Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater gets the start against his former team when he leads the Carolina Panthers into Minnesota to face the Vikings in a battle between two 4-6 teams.

This will be the first time Bridgewater has played Minnesota since, as a member of the Vikings, he suffered a career-threatening knee injury that caused him to miss the entire 2016 and 2017 seasons.  The Vikings are 3.5-point favourites on the NFL odds with a total of 51.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Panthers are 0-4 against the spread (ATS) in their last four road games and the over is 5-0 in their last five Week 12 games.  Carolina picked up a 31-24 home win the last time these teams met, in Week 14 of the 2017 season.

Minnesota is 0-4 ATS in their last four games as a home favourite of 3.5 to 10 points.  The over is 6-0 in the Vikings’ last six home games.

Carolina Panthers

In his first NFL start P.J. Walker picked up a 20-0 home win against the Lions last week.  Walker threw for 258 yards and a touchdown, but was picked off twice.  D.J. Moore, who finished with 127 receiving yards, was Walker’s favourite target.  Teddy Bridgewater was cleared to play after recovering from a sprained knee, but Carolina opted to let him rest and prepare for his start against the Vikings.

The Panthers’ defence completely shutout Detroit’s offence, last week.  Carolina held Lions QB Matthew Stafford to 178 passing yards and they only gave up 40 rushing yards to the entire Detroit team.  In that game, the Carolina pass rush also managed to pickup 11 QB hits and sack Stafford five times.

Minnesota Vikings

Kirk Cousins had his best game of the year, but the Vikings still managed to lose 31-28 in Dallas last week.  Cousins threw for 314 yards and three TDs, while Adam Thielen picked up 123 receiving yards and two TDs.  Dalvin Cook ran for 115 yards and a touchdown.  Cook now leads the league with 13 rushing TDs and he is second in rushing yards with 1,069.

Minnesota’s offence looks like it’s shaping up, but the defence has struggled all year.  The Vikings give up 260.7 passing yards per game, one of the worst numbers in the NFL, and their 16 turnovers on the year puts them in a tie for 26^th.  The defence needs to step up because if Minnesota wants to make the playoffs, a win this week is essential.

Who Will Win Panthers vs. Vikings?

• Regular Season

Panthers Team Leaders

CAR

Touchdowns	Mike Davis 8
Rushing	Mike Davis 642
Passing	Teddy Bridgewater 3733
Receiving	Robby Anderson 95
Sacks	Brian Burns 9
Interceptions	Donte Jackson 3

MIN

Touchdowns	Dalvin Cook 17
Rushing	Dalvin Cook 1557
Passing	Kirk Cousins 4265
Receiving	Justin Jefferson 88
Sacks	Ifeadi Odenigbo 3.5
Interceptions	Harrison Smith 5

• Regular Season

Vikings Team Leaders

CAR

Touchdowns	Mike Davis 8
Rushing	Mike Davis 642
Passing	Teddy Bridgewater 3733
Receiving	Robby Anderson 95
Sacks	Brian Burns 9
Interceptions	Donte Jackson 3

MIN

Touchdowns	Dalvin Cook 17
Rushing	Dalvin Cook 1557
Passing	Kirk Cousins 4265
Receiving	Justin Jefferson 88
Sacks	Ifeadi Odenigbo 3.5
Interceptions	Harrison Smith 5

Weather

temp	34
condition	dome

Injuries

Carolina

Yetur Gross-Matos (DE)

Ques Sun Shoulder - 01 / 01 / 21

Alex Armah (FB)

Ques Sun Thigh - 30 / 12 / 20

Mike Davis (RB)

Out Sun Ankle - 30 / 12 / 20

Efe Obada (DE)

Ques Sun Shoulder - 30 / 12 / 20

Robby Anderson (WR)

Ques Sun Groin - 30 / 12 / 20

Brian Burns (DE)

Out Sun Stinger - 27 / 12 / 20

Trent Scott (T)

I-R Shoulder - 27 / 12 / 20

Bravvion Roy (DT)

Ques Sun Knee - 26 / 12 / 20

Adarius Taylor (LB)

Ques Sun Ankle - 26 / 12 / 20

Brian Burns (DE)

Ques Sun Knee - 20 / 12 / 20

Minnesota

Brett Jones (C)

Out Sun Groin - 01 / 01 / 21

Dan Bailey (K)

Ques Sun Back - 30 / 12 / 20

Ifeadi Odenigbo (DE)

Out Sun Chest - 30 / 12 / 20

Riley Reiff (T)

Out indefinitely Illness - 30 / 12 / 20

Cameron Dantzler (CB)

Out Sun Hamstring - 30 / 12 / 20

C.J. Ham (FB)

