Read the recap: How the Vikings overcame injuries to overwhelm the Bengals 48-10

The Vikings defeated the Bengals 48-10 on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium before heading overseas for two weeks. With quarterback J.J. McCarthy and running back Aaron Jones are out with injuries, Carson Wentz and Jordan Mason commanded the offense, while the Vikings defense, led by two touchdown returns by cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, dominated Bengals backup QB Jake Browning.

The Vikings improve to 2-1 with a 48-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals (2-1). They’re now tied with the Green Bay Packers, also 2-1, atop the NFC North standings after the Packers fell 13-10 to the Browns in Cleveland on Sunday afternoon. The Bears (0-2) will play the Cowboys this afternoon. The Lions (1-1) face the Ravens on “Monday Night Football.”

Minnesota’s 38-point win marks the franchise’s most lopsided victory since a 40-point win in 1998 over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Vikings’ 48 points are the most scored in a game since a 49-17 win over the New York Giants in 2015.

- Andrew Krammer

The Vikings have turned to quarterback Max Brosmer, the undrafted rookie out of Minnesota, to close out the game with a 38-point lead and about 11 minutes remaining. On his first possession, Brosmer handed off on first down. He couldn’t connect with receiver Adam Thielen over the middle on second down. Running back Cam Akers dropped Brosmer’s third-down swing pass and the Vikings punted.

- Andrew Krammer

The Vikings lead 48-10 with 11:12 left in regulation, and former Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer walked on the field after the ensuing kickoff to make his NFL debut.

- Andrew Krammer

Through three quarters, the Vikings are up 48-3, challenging for the second-largest win in team history, and they’ll likely get some time for their backups through the fourth quarter. Christian Darrisaw has come out of the game at left tackle, where Blake Brandel is playing now that Donovan Jackson has returned from injury, and the Vikings have pulled most of their defensive starters.

It’s been a dominant day for the defense, but the emergence of Jordan Mason will also draw plenty of attention from this game. He became the first Vikings running back with more than 75 yards and two touchdowns since Dalvin Cook in Week 5 of the 2022 season, and became the first Minnesota RB to surpass 100 yards this year. He’ll get plenty of work in the coming weeks with Aaron Jones on injured reserve, and on Sunday, he gave the Vikings exactly what they sought when they traded for him, with a forceful running style and decisive cuts on downhill runs.

Mason has 116 yards on 16 carries, and Carson Wentz is 14 of 20 for 175 yards and two touchdowns. We could see Max Brosmer at quarterback in the fourth quarter when the Vikings get the ball next.

On the drive bestowed to them by Josh Metellus’ interception, the Vikings capitalize once again.

It took them six plays to move 68 yards, helped by a 24-yard rush by Jordan Mason that put him over the 100-yard mark this afternoon.

Carson Wentz capped the drive with a 5-yard pass to T.J. Hockenson, who did the Griddy in the end zone with Justin Jefferson after the score.

- Emily Leiker

Vikings safety Josh Metellus adds a fifth turnover to the Vikings’ tally today, intercepting Bengals QB Jake Browning on a pass targeting tight end Mike Gesicki. He and a few teammates flocked to the end zone for a celebration and did what appeared to be a choreographed dance, but if it was a specific reference, the press box has yet to pin it down.

Jordan Mason kickstarted the Vikings’ first drive of the second half with a 19-yard run cutting up the field between Christian Darrisaw and Donovan Jackson and breaking out toward the left side.

Mason picked up a combined 13 yards on his next two carries before the Vikings returned to their pass game. Wentz found Jalen Nailor for 7 yards and then Justin Jefferson for 14.

Running back Zavier Scott saw some brief action with an 11-yard carry mid-drive.

But Mason returned to the field in the red zone and was the one to take the ball up the middle on first down for a 4-yard score, his second touchdown of the day.

- Emily Leiker

He’s also the first player in Vikings history to score multiple defensive TDs in a game.

