Hello everyone and welcome to the Week 3 Minnesota Vikings roundtable here at Daily Norseman. The Vikes are coming off an ugly effort in prime time against the Atlanta Falcons, and now will turn their efforts toward the Cincinnati Bengals with both teams starting their backup quarterbacks. Who’s ready for some chaos? Let’s talk to […]
Hello everyone and welcome to the Week 3 Minnesota Vikings roundtable here at Daily Norseman. The Vikes are coming off an ugly effort in prime time against the Atlanta Falcons, and now will turn their efforts toward the Cincinnati Bengals with both teams starting their backup quarterbacks.
Who’s ready for some chaos?
Let’s talk to it.
Question 1: What’s your confidence level in Wentz (1-100)? List as many caveats as you need.
Brandon Warne: I’d say like a…..58? I’m a firm believer in second chances but like, quarterbacks also don’t reach journeyman status without some considerable warts. Like most, I’m eager to see what he does in Kevin O’Connell’s system and in a talented offense like this, but as a Vikings fan I’m also conditioned to guard my heart.
Christopher Gates: I’d have to put my confidence in Wentz at somewhere around a 70. He checks a lot of the boxes that Sam Darnold checked last year. . .former top-5 overall pick, obviously has a great deal of physical talent but has never really put it all together, and now he gets an opportunity to work under Kevin O’Connell. It seems to have worked for Darnold and for Daniel Jones, who is currently playing quite well in Indianapolis, so hopefully O’Connell will be working his magic with Wentz as well.
David Stefano: 55 – slightly above his record. Kevin O’Connell should help him play better as he typically does with veteran quarterbacks. However, Wentz has been in the building less than a month, the offense is dealing with multiple injuries and a suspension, and he has a tendency to shoot himself in the foot. All these factors could lead to disaster. Overall, 55 feels right—optimistic on coaching boost, pessimistic on chaos potential. He could be Keenum 2.0 or a quick derailment.
Sam Buegler: 59. If the offensive line is able to hold up, I think he will be solid. He still has some juice left in his arm and will hopefully be able to hold down the fort. If we can keep Jordan Mason cooking, that should open up the pass game for Wentz to rip it.
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Question 2: Jake Browning revenge game 2.0 — your thoughts?
BW: I think anytime a quarterback with any sort of NFL success in their past is throwing to a pass-catching corps like the Bengals have, you at least have to save some space in the back of your mind that it could happen. Or in this case, happen again. I think the defense is far better equipped to handle it this time around, but again as a Vikings fan you’re constantly guarding your heart.
CG: The last time Browning faced off against the Vikings, the defense was basically being held together with chicken wire and Scotch™ tape. Then Byron Murphy got hurt during the game and the dam officially broke. The Vikings’ defense has held up pretty well over the past couple of games, and on Sunday, they should have both Andrew Van Ginkel and Harrison Smith back in the fold. Hopefully, that will be enough to keep Browning from lighting things up again.
DS: While Browning could be firing barrage after barrage to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, I do hope the Vikings’ pass rush makes that unlikely. As for revenge? It was Rick Spielman that released him and he’s already beat us in 2023.
SB: He had his moment already. The GIF always comes around, but I think he had his day in the sun. I’d say he is in a similar situation to Wentz, where he has so many weapons that it is hard not to be competent, but we shall see.
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Question 3: What’s an aspect of this game you think fans are missing/not giving enough attention to?
BW: I really do think it’s Browning possibly being propped up by his pass-catchers. The running game has basically been non-existent for the Bengals this season, so even by sheer volume, there’s a chance for Browning to rack up stats — win, lose, or draw.
CG: I think it’s just how bad the Vikings’ offensive line has been to this point in the season. I know that Christian Darrisaw has been out, and now Ryan Kelly will miss Sunday’s game, but the focus on J.J. McCarthy’s performance has taken at least some of the heat off of the offensive line. McCarthy hasn’t been great for seven of the first eight quarters of the season, but the offensive line that a lot of us thought would be significantly better this year has been atrocious. They need to turn it around starting on Sunday.
DS: The Bengals’ anemic run game (league-low 2.4 YPC, <50 yards both games—first such 2-0 start since 1940) creates a critical matchup advantage for the Vikings’ stingy defense (only 3 TDs allowed, top-5 in opponent scoring). While fans focus on the quarterback storyline (Wentz vs. Browning), Cincinnati’s struggling ground attack is more significant. Chase Brown’s meager production (61 yards on 30 carries since Week 1) won’t replicate Atlanta’s 218-yard gashery against Minnesota.
SB: I think home-field advantage will play a big role. The Vikings fans were loud last time, especially at the start of the game, so if the Purple can get their fans into it early enough, that might just edge them over the top.
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Question 4: Predict Wentz’s final line: att/comp, pass yds, TD/INT (any other stat you want, too).
BW: 16-for-26, 242 yards, one touchdown and one interception. I don’t know about rushing yards — maybe 15ish? — but I think he’ll have one run where we’ll remember the physical gifts that made him a high draft pick all those years ago. Heck, two of those runs would really be nice.
CG: 21-of-31, 278 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions. I think that Kevin O’Connell is going to put something together to help Wentz get comfortable with this offense, and the Bengals’ defense is really quite bad, so I think he’s going to have a solid game in his Vikings debut.
DS: 22/35 (63%), 248 passing yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT. Add: 12 rushing yards (3 carries, including a key third-down scramble), 85.2 passer rating. Rationale: Volume will come from playing catch-up (Vikings’ typical slow starts), but efficiency drops with an INT against blitzes. Look for TDs to Jefferson (who should have a big day, 100+ yards) and Hockenson, though rust will show mid-game. Expect 2 sacks (-15 yards) with Wentz under pressure on 40% of dropbacks, primarily from Hendrickson. That’s what my crystal ball [or 8-Ball] tells me.
SB: 14/19, 208 yards, 2:1
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Question 5: What’s your final score/result prediction?
BW: I think the Vikings eke past the Bengals, 17-14. I am not terribly confident, however.
CG: I’ll go with Vikings 24, Bengals 21, with Will Reichard putting a field goal through the uprights as time expires to seal the win for the Vikings before they head out on their European Vacation in Weeks 4 and 5. This is a desperate team that knows they need to start moving in the right direction, and I think they get it done on Sunday.
DS: I predicted it this week as a Vikings win 21-17.
SB: Another close game, but I do think the Vikings take it over the Bengals. 20-17 Vikings.
Category: General Sports
