Editor: Joe Bryant. Game Recap Contributors: Mike Anderson, Michael Brown, Chris Burtt, J.D. Caldwell, David Dodds, Jim Enochs, Joel Faulhaber, Michael Flynn, Kevin Goldblum, Clayton Gray, Bob Harris, Fred Hebert, Jesse Hilsenrad, Drew Kendall, Jeff Lewis, Joey Matusek, Justin Oliver, Steve Prosapio, David Shick, Cody Smith, Scott Smith, Jeffrey Stout. Carolina 21 at Minnesota 14 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Carolina Panthers: RB Lamar Smith dominated the game. He pounded out 5-6 yard runs between the tackles to control the clock in the first half, and ran over the Minnesota defense for a pair of TD runs in the fourth quarter. He finished runs especially well, regularly dragging the tackler for an extra yard or two. Doesn't always look pretty, but you can't argue with the results. WRs Muhsin Muhammad left the game with a hamstring injury in the third quarter. He was hurt on a simple cut on a post pattern, but actually caught a pass on the play for a 24-yard gain. He was seen on the sidelines in the fourth quarter, but did not re-enter the game. WR Steve Smith became the primary receivers when Muhammad left the game, utilizing his blazing speed for 81 yards and a TD. His best play came on a fantastic sliding catch in coverage for a 32-yard gain, setting up the go-ahead TD. The Carolina pass rush produced five sacks (three by Michael Rucker), and the constant pressure clearly rattled Daunte Culpepper, who threw four Interceptions and fumbled twice. Minnesota Vikings: The "Randy Ratio" fell off considerably this week The Vikings called 39 pass plays (including plays that resulted in penalties, scrambles, sacks, and fumbles). WR Randy Moss was targeted just 11 times as a receiver for a "Randy Ratio" of just 28.2 percent. Moss was frustrated all day, never caught a pass downfield (just four catches for 16 yards), pouted, and drew at least one verbal tirade from Culpepper on the sidelines. You've probably seen the highlight but Culpepper was scary mad. (more in the "ought to know" section). QB Daunte Culpepper had his worst game of a shaky season so far, and would have had his worst game as a pro if it weren't for a 7-for-7 drive in the fourth quarter capped with his only TD pass. He never had any rhythm or connection with his receivers. Culpepper threw four interceptions, fumbled twice, and was also to blame for a botched handoff to Bennett. No RB ran the ball well. Michael Bennett had just 9 carries for 23 yards, Moe Williams 4 for 16, Doug Chapman 1 for 2. TE Bryon Chamberlain was a late scratch and did not play. Chamberlain's absence, coupled with the injury of TE Jim Kleinsasser, hurt the offense considerably. The Vikings missed Chamberlain as a bailout option when Moss was covered, and missed Kleinsasser's blocking in both the running and passing game. WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW Carolina Panthers QB: Rodney Peete managed the game OK, but was far from a standout. He was rarely accurate on passes more than five yards, despite often having open receivers. Peete would lock on to the primary read on pass plays, rarely looking to secondary receivers. He threw two interceptions into double coverage. Carolina nearly abandoned the passing game after taking the lead early in the fourth quarter (11 runs, 1 complete pass, 1 incomplete pass, 1 sack in the last 13:30). RB: Lamar Smith was the most effective player on the field Sunday, wearing down the Vikings defense in the first half, and running over them for two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Smith had 30 carries on the day, and was not brought down by the first tackler on about 28 of them. Most of Smith's runs were inside the tackles, with Smith picking a hole, hitting it hard, and finishing the run strong for a 5-6 yard gain. Smith was the #1 option in the fourth quarter, and in the red zone. WR: Muhsin Muhammad was the go-to receiver before leaving the game in the third quarter with a hamstring injury. He had little trouble getting open against the Minnesota zone pass defense. In the second quarter, Muhammad was open for a sure TD pass that was broken up on a great leaping effort by Willie Offord. Muhammad got hurt making a simple cut on a post pattern, and actually caught a pass for a 25-yard gain on the play before leaving the game for good. Steve Smith became Peete's favorite target after Muhammad left the game. He chalked up 81 yards and a TD on the day (leading the team), and had at least a 20-yard gain lost on a play where he was wide open with running room, but Peete threw behind him incomplete. Smith was wide open across the middle for his TD catch. His best play came on a fantastic sliding catch with a man right on him for a 32-yard gain, setting up the go-ahead TD. Isaac Byrd went unnoticed until converting a 3rd-and-17 with a 19-yard reception in the fourth quarter, his only catch of the day. TE: Wesley Walls caught four passes for 36 yards, but spent much of the game blocking. He was not a factor in the red zone offense. Pass Defense: Carolina's pass rush was impressive, and clearly rattled Culpepper. DE Michael Rucker finished with three sacks, almost always beating LT Lewis Kelly one-on-one. Carolina intercepted four passes (three by FS Deon Grant), largely the result of bad decisions and poor throws by Culpepper. LB Mark Fields hounded the RBs and TE