  • Finished with a 47.6 passer rating, the 4th-worst of his career.
  • Is tied with Cincinnati’s Andy Dalton for most sacks this season (12). Last year, Newton didn’t take his 12th sack until Week Eight against the Colts.
  • Is halfway toward his interception total from the 2015 regular season, when he didn’t throw his 5th pick until Week Seven against the Eagles.
  • Rushed for his 45th career touchdown. He’s now tied with Vikings RB Adrian Peterson for the second-most rushing scores since 2011. Retired Seattle RB Marshawn Lynch leads that list with 51.

 

• WR Kelvin Benjamin
  • Had no receptions in a game for the first time since he was shut out for Florida State in a game against South Florida on 9/29/12.
  • Was targeted just once. His previous career low was 5 (twice).

 

• WR Devin Funchess finished without a reception for the third time in his career (at TB, 10/4/15; at ATL, 12/27/15).

 

• WR Philly Brown had his most receptions (4) in a regular-season game since he had 7 against the Steelers on 9/21/14.

 

 

• TE Ed Dickson had his first reception since the Panthers’ Divisional Round win over the Seahawks on 1/17/16.

 

• DE Lavar Edwards picked up the first sack of his 4-year career.

 

• LB Thomas Davis had double-digits tackles (10) for the first time since he had 13 against the Eagles on 10/25/15.

 

• K Graham Gano (456) passed WR Steve Smith (454) for second-most points scored in franchise history. K John Kasay (1,482) is the Panthers’ all-time leading scorer.

 

VIKINGS:

 

• QB Sam Bradford won for the first time in three starts at Bank of America Stadium.

 

• WR Stefon Diggs, who was averaging a league-best 142.5 receiving yards, was held to 40 yards.

 

• TE Kyle Rudolph now has a touchdown catch in each of his last three games against the Panthers.

 

• DE Everson Griffen had 3 sacks for the first time since he had 3 against the Bills on 10/19/14.

 

• LB Eric Kendricks had a career-high 12 tackles.

 

• CB Captain Munnerlyn had 9 tackles, his most since he had that many for the Panthers against the Saints in an NFC South-clinching win on 12/22/13.