Key Takeaways From the Minnesota Vikings’ Week 3 Annihilation of the Bengals

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Minnesota Vikings vs Cincinnati Bengals
Credit: Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings entered Sunday’s week 3 noon contest against the Cincinnati Bengals with a plethora of questions surrounding their future. The biggest storyline centered around Carson Wentz taking over at quarterback, for the injured redshirt rookie JJ McCarthy.

But when most of us went to bed Saturday night, there was a lot of doubt surrounding whether or not Wentz’ blindside would be protected by Christian Darrisaw, who did not sound confident about making his 2025 debut earlier in the week, following season-ending surgery after week 8 of 2024.

Thankfully, Darrisaw did suit up, as did Harrison Smith and Andrew Van Ginkel, on the defensive side. And without a doubt the impact of all three were felt immediately, as the Minnesota Vikings jumped out to a 31-point lead over a wounded Bengals squad playing without star QB Joe Burrow.

Key Takeaways: Minnesota Vikings DOMINATE Cincinnati Bengals

Minnesota Vikings vs Cincinnati Bengals
Credit: Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

When the dust settled at U.S. Bank Stadium, the Vikings held a 48-10 lead on the scoreboard and many of the concerns that fans/media had coming in, were wiped away with the blowout victory.

Wentz made the Vikings offense look like a well-oiled machine, compared to what we saw with McCarthy, and Darrisaw’s talent was on display too, especially in the run game.

But the MN Vikings second victory of the season came on the back of Minnesota’s defense, which scored two touchdowns and forced FIVE total Cincinnati turnovers. So as we layout the biggest Vikings takeaways from Sunday’s game, come on that side of the football.

1.) MN Vikings defense throws out “bend but don’t break”

With a new quarterback taking over and the season prematurely teetering on the verge of a spiral, head coach Kevin O’Connell needed a big week out of his right-hand man and defensive coordinator, Brian Flores.

The defense responded to their week 3 challenge, in kind, with arguably the most dominant performance of Flores’ two-plus year tenure, holding the Bengals offense to just three points through the first half, before they added a touchdown in garbage time.

Even better, the biggest contributor on the defensive side came in the form of Isaiah Rodgers, who was handpicked as a the defensive coordinator this offseason, but who had yet to cement himself as a legitimate NFL starter.

All offseason long, there have been heavy questions surrounding the Minnesota Vikings secondary. Harrison Smith isn’t getting any younger, not to mention they let S Cam Bynum, CB Stephon Gilmore and CB Shaq Griffin all walk this offseason, leaving Rodgers as their CB2.

But on Sunday, Flores and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah were very much vindicated when Rodgers returned both an interception (above) and fumble (below) to the house for two defensive Minnesota Vikings touchdowns.

Through the first two weeks of the season, the Minnesota Vikings offense deployed a bend but don’t break style that put a lot of stress on them, there offense and the those of us watching the games.

On Sunday, that was out the window and replaced by sheer dominance from the opening whistle until the final buzzer. To go along with their five forced turnovers, Brian Flores’ defense held the Bengals to just 118 yards passing and 53 yards rushing and 171 yards in total and 3-of-13 on 3rd down.

2.) Carson Wentz’ veteran presence was all the Vikings offense needed

It helps when your defense is completely dominant, like the Vikings’ was in week 3. But it was Carson Wentz who lit off the initial fireworks this afternoon.

In his first drive ever as a Viking, Wentz methodically drove Minnesota’s offense down the field, where he capped things off with a touchdown pass to Josh Oliver, to make the game 7-0, purple.

That early score allowed the 70,000 at U.S. Bank Stadium and millions watching on TV cheer a loud sigh of relief. And from that moment on, the route was on. Wentz went on to complete 14-of-20 passes for 173 yards, 2 touchdowns and a 129.8 QB Rating.

Carson Wentz did on Sunday exactly what the Minnesota Vikings needed from him, and from JJ McCarthy prior to injury, and that’s a game manager. This team was built around a stout defense, uber-talented playmakers, a bulldozing run game and elite play-caller. The QBs job is to drive that Lamborghini in between the lines.

We quickly found out that McCarthy was not yet ready for that responsibility. In week three, Wentz proved he is more than capable. What that means, going forward, we do not know. But for now, Minnesota’s offense looks like it is in pretty good hands with the 32-year-old North Dakota State alum and lifelong Vikings fan.

3.) The Minnesota Vikings need to FEED Jordan Mason (w/Darrisaw back)

Much like the responsibility put on the Minnesota Vikings’ defense this week, newly acquired running back Jordan Mason came in knowing he’d be tasked with shouldering a rushing workload unlike he has seen very often throughout his four-year NFL career.

Just like Brian Flores’ crew, Mason responded with one of the best performances of his career, rushing for 116 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 16 carries (7.3 YPC). Every time he got the football, Mason punished a Bengal defender or two before taking off for a big gain.

At no time on Sunday did the Vikings’ offense seem like it was in trouble or way behind the sticks. Wentz did a great job in his debut, but he can thank Jordan Mason for making his life easier.

It wasn’t all on Mason, however. When Kevin O’Connell realized Christian Darrisaw would start, he might have ripped out most of the plays on his sheet that had the running back going right. Repeatedly, especially in that first half, the Minnesota Vikings lined up Mason and ran him behind their all-pro caliber left tackle.

And when it ain’t broke, why fix it, right? The Vikings’ success in the run game also took superstar Cincinnati pass rusher, Trey Hendrickson out of the game. He finished with just 1 tackle on the day and ZERO sacks.

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