- Naila-Jean Meyers

The last time the Bengals came to U.S. Bank Stadium, they were down 34-0 in the fourth quarter and the Vikings put quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in for what turned out to be his last appearance in Minnesota.

This time, the Bengals are down 34-3 at halftime after Will Reichard’s franchise-record 62-yard field goal, and the Vikings should be able to put things in cruise control somewhat in the second half.

Reichard’s kick eclipsed Greg Joseph’s 61-yarder from Dec. 24, 2022 as the longest in Vikings history, and came after the fourth takeaway of the first half. The Vikings’ 20 points off takeaways have split this game open, and masked some of the operational difficulties they’ve had on offense, particularly on third downs, where they’re 2 of 7.

But the Vikings’ defense has been in a different gear today with Harrison Smith and Andrew Van Ginkel back on the field, and they’ve manhandled a leaky Bengals offensive line. They’re in prime position to get to 2-1, while Isaiah Rodgers seems a shoo-in for NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

- Ben Goessling

The Vikings lead 34-3 at halftime after kicker Will Reichard just set the franchise record with a 62-yard field goal.

The kick was set up by defensive tackle Jonathan Allen’s fumble recovery, the fourth takeaway of the first half by the Vikings defense. The Vikings scored 20 of 34 points off takeaways from the Bengals offense.

- Andrew Krammer

Rodgers has had a hand in three takeaways in this first half against the Bengals: the pick six, the fumble returned for a touchdown, and the forced fumble on Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase.

Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen claimed the Vikings’ fourth takeaway of the first half, scooping up a fumble by Bengals running back Samaje Perine.

- Andrew Krammer

The Vikings defense is dominating this matchup with the Bengals. They lead 31-3 just before halftime.

Between 29 seconds of game clock, Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers returned his own fumble for a 66-yard touchdown and, on the next Bengals possession, forced another fumble on Cincinnati receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Cornerback Jeff Okudah recovered the Chase fumble, giving the Vikings possession at midfield.

Receiver Justin Jefferson’s 36-yard catch and run, followed by an 11-yard toss to tight end T.J. Hockenson, set up a 5-yard touchdown run by Jordan Mason.

- Andrew Krammer

Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers just scored again.

Rodgers, who earlier returned an interception for an 87-yard touchdown, just punched the ball out of the hands of Bengals tight end Noah Fant, picked up his own forced fumble, and ran 66 yards for another touchdown.

Rodgers’ second defensive score gives the Vikings a 24-3 lead with 1:47 before halftime. The ex-Eagles cornerback entered this season with one career touchdown, a kickoff return that came during his 2020 rookie season with the Colts.

Vikings coaches wanted to see sharper play around the quarterback, but the offense hasn’t exactly answered the bell yet. Center Michael Jurgens and tight end T.J. Hockenson were flagged for the second and third false-start penalties of the first half. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw, making his season debut, was also flagged for a false start earlier in the game. Right guard Will Fries was penalized for an illegal block above the waist. The Vikings have been called for five penalties for 40 yards so far.

- Andrew Krammer

The Vikings defense had levied just seven quarterback hits over the first two games against the Bears and Falcons.

Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard just tagged Bengals quarterback Jake Browning during a third-down incompletion, marking the sixth time that Browning has already been hit by a Vikings defender in this first half. Bengals kicker Evan McPherson made a 45-yard field goal after Greenard’s hit on Browning. The Vikings lead 17-3 with 4:42 before halftime.

- Andrew Krammer

- Andrew Krammer

The Vikings offense basically started in field goal range and that’s what they came away with on their fourth possession of the game. Kicker Will Reichard’s 35-yard field goal extends the Vikings lead to 17-0 over the Bengals with 9:20 before halftime.

A strong defensive showing, including edge rusher Jonathan Greenard drawing a hold to negate a third-down conversion to Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase, helped back up the Bengals and give the Vikings good field position. A shanked kick from Cincinnati’s punter set up the Vikings offense at the Bengals’ 43-yard line. They settled for a field goal after quarterback Carson Wentz missed a third-down throw to receiver Jalen Nailor. Wentz appeared to take a helmet-to-helmet hit by a Bengals defender on the play that was not flagged.

