The Vikings we expected arrived vs. Cincinnati

From start to finish, the Vikings ran Cincinnati out of US Bank Stadium

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By Matthew Coller

MINNEAPOLIS — Proof once again, my friends, that nobody knows nothin’ when it comes to the National Football League.

That is, unless you predicted two touchdowns by Isaiah Rodgers and a 62-yard field goal in the first half.

As crazy as it might have been, this was more along the lines of the type of team we expected when the Vikings broke camp: A dominating defense and game-managing QB with a strong run game driving their success on offense.

Did we expect the game-managing QB to be Carson Wentz? No. But he did his job effectively against the Bengals, getting the ball out of his hands, keeping the train on the tracks, protecting the football and finishing drives with touchdowns.

Did we expect Rodgers to turn into Deion Sanders and Lawrence Taylor combined for 30 minutes? No. But we did see this defense causing a bunch of turnovers with their playmakers and mauling opposing offensive lines with consistent pressure on the quarterback.

There were plenty of random events, like the bouncing fumbles that fell into the hands of the Vikings and the tipped interception. It wasn’t random that Jonathan Greenard and Dallas Turner chased after Jake Browning all day. It wasn’t random that Wentz was able to get the ball to Justin Jefferson and TJ Hockeson consistently or that sticking with Jordan Mason in the run game actually worked. It wasn’t random that getting Christian Darrisaw and Harrison Smith back was a huge deal.

Does a total blowout solve all the issues that ailed the Vikings in Weeks 1-2? Hard to say but it matters that they are getting healthy and confident as they head into two games that are very winnable (just Google Aaron Rodgers’ performance this week).

Does it answer all the questions about if/when JJ McCarthy will return and what the games overseas are going to look like and whether this team has enough juice to be a true contender when their toughest matchups? We can’t go that far yet.

Had they fallen apart or won unconvincingly, it would have felt like the chances at this season being special were circling the drain. Now everything that was hoped for the 2025 Vikings feels very much still on the table.

Here’s how it went down…

FIRST QUARTER

The Vikings opened the game the way everyone who has watched any Vikings football over the last two weeks hoped they would: With Jordan Mason. The meaty running back blasted behind Christian Darrisaw for 10 yards and a first down.

Play No. 2 was a quick screen to Justin Jefferson that was helped by a Bengals penalty. You could hear the echoes of “where was that last week?” through the stadium

Carson Wentz’s first throw down the field hit Jefferson between the numbers for 17 yards and another first down. Right away, rolling.

Wentz continued to look like a veteran quarterback with a near touchdown to Adam Thielen in the back of the end zone and then a third-and-5 completion to Josh Oliver, who ran the ball in for a touchdown.

Easily the best looking drive of the season by the Vikings offense.

Welcome, Carson. 7-0.

The defense came on the field with a much more complete version than last week. Harrison Smith and Andrew Van Ginkel were back as Jake Browning took the field for the Bengals.

The Vikings couldn’t have dreamed of a better start as they stuffed the run on the first play, tackled a screen on the second and then broke up a pass on the third. Punt.

With 11:16 left in the first quarter, Wentz took the field for his second drive.

On the first two plays, Mason slammed forward into the Bengals’ D-line, setting up third-and-4. Mike Zimmer would be proud of the early play calling. However, a false start by Darrisaw and a sack ended the drive in a three-and-out.

The former Viking QB Browning got good field position to start his second drive and Cincinnati got rolling with a handoff to Ja’Marr Chase and completion to TE Noah Fant for a first down.

Then we finally saw shades of the Vikings 2024 defense. Browning tried to make a play under pressure and his pass was tipped by Harrison Smith into the hands of Isaiah Rodgers. The new cornerback blew past the Bengals down the sideline for a pick-six, giving the Vikings a 14-0 lead.

This is the team we expected.

Down bad to start the game, Browning trotted back onto the field looking to get something going against a defense that suddenly looked like itself.

More shades of 2024 came on third down as the Vikings threw a bunch of pre-snap looks at the inexperienced QB and Jonathan Greenard got a hold of him. As Browning slipped the grasp of Greenard, Van Ginkel wrapped him up for his first sack of the year.

A strong return by Myles Price set up the third drive at the Vikings’ 43-yard line.

Wentz took a sack on first down as O’Connell was hunting a deep shot. Was it necessary with a 14-point lead to try that? Probably not. But at least it said something about how he feels about Wentz. After a short completion, Wentz tried to run and was taken down from behind. Punt.

Really good punt, in fact. Ryan Wright continued his strong start with a coffin corner to the 7-yard line.

