Vikings vs. Panthers capsule

CAROLINA (2-0) At MINNESOTA (0-2)

Noon, FOX

OPENING LINE -- Vikings by 5.

RECORD VS. SPREAD -- Panthers 2-0; Vikings 1-1.

SERIES RECORD -- Vikings lead 3-1.

LAST MEETING -- Panthers beat Vikings 24-13 on Sept. 9, 2001, at Minnesota.

LAST WEEK -- Panthers beat Lions 31-7; Vikings lost to Bills 45-39 in OT.

PANTHERS OFFENSE -- RUSH (16), PASS (17), OVERALL (17)

PANTHERS DEFENSE -- RUSH (7t), PASS (3), OVERALL (2)

VIKINGS OFFENSE -- RUSH (2), PASS (14t), OVERALL (4)

VIKINGS DEFENSE -- RUSH (3), PASS (32), OVERALL (30)

KEY MATCHUP -- Panthers QB Rodney Peete vs. Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper. Peete completed 21 of 32 attempts for 310 yards, one TD, and no INTs last week, his first 300-yard performance since 1992 with Detroit. In 1992, Culpepper was a student Vanguard High School in Ocala, Fla. He had two 300-yard games in 2001. Culpepper was 25-of-45 for 281 yards and three TDs in loss to Bills.

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES -- Panthers upset Vikings in Week 1 of 2001 with Chris Weinke at QB, then went on to lose 15 straight, a one-season record. ... Vikings signed NFL's No. 1 career scorer, K Gary Anderson, after K Doug Brien missed two PATs and one FG in OT loss to Bills. Brien remains on roster to handle kickoffs. ... Panthers' first-round draft choice (No. 2 overall) DE Julius Peppers had first career sack and three overall last week. ... T Todd Steussie joined Panthers as free agent in 2001 after starting 111 games for Vikings (1994-01).