- Andrew Krammer

The first quarter is finally in the books, at 12:47 p.m., and the Vikings lead 14-0 in a game that couldn’t have started any better for them but has since ground to a halt. After marching down the field for a touchdown to start the game, the Vikings have gone three-and-out on consecutive possessions, while Carson Wentz has been sacked on both drives.

Their defense, on the other hand, has been more active than it’s been all season, with Harrison Smith disguising blitzes and coverage drops until seconds before the snap. He had an early hit on Jake Browning, and got his hand on Browning’s pass from a zone drop, tipping the ball that Isaiah Rodgers took back 87 yards for a touchdown. The Bengals’ ghastly offensive line is having trouble handling the Vikings’ pass rush now that the defense is back at full capacity, making a 14-0 lead feel even bigger than two scores.

- Ben Goessling

The Vikings rotated to a two-deep shell out of their three-safety package on third down, which had Bengals QB Jake Browning trying to diagnose coverage as Jonathan Greenard pressured him. Andrew Van Ginkel, back after missing last week’s game with a concussion, cleaned up for his first sack of the year.

- Ben Goessling

The Bengals came out a bit more settled on their second drive, which started with a 9-yard pickup by Ja’Marr Chase around the left edge.

Then Chase Brown fumbled a carry and recovered. He was the receiving target the next snap, but Harrison Smith deflected the pass and cornerback Isaiah Rodgers picked it off, returning it 87 yards to the house for another Vikings touchdown.

It’s the Vikings’ longest interception return for a score since since Xavier Rhodes’ 100-yard return against the Cardinals in Week 11 of the 2016 season. Rhodes happens to be in the house today for Legends weekend.

- Emily Leiker

There were defensive penalties galore against the Bengals on the Vikings’ opening drive, but the Vikings, led by QB Carson Wentz, didn’t seem to need the help.

Jordan Mason took the opening handoff 10 yards, and the Vikings gained another five after a defensive holding by the Bengals.

But it only took six plays for the Vikings to find the end zone for their first touchdown since the fourth quarter of Week 1. Wentz hit tight end Josh Oliver on a 12-yard pass for the score, and the Vikings lead 7-0 at home after the opening drive.

- Emily Leiker

12 p.m. - Safety Harrison Smith, making his 2025 debut today returning from an illness, is the final Viking out of the tunnel during player introductions this afternoon. Smith is beginning his 14th season in Minnesota.

Cincinnati won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. The Vikings will receive the opening kickoff.

- Emily Leiker

The last time the teams played was Dec. 16, 2023, which was another matchup of backup QBs: Nick Mullens vs. Jake Browning. The Bengals won 27-24 in overtime, and Browning yelled an expletive-laced message into a camera about how the Vikings shouldn’t have cut him.

In fact, the last two games between the teams, both in Cincinnati, have gone to overtime and both ended with Evan McPherson field goals for 27-24 final scores.

The last time the teams played in Minnesota, the Vikings clinched the NFC North title with a 34-7 win on Dec. 17, 2017, which was also memorable for Teddy Bridgewater’s brief return to the field after his catastrophic knee injury the previous year.

- Naila-Jean Meyers

11:40 a.m. - Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy, who’s inactive today with a sprained ankle, is on the sideline in street clothes. He’s wearing sneakers and no medical boot. On Wednesday this week, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said McCarthy was using a medical boot and on Friday said the QB continued to at least wear one on the practice field “just as a precautionary thing” while watching. McCarthy has not been seen by media in a medical boot.

11:30 a.m. - The new Vikings quarterback will have a devoted cheering section today at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Carson Wentz, the former North Dakota State star, grew up a Vikings fan, attending games at the Metrodome and watching from his home in Bismarck, N.D.