After back-to-back nothing plays, the Bengals ripped off a 13-yard run on third-and-12 to pick up a first down.

SECOND QUARTER

But that’s where the drive ended as Dallas Turner pressured Browning for a throw away and then they tried running again on third-and-long and got nothing. Punt. Actually, a horrendous punt, setting the Vikings up on the Cincy side of the field.

The opportunity presented itself for the Vikings to put this game on ice early.

Mason started out the drive with a big run from Mason to put them in field goal position.

Zavier Scott would have gotten his first career touch for a first down had it not been for an illegal block in the back by Will Fries. But Wentz moved them right back inside the 30-yard line with a 13-yard completion to TJ Hockenson, who hadn’t been part of the attack in the first two weeks.

Scott got his official first carry, slamming forward for a first down, bringing the offense into the red zone. Wentz just missed on a throw behind Jalen Nailor and they settled for a field goal. 17-0.

Upon review, the referees missed a pretty clear roughing call against Cincinnati.

They didn’t miss the next one on Jeff Okudah. On third-and-4, Browning completed a 14-yard pass that turned into a 29-yard pass due to a roughing call on Okudah, who lowered his head and slammed into the helmet of the receiver Tee Higgins — though it was very close to being shoulder-to-shoulder.

That sparked the Bengals, who then got the ball to RB Chase Brown for another first down.

A short pass was stopped by Eric Wilson, whose effort can’t be understated in replacement of Blake Cashman, setting up a pivotal play with 4:51 left in the second quarter and the Bengals in striking distance.

Browning took a shot to the end zone and Rodgers broke up the pass. Have a game, Isaiah Rodgers.

With 4:37 remaining, the Vikings had another chance for a dagger. But it turned out to be an ugly drive rather than a game-ender. Wentz took a sack on third down and they were forced to punt.

On the fair catch, Tavierre Thomas got too close to the returner and committed a penalty that moved the ball to mid-field.

But the Bengals once again committed a catastrophic error. Isaiah Rodgers popped the ball loose from Noah Fant and then picked up the ball and ran it nearly 70 yards for a touchdown.

Hey, there’s a reason Brian Flores wanted this guy so badly, right?

24-3.

You won’t see too many 24-point halves with 84 offensive yards.

Rodgers came up big AGAIN on the next drive. After a completion from Browning to Chase, Rodgers jumped in and stripped the star wide receiver for another turnover.

He might have put together the best half of football by any defensive player in Vikings history.

Wentz got back to work with a completion to Jefferson for 36-yards against the demoralized Bengals. Then he hit Hockenson to the 5-yard line.

Mason slammed the ball into the end zone for a touchdown. 31-3.

Cincinnati then tried to just run the clock out and fumbled again. Is this the 1997 Bengals?

Just for kicks, the Vikings lined up a 62-yard field goa to end the half and Will Reicard blasted it through to take a 34-3 lead.

Holy smokes.

THIRD QUARTER

If the Bengals were going to make this thing interesting, they needed to do it quick. Spoiler: They did not do it quick. The Vikings’ smothering defense forced a three-and-out and Cincy punted.

Mason opened the half with a 19-yard run. You can bet there would be a lot more where that came from. On the next play, he ran off the edge for eight more yards.

Wentz completed a quick pass to Hockenson for a first down to bring the Vikings in the red zone. This drive was exactly what they needed up by 31 points: Slow, plodding, wearing down the clock.

They put a bow on the 10-play, 74-yard drive with a Mason touchdown. 41-3.

When was the last time this team had two touchdown runs?

The Vikings turnover machine continued late in the third quarter when Browning flung another pass to nobody and Josh Metellus picked it off.

Mason cleared 100 yards on the next drive and Wentz put the final nail in the coffin with a touchdown pass to Hockenson to give the Vikings 45-point lead. Forty. Five. Point. Lead.

FOURTH QUARTER

Preseason time.

The Bengals scored against the Vikings backups to make it 48-10.

With 11 minutes left in the game, undrafted free agent Max Brosmer entered the game. He had two passes dropped but it was a nice moment nonetheless.

Rookie Austin Keys picked up a sack on the next Bengals drive and Myles Price had an impressive return.

Brett Rypien came in the game for the Bengals with six minutes remaining.

More importantly, the Cleveland Browns upset the Green Bay Packers, dropping Green Bay to 2-1. I guess the Packers didn’t win the Super Bowl after two weeks. Weird.

Anyway, the Vikings ran the clock out and finished the game off without incident.

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