MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings returned two blocked punts for touchdowns, keying a 31-13 win against the Carolina Panthers Sunday at a frigid TCF Bank Stadium.

Vikings reciever Adam Thielen blocked the first one, scooped up the ball and ran it in from 30 yards out to give Minnesota a 14-0 lead. It was the first time Minnesota had returned a blocked punt for a score since Oct. 12, 1986. At 453 games, it was the longest streak in the NFL.

They didn’t have to wait nearly that long for their next one.

Two series later, linebacker Jasper Brinkley broke through the center of the Panthers’ punt team and got a hand on punter Brad Nortman’s kick. Defensive end Everson Griffen picked it up and rumbled 43 yards to make it 21-3.

It was the fourth time in NFL history and first since 1990 a team scored on two blocked punts in the same game.

When the Vikings weren’t scoring on special teams, their offense was pretty good too.

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater guided Minnesota 45 yards on six plays on their initial drive of the game, finding tight end Kyle Rudolph for a four-yard touchdown to give the Vikings a 7-0 lead.

Bridgewater threw another touchdown in the final seconds before halftime, hitting receiver Greg Jennings on a 17-yard catch and run, giving the Vikings a 28-6 lead at the break.

Bridgewater finished 15 of 21 passing for 138 yards and two scores.

Carolina would get as close as 28-13 on a 32-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cam Newton to receiver Philly Brown early in the third quarter, but could not sustain much offensively after that.

Newton completed 18 passes on 35 attempts for 194 yards and a score. He also rushed nine times for 49 yards.

Running back Jonathan Stewart had his best game of the season, rushing for 85 yards on 12 carries.

NOTES: The game-time temperature of 12 degrees was the seventh-coldest home game in Vikings history and coldest since 1981. … Panthers DB Tre Boston sustained a leg injury in the third quarter and did not return. … Vikings DT Sharrif Floyd left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury and did not return. … Vikings LB Anthony Barr injured his knee in the third quarter and did not return. … Vikings WR Adam Thielen’s touchdown on a blocked punt return was his first NFL touchdown.