Ques Sun Quadricep - 22 / 12 / 20

Jalyn Holmes (DE)

Out Sun Groin - 22 / 12 / 20

Jaleel Johnson (DT)

Ques Jan 3 Knee - 22 / 12 / 20

Hercules Mata'afa (DT)

Ques Fri Back - 22 / 12 / 20

Alexander Mattison (RB)

Prob Sun Concussion - 22 / 12 / 20

Injuries

Carolina

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Yetur Gross-Matos (DE)	Ques Sun	Shoulder - 01 / 01 / 21	1-0	0-1	+ -
Gross-Matos is battling a shoulder injury, and it remains to be seen if he will take the field against the Saints on Sunday.
Alex Armah (FB)	Ques Sun	Thigh - 30 / 12 / 20	1-0	0-1	+ -
Armah is managing a thigh injury, and it is unknown if he will face the Saints on Sunday.
Mike Davis (RB)	Out Sun	Ankle - 30 / 12 / 20	1-0	0-1	+ -
Davis is not expected to take part in Sunday's showdown against the Saints due to an ankle injury.
Efe Obada (DE)	Ques Sun	Shoulder - 30 / 12 / 20	1-0	0-1	+ -
Obada has a shoulder injury, leaving his status against the Saints on Sunday unknown.
Robby Anderson (WR)	Ques Sun	Groin - 30 / 12 / 20	1-0	0-1	+ -
Anderson is battling a groin injury, and it is uncertain if he will line up for Sunday's clash with the Saints.
Brian Burns (DE)	Out Sun	Stinger - 27 / 12 / 20	2-0	0-2	+ -
Burns sustained a stinger in the previous game, and he will not take on the Saints on Sunday.
Trent Scott (T)	I-R	Shoulder - 27 / 12 / 20	2-0	0-2	+ -
Scott has been posted to the injured reserve list with a shoulder injury.
Bravvion Roy (DT)	Ques Sun	Knee - 26 / 12 / 20	2-0	0-2	+ -
Roy is limited by a knee injury, and it remains to be seen if he will line up versus the Washington Football Team on Sunday.
Adarius Taylor (LB)	Ques Sun	Ankle - 26 / 12 / 20	2-0	0-2	+ -
Taylor is hindered by an ankle injury, and it is undetermined if it will sideline him against the Washington Football Team on Sunday.
Brian Burns (DE)	Ques Sun	Knee - 20 / 12 / 20	2-1	1-2	+ -
Burns sustained an MCL injury in the previous game, and it has yet to be established if he will face the Washington Football Team on Sunday.

Minnesota

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Brett Jones (C)	Out Sun	Groin - 01 / 01 / 21	0-1	1-0	+ -
Jones is hampered by a groin injury, and it will keep him off the field Sunday versus the Lions.
Dan Bailey (K)	Ques Sun	Back - 30 / 12 / 20	0-1	1-0	+ -
Bailey is managing a back injury, and it is unknown if he will partake in Sunday's clash with the Lions.
Ifeadi Odenigbo (DE)	Out Sun	Chest - 30 / 12 / 20	0-1	1-0	+ -
Odenigbo has a chest injury, and he will not participate in Sunday's showdown against the Dolphins.
Riley Reiff (T)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 30 / 12 / 20	0-1	1-0	+ -
Reiff has been entered on the Injured Reserve/COVID-19 list, and will be out for an unknown length of time.
Cameron Dantzler (CB)	Out Sun	Hamstring - 30 / 12 / 20	0-1	1-0	+ -
Dantzler is hampered by a hamstring injury, and he will not face the Lions on Sunday.
C.J. Ham (FB)	Ques Sun	Quadricep - 22 / 12 / 20	0-2	2-0	+ -
Ham is hindered by a quad injury, leaving his status against the Lions on Sunday clouded.
Jalyn Holmes (DE)	Out Sun	Groin - 22 / 12 / 20	0-2	2-0	+ -
Holmes is bothered by a groin injury, and he will not take on the Lions on Sunday.
Jaleel Johnson (DT)	Ques Jan 3	Knee - 22 / 12 / 20	0-2	2-0	+ -
Johnson is hobbled by a knee injury, and it is uncertain if he will take the field against the Lions on January 3rd.
Hercules Mata'afa (DT)	Ques Fri	Back - 22 / 12 / 20	0-2	2-0	+ -
Mata'afa is hampered by a back injury, and has yet to be determined if he will participate in Friday's clash with the Saints.
Alexander Mattison (RB)	Prob Sun	Concussion - 22 / 12 / 20	0-2	2-0	+ -
Mattison is battling a concussion, but it is likely that he will be available for Sunday's matchup with the Lions.