Breaks Continue to Go Against the Panthers

The Minnesota Vikings didn’t have to beat the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. They just had to wait for the Panthers to beat themselves.

And when they did, no one could point the finger at quarterback Kerry Collins.

With Collins benched after committing nine turnovers in the last two games, the Panthers self-destructed again. Rookie Rae Carruth’s fumble was followed three plays later by Robert Smith’s four-yard run with 3:47 remaining as Minnesota overcame its own sloppiness for a 21-14 victory and a share of first place in the NFC Central.

Carolina (2-4) then committed four penalties for 40 yards on its final drive as it lost its third in a row, the Panthers’ longest losing streak since dropping the first five games in franchise history two seasons ago.

“We put ourselves in too many tough situations,” said Steve Beuerlein, who threw two touchdown passes in place of Collins but also suffered a knee injury. “It seemed like [a win] was meant to be. We’d get ourselves out of a hole, but then get ourselves back in.

“I guess it wasn’t meant to be.”

It was for the Vikings.

Brad Johnson threw two touchdowns passes--one to himself--and Smith ran 23 times for 120 yards as Minnesota (5-2) pulled even with Tampa Bay and Green Bay in the division.

Johnson’s third-and-goal pass in third quarter was deflected by Greg Kragen, but it bounced right back to Johnson, who ran three yards for a touchdown.