12 Quick Hits from the Vikings Win over Bengals
The Minnesota Vikings righted their wrongs from Week 2 on Sunday afternoon, emphatically trashing the lifeless Cincinnati Bengals in Minneapolis and winning in blowout fashion by a score of 48-10 — the most lopsided affair in the history of U.S. Bank Stadium.
From big plays to surprise performances, here are 12 quick hits breaking down the Vikings’ win over the Bengals in Week 3.
The team now sits afloat with a 2-1 record, turning its sights to an unprecedented international roadtrip that will feature a game in Ireland next weekend and one in London seven days later.
These are instant takes from the dub over Cincinnati.
Snap Reaction | Vikings over Bengals
It was all smiles — and then some — for Minnesota in Week 3.
1. Here’s the most crucial takeaway from Minnesota’s beatdown on Cincinnati: mediocre or bad teams don’t destroy opponents by 38 points, and they especially don’t flog 2-0 teams by that score margin. While purple fans were rightfully down in the dumps all week because of the performance in Week 2, the Vikings proved that they are, indeed, a good football team, possibly great when it’s all said and done. A franchise cannot luck into a pounding with the score of 48-10. It’s not possible.
2. Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers not only put stats on paper that will be memorable for weeks and months, but his two defensive touchdowns, two forced fumbles, and perfect pass coverage are on par with the greatest individual showings in Vikings’ history. It’s not outlandish to compare his Week 3 feats to Adrian Peterson’s single-game rushing record in 2007 and Randy Moss’ Thanksgiving day theatrics in 1998. Start doing it. Rodgers played that masterfully.
3. Minnesota crushed Zac Taylor’s team, but we don’t really know if the offense is “back” or “fixed.” The defense took care of everything, and perhaps even the Week 2 version of J.J. McCarthy could have won Sunday’s game. The offense looked better in Week 3, but it didn’t inspire prolonged confidence beyond one week.
4. Sunday’s win was Minnesota’s most dominant victory per the score margin since 1998. If it felt weird — and awesome — well, the Vikings virtually never disembowel opponents like that.
5. Dallas Turner was a stud on Sunday, and you’re watching his development in real time. He harassed Jake Browning ad nauseam, and he’s settling into the league nicely. Turner is still just 22.
6. Jordan Mason is the RB1 henceforth. Aaron Jones could miraculously recover tomorrow, and Mason’s RB1 job title wouldn’t change. The man is fantastic, and Minnesota found a top-tier running back in the middle of his career prime — one that casual NFL fans don’t really know.
7. Brian Flores’ players started tackling again. They did no such thing efficiently in Weeks 1 and 2. VikingsTerritory wrote all week, “You’ll know Flores’ group is back when it starts tackling at its normative clip,” and it did precisely that.
8. Will Reichard. Will Reichard. Will Reichard.
The second-year kicker hit a 62-yarder with ample room to spare, setting the franchise record for longest field goal in team history. Minnesota found its kicker for the next dozen years.
Longest FGs,
Vikings Franchise History:
— Will Reichard 62
— Greg Joseph 61
— Will Reichard 59
— Will Reichard 58
— Will Reichard 57
9. T.J. Hockenson got off the schneid, contributing to the offense and hitting paydirt. Everything flows more freely when Hockenson is productive. Here’s to hoping his disappearing act in the first two games is in the past.
10. Adam Thielen has been weirdly quiet through three games. It’s strange. The trade doesn’t quite feel like a “mistake,” but the Vikings could have limped through the start of the season without Jordan Addison just fine if Thielen remained in Carolina. Maybe Thielen will catch fire in the coming weeks.
11. If fans need to complain about or critique something, it’s the penalties. The Vikings had too many — 13 for 105 yards. Yuck. Those infractions separated the purple from a perfect game.
12. Remember on Thursday, for example, when it felt like Vikings might be cooked or on the brink of a season tumbling out of control? That same team will go to sleep in first place inside the NFC North on Sunday night.
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