Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers: Rough third quarter sends Panthers to 0-4 record

The third quarter killed the Panthers on Sunday.

Carolina had a really good chance to get its first win of the season, against the Minnesota Vikings, and also get the first NFL win of rookie quarterback Bryce Young’s career.

And then it all came apart.

Up six points and driving, Carolina was in range for at least a field goal, but Young was sacked, stripped and Minnesota defensive lineman DJ Wonnum scooped up the ball and ran 51 yards for a score.

After that, momentum shifted, the Vikings found their gear and went onto win the game, 21-13.

Carolina (0-4) never really challenged the Vikings’ defense down the field, even after falling behind. Minnesota improved to 1-3. For the game, the Panthers had one pass completion of more than 20 yards.

The Vikings’ offense, which suffered through two early turnovers — ultimately leading to 10 Panthers points — also began to find its groove.

Up 14-13 with the ball, Kirk Cousins led a strong drive down the field and finished off the decisive third quarter with a 30-yard pass to Justin Jefferson. Minnesota’s 8-point lead seemed much bigger with Carolina struggling to move the ball with Young, the No. 1 pick of the most recent NFL Draft.

Young completed his first 16 passes of the second half but most were short or quick tosses outside at the snap. When Young looked downfield, his receivers often didn’t create separation or his protection broke down.

Carolina, which didn’t score in the second half, got into the red zone on its final possession but a sack knocked the Panthers back to the 18. Young was chased out of the pocket on third down and threw the ball away.

On fourth down, Harrison Smith got Young for his third sack of the Heisman Trophy winner for the game to end Carolina’s final chance.

STAT STUFFERS

Bryce Young, Panthers: rookie QB got hot in the second half, completing his first 16 attempts. Many were short passes, however. He finished 25-of-32 for 204 yards and no interceptions. He was sacked five times and lost the game’s critical fumble.

Terrace Marshall Jr., Panthers: had a team-high nine catches for 56 yards. Adam Thielen, battling an ankle injury, continued his strong play. He had seven catches for a team-high 76 yards against his hold team.

Vonn Bell, Panthers: seven total tackles, including four solo. Teammates Jeremy Chinn (six tackles, sack) and Yetur Gross-Matos (four tackles, two tackles for a loss, sack) also had strong games. Brian Burns was credited with just one tackle.

Justin Jefferson, Vikings: had one touchdown catch called back but still caught six passes for 85 yards and two scores from Kirk Cousins (12-of-19, 139 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions)

PLAY OF THE DAY

Carolina defensive back Sam Franklin Jr. gave up a 45-yard pass interference play early in the game. That got Minnesota in the red zone. But he made up for it on the same drive, intercepting Cousins and returning it 99 yards for a score — the longest interception return for a TD in Panthers history.

WHAT’S NEXT

The Panthers play at Detroit next Sunday at 1 p.m.

NFL schedule/scores

Fourth-quarter highlights

3:40 pm.: Another big sack of Young pushed Panthers to third-and-goal at the 18. After an incomplete pass, Young was sacked by Harrison Smith on fourth down. Minnesota got the ball with 57 seconds left, up 21-13, and runs out the clock.

VIKINGS 21, PANTHERS 13: Panthers in red zone at 2 minute warning

3:30 p.m.: Led by Bryce Young, who extended the drive with a tough scramble, the Panthers drove to the Vikings 11, where Chuba Hubbard was stopped, setting up a fourth-and-1. Hubbard ran right on fourth-and-1 and got inside the 10.

3:16 p.m.: Young was sacked on third-and-8. Young held onto the ball and also took Carolina out of field-goal range. A touchback on the punt gave Minnesota the ball at the 20 with 8:43 to play.

3:11 p.m.: Carolina has the ball down 8.

Third-quarter highlights

VIKINGS 21, PANTHERS 13: Cousins finds Jefferson for another score

3:05 p.m.: Down by a point, Carolina struggled on offense, with Bryce Young being sacked on the third down. When it got the ball back, Minnesota easily moved down the field before Kirk Cousins hit Justin Jefferson with a 30-yard scoring pass. It was the second of the game for the Vikings duo.

VIKINGS 14, PANTHERS 13: Scoop and score gives Vikings the lead

2:54 p.m.: Carolina opened up the offense and went faster on its second third quarter possession. And it was working. After Bryce Young made a pretty third down to Adam Thielen, Young looked for a home run ball to DJ Chark and drew a pass penalty on Minnesota. The drive continued with a quick pass to Laviska Shenault Jr. and the Panthers got to the Vikings 21. But the drive slowed down after that: a penalty and a 2-yard rushing loss when Minnesota knocked down Miles Sanders in the backfield.

