In a battle of 7-6 teams, the Minnesota Vikings are set to take on the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday afternoon. The last time the Vikings played on Saturday afternoon was also in week 15. They beat the Indianapolis Colts 39-36 in overtime, setting a record for the largest comeback (33 points) in NFL history.
The Vikings don’t have the greatest history against the Bengals. The series is tied 7-7 but the Vikings are only 1-7 in games played in Cincinnati. Their only win in Cincinnati came in 1992 where they won by a score of 42-7.
Heading into Saturday’s game, our staff previews the game and gave their score prediction.
Managing editor Tyler Forness
Record: 8-5
This is an important game for both teams who are trying to make the playoffs. They each sit at 7-6 and the Bengals are in more of a dogfight for a playoff spot, as six other teams share the same record and the Cleveland Browns are 8-5 fighting for those three wild card spots. Outside of the players on injured reserve, the Bengals are the most healthy, as Alexander Mattison, Brian O’Neill and Jalen Nailor are all out with injury. That will likely be the difference on Saturday, but the game will be close.
Bengals 17, Vikings 16
Columnist Judd Zulgad
Record: 6-7
The Vikings ended their two-game losing streak by beating the Raiders, but that was because of Las Vegas’ offensive ineptitude and the Vikings continuing to play solid defense. Joshua Dobbs’ struggles at quarterback reached the point where coach Kevin O’Connell lifted him in the fourth quarter and Mullens played well enough to lead the Vikings on the only scoring drive of the game in a 3-0 victory. Minnesota will be facing former Viking Josh Browning instead of the injured Joe Burrow at quarterback, so that should help, but the Vikings are starting their fourth quarterback of the season. This is the type of game where it’s difficult to put the road team.
Bengals 21, Vikings 17
Columnist Saivion Mixson
Record: 7-6
This season has been a rollercoaster. With only four games left, the Vikings are going with their fourth quarterback of the season. Only the Browns have found themselves in straits this dire this season. The NFL scriptwriters have not been kind to the purple and gold.
Minnesota is on the road for the second week in a row as they take on a Bengals team adept at going on a run as the playoffs inch closer. The Cincinnati defense had played its best game since the bye week, limiting a usually reliable Colts rushing attack to only 46 yards rushing. With the last few performances, the Vikings haven’t fostered much confidence that they can pull this game off on the road against a Bengals team that looks to have found their identity with their backup quarterback. While Minnesota’s defense has become a top-ten unit, fringe top-five, the offense has to find its new identity with Mullens under center. Because of that, I’ll give the slight edge to the home team in another ugly game.
Bengals 20, Vikings 18
Columnist Chris Spooner
Record: 6-3
This game is going to come down to how effective Nick Mullens can be on one side, and how effective the defense can be in confusing a backup quarterback on the other side. The Vikings have been listless the past few weeks, and it came to a head last week with a performance that was, frankly, difficult to watch. The Vikings’ playoff lives are on the line from here on out. In this one, I think Mullens will inject just enough life into the Minnesota offense for the Vikings to come away with yet another one-score win.
Vikings 24, Bengals 20
