CAR
Carolina Panthers
73.9PFM Team Score#26 NFL
Carolina Panthers vs. Minnesota Vikings: PFM Team Comparison
PFM rates the Minnesota Vikings higher than the Carolina Panthers overall, with a clear advantage. The main reasons are the stronger coaching operation and the stronger defense.
Current PFM Team Scores
Clear edgeMIN
Minnesota Vikings
80.1PFM Team Score#14 NFL
PFM JUDGMENT
Why PFM Rates the Minnesota Vikings Higher
Kevin O'Connell is the coaching difference. Minnesota has the more dependable answers when the first answer stops working. Carolina's strongest counterargument is Offense. The Panthers can create offense in more than one way. One bad matchup is less likely to shut down the entire scoring approach.
Minnesota also brings the stronger defense. Minnesota adds the deeper roster. That is enough to keep the Minnesota Vikings ahead.
TEAM DNA COMPARISON
Carolina vs. Minnesota Across the Core Pillars
The farther a team reaches, the stronger the rating. Each category also calls out which team has the edge and the exact gap. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team.
CARCarolina Panthers
MINMinnesota Vikings
THE COUNTERARGUMENT
Carolina Panthers’ Best Argument
The offensive edge favors the Carolina Panthers because the unit has the better week-to-week floor. It can keep moving even when the first answer is taken away. That is why the overall gap is smaller than the score first suggests. Minnesota still answers with the stronger coaching operation and the stronger defense, which keeps the overall judgment in place.
COMPLETE COMPARISON
Where Each Team Has the Edge
PFM Team Score
CAR73.9
Carolina Panthers 73.9MIN80.1
Minnesota Vikings 80.1Overall NFL Rank
CAR#26
Carolina Panthers #26MIN#14
Minnesota Vikings #14QB Stability
CAR77.5
Carolina Panthers 77.5MIN75.5
Minnesota Vikings 75.5Roster Strength
CAR69.1
Carolina Panthers 69.1MIN79.4
Minnesota Vikings 79.4Coaching Direction
CAR70.6
Carolina Panthers 70.6MIN83.2
Minnesota Vikings 83.2Recent Performance
CAR78.1
Carolina Panthers 78.1MIN89.5
Minnesota Vikings 89.5Offense
CAR78.7
Carolina Panthers 78.7MIN69.6
Minnesota Vikings 69.6Defense
CAR73.1
Carolina Panthers 73.1MIN84.0
Minnesota Vikings 84.0Franchise Direction
CAR71.9
Carolina Panthers 71.9MIN79.0
Minnesota Vikings 79.0Explosiveness
CAR80.7
Carolina Panthers 80.7MIN78.4
Minnesota Vikings 78.4Conference Rank
CAR#13
Carolina Panthers #13MIN#7
Minnesota Vikings #7Division Rank
CAR#3
Carolina Panthers #3MIN#4
Minnesota Vikings #4Outlook
CARPlayoff Long ShotMINPlayoff Contender
Stronger outlook: Minnesota VikingsSCHEDULE CONTEXT
Which Team Has the Tougher Road?
Carolina Panthers
Remaining schedule rank: #13
Toughest stretch: Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks
Strongest opponents: Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos
Next five difficulty: 79.8
View Carolina Panthers Road AheadMinnesota Vikings
Remaining schedule rank: #2
Toughest stretch: Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers
Strongest opponents: San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears
Next five difficulty: 83.5
View Minnesota Vikings Road AheadMinnesota has the tougher Road Ahead at No. 2. The strongest opponents include San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, and Chicago Bears. Carolina gains one meaningful schedule advantage, while Minnesota still owns the stronger football advantages elsewhere.
Explore Both Team Dashboards
Ratings and Schedule Freshness
PFM ratings updated October 27, 2026. Schedule data updated October 26, 2026.
How to Read This Comparison
PFM Team Score determines the overall order. The Team DNA comparison puts five core pillars on the same 0–100 scale, while the full rows show every current category.
PFM compares overall team strength rather than predicting one matchup. Road Ahead adds schedule context without changing PFM Team Score.
PFM ratings updated
How PFM grades NFL teams