CINCINNATI (AP/WKRC) – Here is a look at Sunday’s Bengals-Minnesota Vikins game with some key numbers, notes and tidbits and the official injury report for the game:
RECORDS: Bengals 2-0, Vikings 1-1WHEN/WHERE: 1 p.m. at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minn.TV RADIO: Local 12 (CBS)/WLW-AM (700), WCKY-AM (1530), WEBN-FM (102.7)OPENING LINE: Vikings by 3RECORD AGAINST THE SPREAD: Bengals 1-1, Vikings 1-1SERIES RECORD: Bengals lead 8-7, but Vikings lead 6-0 in home gamesLAST MEETING: Bengals won 27-24 in overtime on Dec. 16, 2023 in CincinnatiSERIES NOTES: The Bengals have never won in six all-time games in Minnesota, last visiting in 2017. Cincinnati is 8-1 at home in the series. … Baltimore (2-0) and Houston (3-0) are the only other teams the Vikings have never lost to at home. … Each of the past two matchups have gone to overtime, won by the Bengals in 2021 and 2023. The most recent time the Vikings played consecutive overtime games against an opponent was Tampa Bay in 1994 and 1995LAST WEEK: Bengals beat Jacksonville Jaguars 31-27; Vikings lost to Atlanta Falcons 22-6BENGALS OFFENSE: Overall (30th, 245.5 ypg), Rush (32nd, 47.0 ypg), Pass (Tied-20th, 198.5 ypg), Scoring (Tied-9th, 24.0 ppg)BENGALS DEFENSE: Overall (24th, 363.5 ypg), Rush (3rd, 49.0 ypg), Pass (10th, 94.0 ypg), Scoring (16th, 21.5 ppg)VIKINGS OFFENSE: Overall (31st, 226.0 ypg), Rush (Tied-20th, 99.0 ypg), Pass (30th, 127.0 ypg), Scoring (Tied-20th, 16.5 ppg)VIKINGS DEFENSE: Overall (17th, 321.5 ypg), Rush (30th, 168.5 ypg), Pass (5th, 153.0 ypg), Scoring (Tied-17 th, 23.0 ppg)TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Bengals (Tied-8th, plus-1); Vikings (Tied-28th, minus-3)INJURY REPORT: Bengals – OUT: DL Shemar Stewart (ankle). DOUBFTUL: CB Cam Taylor-Britt (hamstring). QUESTIONABLE: CB DJ Turner (hamstring). Vikings – OUT: C Ryan Kelly (concussion); QB J.J. McCarthy (ankle); OT Justin Skule (concussion). QUESTIONABLE: OT Christian Darrisaw (knee); LB Austin Keys (groin); S Harrison Smith (illness); LB Andrew Van Ginkel (concussion). BENGALS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Jake Browning. After making seven starts in 2023 for the Bengals when Joe Burrow was injured, Browning has stepped in again for the two-time AP Comeback Player of the Year award winner after a toe injury has sidelined him for at least three months. Browning spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons on Minnesota’s practice squad.VIKINGS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Carson Wentz. Just three weeks into his tenure with the team he grew up in North Dakota rooting for, Wentz will make his first start after a sprained ankle put J.J. McCarthy out for this week and perhaps more. Wentz, the second overall pick in the 2016 draft, will extend his NFL record to making at least one start for six different teams in a six-year span.KEY MATCHUP: Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson vs. the left side of the Vikings OL. The 2024 All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl pick Hendrickson, who led the league with 17 1/2 sacks last season, will probably force multiple blockers to account for him. Stunts and twists by the Falcons last week gave the Vikings plenty of problems. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw has been cleared to return from knee surgery, and he has practiced in full this week, but there won’t be any easing into action against Hendrickson.STATS AND STUFF: The Bengals are 2-0 for the first time since 2018 and haven’t started 3-0 since 2015. … Bengals RB Chase Brown has 10 straight games with at least 50 scrimmage yards. He has 18 rushing attempts to the right side this season, second most in the league. … Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase had 14 catches for 165 yards and a touchdown last week, his third career game with at least 14 receptions. He is averaging a league-high 99.9 receiving yards per game since the start of last season. … The Bengals defense has four interceptions, tied for second in the league. … Hendrickson has an NFL-best 19 1/2 sacks since the start of last season. … The Vikings have run only 95 plays in two games, the fewest in the league. … McCarthy had four turnovers in two games and took nine sacks. … Vikings WR Justin Jefferson is the only player on the team so far with more than four receptions. … The Vikings defense is tied for seventh in the NFL in both red zone touchdown rate (42.9%) and third down conversion rate (33.3%). Opponents are 0 for 12 against them on all plays third-and-6 and longer. FANTASY TIP: Bengals WR Tee Higgins had a TD catch both times he has faced Minnesota. He has seven red zone TD receptions since the start of last season. The Vikings are giving up an average of 175.2 receiving yards per game to WRs over the past two seasons, second worst in the NFL.