Ball bounces Vikings’ way

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Christian Ponder took only two starts to get his first career win, outdueling the more-heralded Cam Newton in the process.

The rookie showed tremendous poise in the pocket, particularly on third downs, and got a huge assist from Adrian Peterson on Sunday as the Minnesota Vikings held on to beat the Carolina Panthers 24-21.

Peterson had 162 yards from scrimmage and scored two touchdowns, and Ryan Longwell kicked a 31-yard field goal with 2:43 left as the Vikings (2-6) snapped a two-game losing streak. The Panthers had a chance to tie the game with 26 seconds left, but Olindo Mare missed wide left from 31 yards.

Ponder, the 12th overall pick in the draft, completed 18 of 28 passes for 236 yards to beat Newton, the first choice in the draft.

Ponder moved the chains with key completions on third downs in the second half to keep scoring drives alive.

“It’s satisfying to get a win no matter what,” Ponder said. “Cam played extremely well. He had three touchdown passes, and a big drive there at the end. Fortunately, the ball bounced our way with the missed field goal.”

Peterson, the NFL’s leading rusher, bounced back from a slow start and scored on a 9-yard run to tie the game at 21 late in the third quarter.

He ran for 86 yards and had five catches for 76 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.

“They kept dropping deep and leaving him open,” Ponder said. “I kept taking it. ... I’ll take that all day.”

Newton threw for 290 yards and a career-high three touchdowns, but once again the Panthers (2-6) failed to finish in the fourth quarter. It was their fifth loss by a touchdown or less this season.

The Panthers had their chances. Carolina went three-and-out on three straight possessions in the second half and watched their lead slip away.

But after Longwell’s field goal gave the Vikings the 24-21 lead, Newton seemed poised to lead a memorable comeback. He completed a 44-yard pass to Brandon LaFell on fourth-and-15 to reach Vikings territory. The Panthers appeared to reach the 7 on a first-down run by Newton, but the play was called back because of a holding penalty on Steve Smith.

“I got a few texts saying already in the HD it didn’t look too bad,” Smith said of the official’s call. “For a 70-year-old man gimping down the field, I guess that’s what he saw.”

Newton went back to Smith on the next play, but he was stopped short of the first down. Mare’s kick sailed wide left and the home crowd groaned before heading to the exits.

“Whoever thinks that this game came down to the last possession is a fool,” Newton said. “Offensively and defensively, we had opportunities, man.”

Tags: minnesota vikings, christian ponder, sports, nfl