Week 3 Redemption: Minnesota Vikings with a Commanding Win at Home Against the Cincinnati Bengals

Minnesota Vikings win in commanding fashion, 48-10, at home against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3.

If you had told me a week ago that the Minnesota Vikings would have a cathartic, butt-kicking Week 3 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, I think I could have been forgiven for being skeptical. But that is exactly what the Vikings did in what felt like a must-win game, beating the Bengals 48-10.

Starting in place of the injured JJ McCarthy, Carson Wentz got to live his childhood dream of playing for the Vikings. Wentz went 14/20 for 173 yards and 2 touchdowns. But Wentz wasn’t the only different face on offense from last week. Star left tackle Christian Darrisaw returned and was a monster road-grader in the run game. This helped running back Jordan Mason to be able to run for 116 yards and 2 touchdowns on 16 attempts. The running game enabled the passing game to be more productive, with Wentz throwing to tightends Josh Oliver and TJ Hockenson for a touchdown each.

However good the offense was today, it was the smothering, opportunistic defense that was the story of the game with 5 takeaways, only 10 points allowed, scoring 2 touchdowns, sacking the Bengals’ quarterbacks 4 times, and allowing only 171 total yards of offense. If there is any justice Isaiah Rodgers will be named the NFC DPOW after his standout performance. Rodgers’ day included a pick-6, a fumble recovery touchdown, 2 forced fumbles, and a forced incompletion. And then there was Harrison Smith. Smith makes the defense work and he makes it better, he’s the lynchpin around which the rest of the defense moves.

And move, they did. Jonathan Greenard had 3 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, and a quarterback hit. Second-year man Dallas Turner made 1 tackle and 1 quarterback hurry, showing growing skill at being a disruptive force on Brian Flores’ defense.

Special Teams also did not disappoint. Kicker Will Reichard boomed a field goal in from 62 yards out. Myles Price consistently put the team in good positions on returns. Coverage teams prevented gashing returns from the Bengals.

It was a solid team win in Week 3 and now the 2-1 Vikings are off to Ireland to face the Pittsburgh Steelers. SKOL.

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