On the next play, Young was stripped while trying to avoid a sack attempt from Harrison Smith and D.J. Wonnum picked up the fumble and ran 51 yards for the score and the lead.

Carolina had a chance to at least extend to a two-score lead with another field goal but ball security issues caused a huge momentum shift.

2:44 p.m.: Both teams have had the ball and punted. Panthers still lead 13-7. Carolina about to get the ball back.

Second-quarter highlights

PANTHERS 13, VIKINGS 7: Another turnover leads to Panthers points

2:20 p.m.: After their second interception of Kirk Cousins of the first half, the Panthers moved into Vikings territory, thanks mostly to a Bryce Young throw to Adam Thielen, and Eddy Piñeiro made a career-high 56-yard field goal at the end of the quarter to give Carolina a 13-7 lead. The Panthers will get the ball to begin the third quarter as they search for their first victory of the season. Their clock management at the end of the first half was poor — Carolina had another timeout and should have used it — but the long field goal bailed out coach Frank Reich and his staff.

2:16 p.m.: On its final drive of the half, Cousins got some protection and made three nice throws to get the Vikings into scoring range. Minnesota arrived at the Panthers 21 with 44 seconds left in the half. But on the next play, Cousin was hit by Yetur Gross-Matos as he threw and his ball fluttered into the air. Carolina’s Kamu Grugier-Hill intercepted the pass and returned it 31 yards to the Panthers 44 with 34 seconds left.

It was the Vikings’ 11th turnover of the season, which leads the NFL.

ADAM THIELEN INJURY

1:55 p.m: Adam Thielen has sustained an ankle injury and has his right ankle heavily wrapped on the sidelines. He’s the Panthers No. 1 receiver.

Update: Thielen returned on the Panthers next drive, appearing slightly limited in his movement, however.

DONTE JACKSON INJURY

1:50 p.m.: Panthers defensive back Donte Jackson was taken into the injury tent after the Vikings touchdown and was being evaluated.

PANTHERS 10, VIKINGS 7: Jefferson TD reception gets Minnesota on the board

1:45 p.m.: The Vikings converted a fourth-and-short, on their side of the 50, and kept an important drive going after Carolina grabbed a two-score lead. The drive continued and Kirk Cousins ended the 10-play, 64-yard drive finding star receiver Justin Jefferson, who caught the pass and did “The Griddy.”

PANTHERS 10, VIKINGS 0: Short FG extends lead

1:35 p.m.: Carolina avoided defensive score when Vikings lineman DJ Wonnum couldn’t hold onto an interception with an open field in front of him on third-and-goal at the 8. Carolina settled for a short field goal from Eddy Piñeiro to start the second quarter.

First-quarter highlights

END 1: PANTHERS LEADING, DRIVING

After the defense stopped the Vikings on downs, the Panthers got the ball on offense for the first time, up a score. Featuring a heavy dose of the run, and a lot of Bryce Young throwing to former Viking Adam Thielen, Carolina drove down the field, converting a fourth down near midfield. The Vikings helped the Panthers extend the drive with a holding call on a failed third and goal pass attempt.

With first and goal at the 4, two runs plays gained about a yard. On third down, a false start on Terrance Marshall pushed Carolina back to the eight, and probably reminded fans of the eight drive-killing false starts the Panthers committed at Seattle last week.

The quarter ended before the third down play.

PANTHERS 7, VIKINGS 0: Sam Franklin Jr. makes up penalty — in a big way

1:11 p.m.: A pass interference penalty on Carolina defensive back Sam Franklin Jr. on a pass intended for Jordan Addison from Kirk Cousins gave Minnesota a 45-yard penalty. The Vikings, who started the drive with several good running plays, got a first down at the Panthers 4. A holding penalty negated a touchdown pass from Cousins to Justin Jefferson, who did his signature “Griddy” touchdown dance. Two plays later, Franklin Jr. intercepted Cousins and went 99 yards for the score. It was Franklin’s first career interception; he was starting in place of the injured Xavier Woods.

Carolina led after Minnesota’s league-leading 10th turnover of the season.

Pregame reading

Bryce Young talks his week on the sidelines

Who will win Sunday’s Panthers-Vikings game

Scouting the Vikings: 3 things to know

Panthers Week 4 injury report

Which key Panthers receiver was just ruled out?

PHOTOS: Vikings at Panthers

Charlotte Observer staff photographers Jeff Siner and Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez are capturing the action at Bank of America Stadium. The photo gallery will updated all game and afterwards.