After a very, very rough performance against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football in Week 2, the Minnesota Vikings bounced back in a big way when they faced the Cincinnati Bengals at U.S. Bank Stadium in Week 3.
Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers had an all-time defensive performance, and Jordan Mason chipped in with his first two touchdowns as a Viking to lead the way in a 48-10 blowout win over the Bengals in Minneapolis on Sunday afternoon. The Vikings’ defense forced five turnovers on the afternoon and just had the Bengals’ offense in a blender all afternoon.
The Vikings got the ball first after the Bengals chose to defer to the second half after winning the coin toss, and Carson Wentz marched the Minnesota offense right down the field for the team’s first first-quarter touchdown in three games this season. He found tight end Josh Oliver for a 12-yard touchdown, and two minutes into the game, the Vikings were up by a score of 7-0.
The next points were provided by the Minnesota defense, as they pressured Bengals’ quarterback Jake Browning, and he threw a pass that was tipped by Harrison Smith and into the hands of Isaiah Rodgers. Rodgers handled it from there, streaking up the left sideline for an 87-yard pick six, and just like that, the Vikings were ahead by a score of 14-0.
The Vikings extended their lead with a little more than nine minutes left in the second quarter, as Will Reichard connected on a 35-yard field goal to make it 17-0. The Bengals then got on the board on their ensuing drive, as Evan MacPherson hit a 45-yard field goal to make it 17-3 with just under five minutes left before halftime.
The Bengals were in Minnesota territory after the two-minute warning, but then Isaiah Rodgers struck again. He forced a fumble from Chase Brown after a short pass, and then scooped it up and took it to the end zone himself for a 66-yard fumble return for a touchdown to make it 24-3 with less than two minutes remaining before halftime.
Rodgers then did it again on the Bengals’ next series, forcing a fumble from Ja’Marr Chase that was recovered by Jeff Okudah for another turnover in Cincinnati territory. That led to Jordan Mason’s first touchdown in purple, as he rumbled in from five yards out to make it 31-3 in favor of the home team with less than 30 seconds left. That helped Rodgers to make NFL history by becoming the first player with an interception return for a touchdown, a fumble return for a touchdown, and two forced fumbles in one game. . .and he did it in one half.
The Vikings then forced another Cincinnati fumble, this one coming courtesy of Jalen Redmond, who forced Samaje Perine to put the ball on the turf with Jon Allen recovering the loose ball. The Vikings then got themselves into position for Will Reichard to attempt a 62-yard field goal, which he drilled to make it 34-3 going into the locker room at halftime.
Minnesota then added to its lead midway through the third quarter courtesy of Jordan Mason’s second touchdown of the day. He went into the end zone from four yards out to make it 41-3 with six minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The Vikings’ defense then forced another turnover, as Browning threw one into the waiting arms of Josh Metellus for his second interception of the afternoon.
Minnesota turned that into still more points, as Wentz connected with T.J. Hockenson on a 5-yard touchdown pass to make it 48-3 with seconds remaining in the third quarter. It was Hockenson’s first regular season touchdown since 2023 and marked the highest scoring output for the Vikings in the Kevin O’Connell era.
Cincinnati finally got into the end zone on their next possession, with Browning finding tight end Drew Sample for a 4-yard touchdown to make it 48-10.
From there, the Vikings gave Max Brosmer some time at quarterback, the first-ever NFL regular-season appearance for the undrafted free agent from just down the road at the University of Minnesota. He only got to throw four passes, completing two of them for 29 yards and getting his first-ever NFL completion on a 9-yard pass to fellow rookie Tai Felton.
After this blowout win, the Vikings will now head out on their two-game European road trip, where they’ll face two more AFC North opponents. They’ll face the Pittsburgh Steelers at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland in Week 4 and then take on the Cleveland Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London in Week 5.
The Vikings blow out the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3 NFL action by a final score of 48-10. Thank you to everyone who got their coverage of this week’s game right here at The Daily Norseman!
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