Cincinnati Bengals vs Minnesota Vikings Prediction, Odds and Picks for Today, 09/21/25

Sunday’s lineup in Week 3 of the NFL season includes a battle between backup quarterbacks for the Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Vikings. Jake Browning will be under center for the visiting Bengals, while Carson Wentz is starting for the Vikings. The bad news for Cincinnati is that Joe Burrow will miss at least 3 months following toe surgery; the good news is that this team is off to a bit of a head start at 2-0 and can maybe stay in playoff contention for the duration. Browning may not be anything special, but he does have a decent amount of experience. The 29-year-old played in 9 games for Cincinnati in 2023, when he passed for 1,936 yards with 12 TDs and 7 INTs. Browning was picked off 3 times after Burrow left last week’s game, but the former Washington standout also tossed 2 scoring strikes as the Bengals posted a come-from-behind 31-27 win over Jacksonville.

Wentz, who is filling in for J.J. McCarthy, inspires even less confidence. The 32-year-old will become the first QB in NFL history to start for 6 different teams in 6 straight seasons. There is a reason why no franchise wants him to stick around. The North Dakota State standout was actually decent for the Colts in 2021, but he has been pretty much worthless ever since. With RB Aaron Jones and FB CJ Ham also out, this is a good opportunity for Cincinnati’s much-maligned defense to continue its surprisingly decent play. It held Cleveland to 16 points in Week 1 and picked off Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence twice last weekend. Give me the Bengals plus the points against a thoroughly unspectacular opponent.

Bengals vs Vikings prediction: Bengals +3 (-105) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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It’s only Week 3, but Minnesota is completely banged up already. In addition to Jones and Ham being out, linebacker Andrew van Ginkel and safety Harrison Smith are questionable on the defensive side of the ball. That does not bode well for a unit that gave up 6 scoring drives to the Falcons this past Sunday night. Atlanta settled for 5 field goals on those 6 occasions, so it could have been a lot worse than 22 points allowed for the Vikings’ defense.

Although Cincinnati’s defense has been rather encouraging so far, it is rather devoid of talent outside of Trey Hendrickson. At best, it will be a bend-but-don’t-break outfit; at worst, it could be near the bottom of the league. Although there is not much good to say about Wentz, at least he has a ton of experience in this league. When it comes to backup QBs, he and Browning are not the worst options. Surpassing a modest 41.5 number is well within reason.

Bengals vs Vikings prediction: Over 41.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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