The Biggest Storylines for Vikings-Bengals
The Minnesota Vikings are 2.5-point favorites over the Joe Burrow-less Cincinnati Bengals this weekend, the team’s last home game for about a month.
The Vikings meet the Bengals in Week 3, and many major storylines will shape the outcome. Here’s what to watch as Minnesota battles Cincinnati.
Minnesota won’t have quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who’s nursing a high ankle sprain, and the aforementioned Burrow is reportedly out for at least three months with a bad toe.
For the Week 3 meeting, though, these are the main storylines.
What to Watch in Bengals at Vikings
These are the main plots in Week 3.
1. Jake Browning against His Old Team
The Rick Spielman + Mike Zimmer version of the Vikings unearthed Browning about six years ago, but he didn’t last long in the Twin Cities, cut loose when Kellen Mond came on the scene in 2021. Browning never forgot the routine roster waiver, and in fact, violently screamed into a camera the last time the Vikings played the Bengals, yelling, “Should have never f-cking me!”
The tirade was utterly bizarre because when he spouted off that day, Spielman and Zimmer were two years removed from the organization. Browning was yelping at ghosts.
Still, the man evidently holds a festering resentment against the Vikings, and he’ll get another shot at the organization that gave him a chance in the first place during the 2019 campaign. It’s worth noting that Browning is also considered one of the best backup quarterbacks in the league. He sees frequent action due to Joe Burrow’s splotchy injury history, and Browning usually performs well for a QB2.
SI.com‘s Albert Breer on Browning and the Bengals: “For Cincinnati, there’s reason to be confident that Jake Browning can help the Bengals tread water for three months, until Joe Burrow (they hope) returns. Browning went 4–3 in seven starts in 2023 to keep Cincinnati in the race after Burrow sustained a wrist injury.”
“Can Browning do that again? Well, Cincinnati’s Week 15 game against the Ravens is Dec. 14, three months to the date of Burrow’s injury. The Bengals have 11 games between now and then. If Browning goes 6–5, they’ll be 8–5 with the Ravens, Dolphins, Cardinals and Browns left on the schedule. Now, here’s the thing: I think every year you have to take a quarterback like Burrow into the playoffs is precious and should be protected. Assuming his rehab goes well, Cincinnati still has that chance. So I think it’s on them to preserve that chance.”
Oddsmakers believe the Bengals will finish 7-10 or 8-9.
Breer continued, “So if it looks like Browning won’t be able to give you enough, I think it is worth calling the Falcons on Kirk Cousins or the Giants on Jameis Winston. Either way, they do need depth. Regarding the Chiefs and Tyreek Hill, if the Dolphins keep sliding from contention, and Hill continues to show his frustration, this would obviously bear watching.”
“I think a few teams would take the risk, and that it’d almost take someone who has a background with Hill to do it, which, of course, would be the Chiefs. That, of course, is if their receivers struggle, after Xavier Worthy comes back (Rashee Rice is a different type of player when it comes to this conversation). So a lot of ifs there, but not impossible.”
2. The Carson Wentz Era Begins in Minnesota
It may not last long — it would actually not be a good thing if it did — but the Wentz era, if only for a few games, gets underway on Sunday.
For Vikings fans, this is the very top storyline of the week, and it’s that way for a few reasons. Foremost, no matter the year, situation, or man, fans absolutely adore the backup quarterback angle. It’s a cornerstone of Vikings football. The “other guy” comes in and usually plays quite well. Randall Cunningham, Jeff George, Case Keenum, and Joshua Dobbs can attest. It’s the Viking way.
Wentz also grew up as a Vikings fan before attending North Dakota State University. That’s meaningful as a football storyline, especially a local one.
Then, Minnesota really, really needs a win to keep pace in the NFC North. The next three games are the “easy” ones on the schedule. A murderer’s row awaits after the Week 6 bye.
So, Wentz as the QB1 on Sunday is a big damn deal.
3. Can the Vikings’ Offensive Line Bounce Back?
Minnesota spent fat wads of cash to improve the offensive line this offseason, and through two games, it hasn’t been worth the squeeze. Some metrics claim the pass-protection has held up; others, like people’s eyeballs, disagree, as J.J. McCarthy was wacked all over the place in the first two games.
O’Connell won’t have center Ryan Kelly in the lineup this week due to a concussion, and Christian Darrisaw is a true coin flip, still 50/50 for gamedays with his ACL tear recovery.
But no matter the combination, O’Connell and offensive line coach Chris Kuper must figure out. The Vikings can’t afford to have their quarterbacks sacked five times per week. They will die.
The offensive line must show signs of life on Sunday.
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