Vikings...20 Panthers...10

MINNEAPOLIS -- Gus Frerotte stabilized Minnesota’s wobbly passing attack for at least one week, after Antoine Winfield and the rest of the defense propped it up once again.

Winfield’s sack of Jake Delhomme and subsequent 19-yard fumble return for a touchdown right before halftime spurred the Vikings to a 20-10 victory over Carolina, the Panthers’ first defeat.

Replacing Tarvaris Jackson after a pair of woeful games by the offense, Frerotte might have helped save the season for Minnesota (1-2) by completing 16 of 28 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown. The 37-year-old made some crisp throws down the stretch to keep the Vikings in front.

Steve Smith gave Delhomme the downfield threat he missed during his two-game suspension, but his first three receptions and 60 yards all came in the first 17 minutes -- until a 10-yard grab late in the fourth quarter.

Quoteworthy: “I really don’t have any idea how they’re a 1-2 football team.” -- Jake Delhomme, Panthers quarterback, on the Vikings