Bengals vs. Vikings Week 3: The Good, The Dangerous and The Ugly

If Jake Browning was on the lookout for a Cinderella story in his return to Minnesota, he was in for a impolite awakening. Whereas he was the headlining participant due to his place, the Bengals’ implosion on Sunday wasn’t solely on his shoulders.

Listed here are the aspects that have been the great, the unhealthy and the ugly on Sunday with the Bengals in opposition to the Vikings.

Myles Murphy — flashes when it mattered
Even in a sport principally to neglect, Myles Murphy made just a few performs that a minimum of hinted at his upside. He logged a half‑sack (together) and had a heads-up chase-down on Carson Wentz, containing him for only a one-yard achieve on a scramble. That type of hustle play is the type of effort you need out of your edge defenders even when the sport is slipping away.

Kris Jenkins, Jr. — exhibiting some struggle
Jenkins, a second-year inside lineman, had his moments. He recorded a minimum of 1.5 sacks within the first half (per sport narrative) in opposition to Minnesota’s line, which isn’t trivial. In a sport the place move rush was in any other case largely stifled, his means to generate strain was one of many few optimistic indicators for Cincinnati’s defensive entrance.

Evan McPherson — redeeming a tough ’24
With the Bengals starved for offense, McPherson offered one brilliant spot. He drilled a forty five‑yard subject purpose with about 5 minutes left within the second quarter to scratch the scoreboard and provides Cincinnati their first factors. For a kicker, making the routine nonetheless issues — and after a shaky 2024 marketing campaign, that was a minimum of a modest step in the fitting path.

Inside offensive line — the smooth spot uncovered
If there was a weakest hyperlink on this sport, it was the Bengals’ inside offensive line. Browning confronted constant strain up the center, and each Ted Karras and Dalton Risner struggled when matched up with Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. The rookie Dylan Fairchild compounded the problem with a crucial holding penalty on a drive early within the second quarter that worn out a primary down — a type of self-inflicted wounds that magnified an already tough day.

Worse nonetheless, the operating sport by no means bought going. Dealing with a Brian Flores protection, the Bengals wanted to maintain issues trustworthy on the bottom; as a substitute, acquainted failings reemerged. The road’s incapacity to create creases or maintain blocks pressured the offense into lengthy third downs and predictable passing conditions.

Jake Browning — overmatched and error-prone
It might be harsh to put your complete blame on Browning — the supporting solid was crumbling round him — however he had a disastrous outing. His stat line: 19-of-27 for 140 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs per the field rating.

He began the turnover spiral with a horrible learn that resulted in an 87-yard pick-six to Isaiah Rodgers, after a tipped ball. Later within the first half, after working his manner into Minnesota territory, a move to Noah Fant was jarred unfastened by Rodgers, who scooped it and returned it 66 yards for one more defensive rating.

Browning threw one other interception within the second half. On high of that, he fumbled just a few instances (or was a part of fumble‑chain reactions) when the run sport broke down, and he tried to do greater than he ought to. The consequence: turnovers, brief fields for Minnesota, and a sport that slipped out of attain far too early.

Offensive employees (Taylor, Pitcher, Peters) — no solutions, little adaptability
You possibly can’t absolve the coaches in a collapse like this. The offense appeared overmatched for giant stretches, and so they confirmed little or no capability to regulate. With out Joe Burrow, optimism was that Browning — previously with the membership — may recapture flashes of previous type. As an alternative, the sport plan repeatedly put Browning in no-win conditions.

The staggering variety of errors, the lack to guard, and the predictable play-calling all relaxation a minimum of partly on scheme, preparation, and in-game adjustment. For Zac Taylor, struggling the worst loss in franchise historical past (by margin) is a darkish mark. Questions will linger about whether or not this employees is able to reliably functioning and not using a true elite QB within the combine.

Turnovers — from stars and position gamers alike
This wasn’t only a “unhealthy day” for the backups; it was a collective breakdown. 4 turnovers occurred within the first half alone, with two of them returned for touchdowns.

It’s gorgeous what number of veterans and key gamers contributed to that turnover pile — an indictment of focus, ball safety, and execution.

Al Golden / the protection — worn down by situational burden
It’s unfair to count on protection to be flawless behind that type of offensive implosion, however credit score have to be given the place due. The protection did drive some three‑and-outs early, and the Bengals ran 5 such in whole.

However from the opening drive — Minnesota marched 64 yards in simply over two minutes to attain. The protection (and particular groups) have been repeatedly pinned by brief fields, turnovers, and penalties. Because the margin widened, the unit was pressured into desperation modes, and Minnesota took benefit with Jordan Mason’s 116 speeding yards and two touchdowns.

Briefly, the protection was overworked, and with out offensive help, it couldn’t carry the sport.

Fan base & ambiance — optimism meets harsh actuality
The Bengals devoted have been by way of the ups and downs, and lots of have been hanging onto hope that Browning may recapture one thing after the Burrow harm. However this Week 3 exhibiting is more likely to immediate a recalibration of expectations. This was not only a unhealthy day — it was probably the most lopsided losses in staff historical past.

For longtime followers, it had shades of the Nineties — squandered alternative, collapse, and helplessness watching. Getting by way of this type of blow requires psychological resilience, and the entrance workplace, coaches, and gamers all should reply.

Historic margins and one of many worst-ever losses
This wasn’t only a unhealthy day — the Bengals crossed into unprecedented territory. The ultimate margin, 48–10, is the most important in franchise historical past (a 38-point loss).

At one level, Cincinnati trailed by 45 factors (48–3) late within the third quarter — the largest deficit they’ve ever confronted in a sport. Minnesota’s protection turned 31 factors off Bengals turnovers — a staggering conversion fee. Just about sufficient mentioned right here.

Isaiah Rodgers, particularly, turned the sport into a private spotlight reel. In doing so, he entered the file books: two defensive touchdowns (87-yard pick-six, 66-yard fumble return) and two pressured fumbles in a single sport — one thing nobody else has completed in NFL historical past.

Momentum loss of life spiral — compounding harm
As a result of the errors have been so extreme and so early, there was by no means an opportunity to mount any coherent comeback. The Bengals, down 14–0 early, noticed all the things worsen from there: brief fields, turnovers, penalties, and defensive breakdowns. The halftime margin had ballooned, partly due to a 62-yard Will Reichard subject purpose as time expired within the half — the longest in Vikings historical past.

As soon as the sport slipped away, the Bengals’ lone landing within the fourth quarter (a 4-yard move from Browning to Drew Pattern) was extra garbage-time comfort than significant rally.

Psychological toll and outlook harm
Blowouts go away scars past the field rating. For a staff already in flux — shedding a franchise QB, counting on backups — this efficiency supplies no confidence enhance. The coaches, gamers, and followers have to regroup rapidly, as a result of there’s no luxurious in ready round.

If this sport teaches something, it’s that expertise, effort, and self-discipline all have to be above reproach if you’re not working with an elite passer. That the Bengals stumbled in all three dimensions makes this consequence far uglier than the rating suggests.

Aftermath & Wanting Forward

In sum: Minnesota made the Bengals look small, collectively. A number of brilliant spots (Murphy, Jenkins, McPherson) don’t excuse a day of abject collapse. The “Good” existed — however the “Dangerous” and “Ugly” fully overwhelmed it.