MINNEAPOLIS — Vikings returns ruled the day of a dominant 48-10 victory over the Bengals.
Christian Darrisaw's, Harrison Smith's and Andrew Van Ginkel's returns were all welcome sights for Minnesota, but Isaiah Rodgers' were truly historic.
Darrisaw played for the first time since suffering a knee injury in Week 8 of the 2024 season.
It was only fitting that Minnesota's first snap of the game went around the left side of the line, Darrisaw sealed off Pro Bowler Trey Hendrickson, and Jordan Mason ripped off a 10-yard gain to start a drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Carson Wentz to Josh Oliver.
View game action photos from the Vikings vs. Bengals Week 3 game at U.S. Bank Stadium.
For just the second time in Smith's storied, 193-game career, the safety did not start. He instead entered the game on Minnesota's second defensive snap and quickly began placing fingerprints on the outcome.
Smith blitzed on third-and-10, helping force an incompletion on a pass from Jake Browning to Ja'Marr Chase that was covered by Byron Murphy, Jr.
Fittingly for Legends Weekend, Hall of Famer Paul Krause posted about the return of The Hitman on X.
Smith didn't nab his 38th career interception, but he did tip Browning's fourth pass of the game into Rodgers' hands. The offseason addition secured the football and zoomed 87 yards for a touchdown to put Minnesota up 14-0 with 6:08 remaining in the first quarter.
Rodgers was only getting started. He also forced a fumble and returned the ball 66 yards for a score to make it 24-3 with 1:47 left in the first half.
And Rodgers became the first player in NFL history (records kept since 1991) to force two fumbles and return two turnovers for touchdowns in one game. Rodgers' second forced fumble added to a wacky final two minutes of the first half and enabled the Vikings to add another touchdown with 33 seconds remaining before halftime.
Van Ginkel, by the way, recorded 2.0 sacks in limited action.
Darrisaw was relieved at different parts of the game by Blake Brandel, but he also opened the second half with an impressive block to start a 10-play touchdown drive.
Here are four more observations:
1. Wentz & Brosmer make Vikings debuts
Carson Wentz, who became the first player to start for six different NFL teams in six seasons, did well in debuting for the team he grew up rooting for.
Wentz was able to get the ball out on time, distributing it to playmakers and finished 14-of-20 passing for 173 yards with touchdowns to Oliver and T.J. Hockenson. Wentz finished with a passer rating of 129.8 and protected the football, even in the times early in the game when the Bengals were able to bring pressure.
He was relieved in the fourth quarter by rookie Max Brosmer, who made his pro debut and finished 2-for-4 with 29 yards and a passer rating of 74.0.
Justin Jefferson led Minnesota with 75 yards on five catches. He and most starters had the fourth quarter off.
2. Mason runs wild
Mason filled in admirably for Aaron Jones, Sr., rushing 16 times for 116 yards (7.3 yards per carry) and two touchdowns.
It keyed 169 yards on the ground for Minnesota, which out-rushed Cincinnati by 116 yards.
Zavier Scott recorded his first carries of his career and finished with 30 yards on eight rushes. He also showed a threat in the passing game with a 19-yard reception to run out the clock.
Scott also was targeted on a pass by Jefferson, but the play was negated by a penalty.
3. Defense turns it up
After struggling to stop the run or affect Atlanta's quick passing game in Week 2, Minnesota brought the heat against Cincinnati.
The Vikings limited the Bengals to 171 net yards and just 3.3 yards per play.
Minnesota forced five Cincy turnovers and limited Jake Browning to 19-of-27 passing for 140 yards. Browning threw one touchdown and was intercepted twice in his return to Minnesota. He finished with a passer rating of 63.8 in filling in for Joe Burrow.
4. Franchise record FG
Will Reichard is on one. He entered the game having made at least one 50-yard field goal in six consecutive games dating to his rookie season of 2024.
Reichard moved it back even farther on Sunday, netting a franchise-record 62-yarder as the first half expired.
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