A Vikings veteran and his protégé each nabbed an interception off Panthers quarterback Cam Newton on Sunday.
Cornerback Trae Waynes's third-quarter pick extended a streak of 14 straight seasons with an interception and was the 41st of his career.
Trae Waynes, a 2015 first-round pick, snagged an interception off Newton late in the first half. It was his second straight game with a pick, and third in four games (including last season's Wild Card game against Seattle).
The pair of picks were part of a three-interception day for the Vikings, who moved to 3-0 on the season with a 22-10 win over the Panthers.
Minnesota's win ended Carolina's 14-game win streak at home.
"I think our team believes (in itself)," said Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer. "No one else believes, but I think our team believes.
"I think they believed they could come in here and win," he added. "At the end of the day, it's three games, and we still have 13 left to go. But I do think they know they played a good football team today in their backyard, and we're able to come out with a win."
Waynes' interception came in the waning seconds of the second quarter. After the Panthers had tried a few deep shots to wide receiver Ted Ginn, Jr., Waynes made them pay for one more attempt.
Newman stayed stride for stride with Ginn on a deep attempt that was incomplete in the third quarter, then ended the Panthers ensuing possession with an interception in front of the Carolina sideline. The 2003 first-round pick has at least one interception in each season of his career.
"I thought it was going to come," Newman said. 'I think a couple of plays before that they ran the go route (to Ginn), so I figured they were going to try it."
The 38-year-old, who was in coverage on Ginn, broke toward the sideline and used his veteran instincts to come away with the ball.
"I think our coach had the perfect play call dialed up for what they ran on my side," Newman said. "I got a hard inside release and took it away. I trailed the guy, undercut it and made the pick."
Newman has mentored Waynes since both arrived in Minnesota in 2015.
Vikings defensive tackle Tom Johnson also had a pick, the first of his career, in the fourth quarter.
The collective effort of the defense held Newton to a 47.6 passer rating, the fourth lowest of his career.
Whether it's a longtime veteran such as Newman or a second-year player like Waynes, Zimmer credited General Manager Rick Spielman for going out and finding unselfish players that buy into Minnesota's mindset.
"[General Manager] Rick [Spielman] has brought the right kind of guys in here, guys that put the team above themselves and above individual statistics," Zimmer said. "They understand that if they do good and the team does good, then everybody will get plenty of recognition."
