5 Takeaways from the Minnesota Vikings Blowout Win over the Cincinnati Bengals
The Minnesota Vikings came off a really ugly loss in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons and needed to find a way to win against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
Boy, did they ever. The Vikings left no doubt that they were going to control the line of scrimmage, the turnover battle, and the scoreboard as they cruised to a 48-10 win over the Bengals inside U.S. Bank Stadium.
Here is a look at five takeaways from Minnesota’s dominant victory.
1. Carson Wentz Can Lead Minnesota’s Offense
Carson Wentz wasn’t necessarily a superstar in his first game as the starting QB for the Vikings, but he really didn’t need to be on a day when so many Vikings players showed up and showed out. We really don’t know if he has those superstar capabilities at this point in his career, but if nothing else, Wentz is plenty capable of being a quality game manager at the position.
Wentz finished his day completing 14 of his 20 passes for 173 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He did take three sacks, but there were times when Wentz flashed his athleticism to evade pressure and move out of the pocket to make throws on the run.
Of course, Wentz’s first start also came during Christian Darrisaw’s season debut, which could contribute to why the offense looked much more efficient today with Wentz than it has over the past couple weeks with J.J. McCarthy. Regardless, hope in Minnesota has been restored with a strong performance from Wentz on Sunday.
2. Isaiah Rodgers’ Historic Day
It was joked about multiple times during the CBS broadcast, but Isaiah Rodgers clinched Defensive Player of the Week by the time halftime rolled around on Sunday. The cornerback was a heat seeking missile for the football throughout that half.
He not only totaled a pick-six, but he forced a fumble and returned that for a touchdown. Then, as an added bonus, he forced another fumble that immediately led to another Vikings touchdown. He became the first player in NFL history to record a pick six, a fumble recovery for a touchdown, and two forced fumbles in one game.
It’s a great confidence booster for a player who will need to play a key role on Minnesota’s defense
3. The Defense Is Just Different with Andrew Van Ginkel
Go back and look at Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons and compare the defensive presence in that game compared to this one. Obviously, this weekend’s headline was stolen by Rodgers’ performance in the secondary, but the presence of Andrew Van Ginkel cannot be overstated.
Last weekend, the Vikings had a tough time creating a ton of pressure on Michael Penix and stopping the running game, but it was a complete 180-degree turn in Week 3 against the Bengals with Van Ginkel in the lineup.
Van Ginkel recorded two sacks on Sunday, and overall, Minnesota put together nine QB hits and six total sacks against the Bengals while holding Cincinnati to 2.5 yards per carry. Van Ginkel was in the middle of all of it.
4. A Great Game for Jordan Mason
I have been one pounding the table for Jordan Mason as the lead running back in Minnesota this season, and Sunday was a great testament to Mason’s overall talent. The veteran only needed 16 carries to get to 116 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the Bengals.
Mason set the tone immediately with a 10-yard run on Minnesota’s first offensive play, and he had a couple more big runs throughout the day to help the Vikings build their massive lead. And especially if Zavier Scott can serve as another explosive backup behind him, the Vikings might have a serious running game to the point where they don’t necessarily need their quarterback, whether it is McCarthy, Wentz, or Max Brosmer, to be a superstar in order to win games.
5. Will Reichard Makes History for the 2nd Time in 3 Weeks
Brandon Aubry takes the cake as the strongest leg in the NFL, but Will Reichard certainly is making a case for being one of the best in that department. For the second time in three weeks, Reichard made history to begin the season.
In Week 1, he nailed the longest field goal in the history of Soldier Field, making a kick from 59 yards. Now, he also can claim the title for the man with the longest field goal in Vikings history after hitting a 62-yard kick at the end of the first half on Sunday.
It wasn’t necessarily a critical kick for the Vikings to win that game, but it certainly is a confidence booster for Reichard, the team, and a fanbase that has been cursed by watching horrific kicking at the worst possible moments. We now know Reichard is money from 50+, and that could be huge come playoff time.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via ESPN.
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