on short passes, and forced a fumble. Rush Defense: did not give up a big gain all day. Minnesota abandoned the running game in the fourth quarter. Special Teams: K Jon Hilbert filled in for John Kasay (hernia surgery), and missed both field goals attempted (46 and 39 yards, both wide left). In dome conditions, both kicks were makeable. /**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/** Minnesota Vikings QB: Daunte Culpepper had his worst game of a shaky season so far, and would have had his worst game as a pro if it weren't for a 7-for-7 drive in the fourth quarter capped with his only TD pass. He never had any rhythm or connection with his receivers. Culpepper threw four interceptions - one into double coverage down the sideline, one bad overthrow that had no chance (Moss quit on the play, but the ball was an INT all the way), one high ball poorly thrown, (Moss might have broken it up if he jumped for it with two hands instead of one - Culpepper blew up at Moss on the sidelines after the play), and a Hail Mary on the last play of the game. Culpepper also fumbled twice - once on a sack where the ball popped loose, and once on a scramble where he dropped the ball untouched. He was also to blame for a botched handoff to Bennett. RB: Michael Bennett had his third poor running game in three weeks, but did score his first rushing TD of the season (up the middle from the 1), and his nine carries more than doubled Moe Williams's workload. Bennett caught three passes, including a 24-yard gain on a screen. Bennett also lost a fumble on another pass play, on a great strip by Mark Fields. Moe Williams was not as involved in the offense as in the previous two games - just four rushes for 16 yards. He fumbled early in the game, and head coach Mike Tice seemed reluctant to go back to him. Williams caught for passes for 66 yards, but 36 of those came on a broken play where Williams blew his blocking assignment and Culpepper found him in the flat as he was going down. Williams did have a near TD with a great red zone run fighting to get the ball down to the 1 that set up Michael Bennett's TD. WR: Randy Moss never caught a downfield pass (4 catches for only 16 yards), and was clearly frustrated. He was targeted 11 times in 39 pass plays (including sacks and scrambles), for a "Randy Ratio" of just 28.2 percent. Moss was not very involved in the only successful passing drive of the game (just two catches for eight yards), and was not targeted in the red zone. Moss also failed to draw a pass interference or defensive holding penalty. Should be noted, much of what appeared to cause Culpepper to explode on the sidelines were not flagrant things on Moss' part. It seems Culpepper wants Randy Moss to be Ed McCaffrey totally sacrificing his body and career across the middle. That isn't going to happen. Not with Moss and not with a ton of other WRs that are not Ed McCaffrey. Some people will throw out the term "Alligator Arms" but that is not what happened here. Just watching the game, it appears Culpepper is definitely feeling the heat of the interceptions and fumbles and was venting out of frustration. Moss did not turn around as Culpepper was ranting. This is a really hot issue so I wanted to include a little more from Monday's Star Tribune: "Daunte just wants to win, just like any guy in his profession," said Moss, who had four catches for 16 yards. "I think he's just very frustrated that we're sitting right now at 0-3." "I have faith in Daunte. He is a kid who wants to do well," coach Mike Tice said. "If the TV followed it ... Randy and Daunte and I were talking through the situation right afterward. Hey, I yell, too. I doesn't mean that I don't love my guys. We are competitive people by nature.'" It's also worth noting that Moss made a crushing block flattening 6' 2" - 245 pound Carolina LB Mark Fields helping spring Culpepper on a run. D'Wayne Bates caught four passes for 50 yards, including two intermediate balls down the middle. Bates had one bad drop while wide open. Bates seems to be emerging as the #2 wideout, but the Vikings will use a lot of 3-WR sets until all the tight ends are healthy. Derrick Alexander still appears to be out of sync with Culpepper. He caught just one pass for 12 yards. Chris Walsh's only catch of the day was a 4-yard TD. He lined up in the slot in a no-back shotgun set, and ran a quick slant. TE: Bryon Chamberlain was a late injury scratch, and did not play. Hunter Goodwin was used almost exclusively as a blocker. Pass Defense: intercepted two passes, both when Peete threw into double coverage. CB Corey Chavous returned his INT deep into Carolina territory to set up Minnesota's first TD. The Vikings finished with three sacks, but did not consistently pressure Peete. Rush Defense: shut down the perimeter runs again, but wore down on runs up the middle (Carolina dominated time of possession in the first half), consistently giving up 5-6 yard gains to Lamar Smith. The first tackler hardly ever brought Smith down. DT Chris Hovan got trapped a lot, opening holes up the middle for Smith. Special Teams: K Gary Anderson returned as the Vikings placekicker. He was 2-for-2 on extra points, drawing a roar from the crowd that witnessed two missed PATs by Doug Brien last week. Nick Davis showed some elusiveness on kickoff and punt returns, but failed to break a big runback.