CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Minnesota Vikings were having their way against a depleted Carolina Panthers defense on the opening possession Sunday when quarterback Kirk Cousins made the kind of mistake that has his team winless.
He threw a red zone interception that safety Sam Franklin Jr. returned 99 yards for a touchdown, the longest interception return in Carolina history. The previous record was a 97-yarder from Julius Peppers in 2004 against the Denver Broncos. That did not result in a touchdown.
Franklin made it look easy, jumping Cousin's pass intended for K.