“I was the kid waving the towel; I was part of the ‘Skol’ chants,” Wentz said. “Running out of the tunnel this week will hit me a little bit different in a cool, surreal way.”

His family was already planning to come to the game, he added, “now there’s even more coming. Everybody’s pretty excited. You never wish for injuries, but just the way this has happened to get a chance for the team I grew up cheering for, close to home, all those things.”

In an interview with Mark Craig last week, Zach Wentz, Carson’s brother, was asked just how many friends and family members would be in the building today.

For some bonus Wentz reading, check out this recent Dennis Anderson column about Wentz’s love for hunting.

- Andrew Krammer

11:00 a.m. - With Brake Brandel in line to back up Christian Darrisaw at left tackle today, Henry Byrd — who was elevated from the practice squad on Saturday — is the likely backup at center for Michael Jurgens. Expect the Vikings to provide plenty of help for Darrisaw as he faces Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson in his first game of the season. And don’t be surprised if Brandel replaces Darrisaw at some point during the game; if the left tackle comes out, the Vikings plan to stick with Brandel the rest of the way.

- Ben Goessling

10:40 a.m. - Three Vikings starters — left tackle Christian Darrisaw, safety Harrison Smith and outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel — are officially active and will play Sunday against the Bengals.

Darrisaw has said he intends to play with a bulky knee brace that he’s worn throughout most practices. He has not played since tearing two ligaments, the ACL and MCL, in his left knee about 11 months ago.

Smith, 36, returns for the first time despite practicing only on a limited basis since his Sept. 6 return to the field. He’s been dealing with a personal health matter that has affected him since at least early August, when he left training camp. Safety Theo Jackson has started in Smith’s place and could maintain a role vs. the Bengals.

Van Ginkel returns from a one-game absence. He emerged from the season-opening win in Chicago with a concussion after playing 61 snaps (91%) against the Bears. Cornerback Jeff Okudah has also been cleared to play through the concussion protocol.

The Vikings offense will be without three players in quarterback J.J. McCarthy, center Ryan Kelly and left tackle Justin Skule. McCarthy suffered a sprained right ankle while being tackled by Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss in the third quarter last Sunday. Elliss was not fined by the NFL for what resembled an illegal hip-drop tackle.

Kelly and Skule suffered concussions in that loss and will not play Sunday.

Running back Cam Akers, who re-signed with the Vikings last week, and guard Henry Byrd will be available; both were elevated from the practice squad on Saturday. Running backs Jordan Mason, Zavier Scott and Akers are the backfield options with Aaron Jones, C.J. Ham and Ty Chandler on injured reserve.

Vikings’ inactives: Kelly (concussion), Skule (concussion), McCarthy (ankle), WR Tim Jones, DT Elijah Williams and TE Nick Vannett

Bengals’ inactives: DE Shemar Stewart (ankle), CB Cam Taylor-Britt (hamstring), WR Jermaine Burton, TE Tanner Hudson and DT McKinnley Jackson

- Andrew Krammer

10:00 a.m. - Quarterback Carson Wentz will become the first passer in NFL history to start for six different teams across six consecutive seasons when he’s under center for the Vikings today.

Wentz, the No. 2 pick by the Eagles, was 11-2 and MVP contender in the 2017 season when he tore the ACL in his left knee. The Eagles went on to win the Super Bowl at U.S. Bank Stadium. He was traded to the Colts after the 2020 season.

Here are Wentz’s records as a starter the past five seasons.

- Andrew Krammer

9:45 a.m. - It’s Legends Weekend for the Vikings, who announced they will welcome back nearly 90 former coaches and players for the game. Among those expected to attend are Ahmad Rashad, Alan Page, Carl Eller, Chuck Foreman, Paul Krause, Randall McDaniel, John Randle and Sammy White.

Many were former teammates of Jim Marshall, the longtime Vikings defensive end and captain who died in June. Marshall, one of the famed “Purple People Eaters,” will be honored throughout the game, and members of his family will sound the Gjallarhorn.

- Naila-Jean Meyers