In a battle featuring back-up quarterbacks, Cincinnati (2-0) is in Minnesota (1-1) Sunday. With Joe Burrow (toe) sidelined, Jake Browning gets the start for the Bengals. The career back-up was a mixed bag last Sunday throwing for three touchdowns but also tossing a couple picks in Cincy’s 31-27 win over the Jaguars. J.J. McCarthy (ankle) is sidelined as well and so Carson Wentz gets the start for the Vikings. It will be the veteran’s first appearance this season.
Fun Fact: Assuming Carson Wentz gets the start under center, it will be the sixth consecutive year he has started a game for a different NFL team.
Lets take a deeper dive into this week’s matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Minnesota Vikings.
NBC Sports has all the latest info and analysis you need, including how to tune in for kickoff, odds from DraftKings, player news and updates, and of course our predictions and best bets for the game from our staff of experts.
Game Details and How to watch the Cincinnati Bengals at the Minnesota Vikings live Sunday
- Date: Sunday, September 21, 2025
- Time: 1:00PM EST
- Site: U.S. Bank Stadium
- City: Minneapolis, MN
- Network/Streaming: CBS
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Game odds for the Bengals at the Vikings
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
- Moneyline: Bengals (+134), Vikings (-159)
- Spread: Vikings -3
- Total: 41.0 points
This game opened at Vikings with the Total set at -47.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NFL schedule!
Quarterback Matchup for Cincinnati at Minnesota
- Bengals Starting QB: Jake Browning
Last Game: 9/14 vs. Jacksonville – 21-32 (65.6%), 241yds, 2 TDs, 3 INTs, Sacked 1 time, 1 carry for 1yd
Season: 1GP, 21-32 (65.6%), 241yds, 2 TDs, 3 INTs, Sacked 1 time, 1 carry for 1yd - Vikings Starting QB: Carson Wentz
This will be Wentz’ first appearance of the season.
Last GP: 1/5/2025 at Denver – 10-17 (58.8%), 98yds, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, Sacked 4 times
Bengals at Vikings team stats, betting trends
- The Bengals are on a 5-game regular season winning streak
- The Vikings have covered in 4 of their last 5 home games
- The Over is 7-3 in the Bengals’ last 10 games
Bengals Player Injuries
- QB Joe Burrow (toe) has been declared out of Sunday’s game
- DE Shemar Stewart (ankle) has been listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game
Vikings Player Injuries
- QB J.J. McCarthy (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
- RB Aaron Jones (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
- OT Christian Darrisaw (undisclosed) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
- C Ryan Kelly (head) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
- OT Justin Skule (concussion) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
- LB Andrew Van Ginkel (undisclosed0 is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
- S Harrison Smith (undisclosed) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
- CB Jeff Okudah (undisclosed) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
- LB Austin Keys (undisclosed) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
Rotoworld Bet Best Bets
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Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper): Bengals +3 (-110)
The battle of backup QBs finds the capable Jake Browning catching 3 points against Carson Wentz and the Vikes who have a litany of injuries to navigate. Decent shot for the Bengals to win outright in my opinion.
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NFL calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, stadium information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Best bets our model is projecting for this week’s game between the Bengals and the Vikings:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Cincinnati Bengals at +3.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 41.0.
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● Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
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● Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
● Trysta Krick (@Trista_Krick)
