1:02 pm
September 12

Vikings @ Bengals

Who will WIN this matchup?

Minnesota Vikings (0-0)

@ Cincinnati Bengals (0-0)

 

Current odds:

Minnesota Vikings: (-160)

Cincinnati Bengals: (+140)

 

• The spread for the game is Minnesota by 3 points.

• Joe Burrow hopes to make a triumphant return Sunday as the Cincinnati Bengals host the Minnesota Vikings in the season opener at Paul Brown Stadium. Burrow, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, was playing well for the Bengals last season before a knee injury in Week 10 cost him the final six games. Burrow threw for 2,688 yards with 13 touchdowns and five interceptions before the injury.

• Zimmer, entering his eighth season in Minnesota, was the Bengals’ defensive coordinator from 2008-13 and crafted top 10 defenses with the Bengals four times (2009, 2011-13) before joining the Vikings. It will be his first game back in his old environment.

• And while the Vikings have a potent offense, defense will be in focus on Sunday. RB Dalvin Cook (1,557 rushing yards, 16 TDs in 2021), and wideouts Adam Thielen (74-925, 14 TDs) and Justin Jefferson (88-1,400, seven TDs) — himself another Burrow college teammate — give QB Kirk Cousins (4,265 yards, 35 TDs, 13 interceptions) the weapons to match most teams in a shootout.

• Linebacker Anthony Barr (knee) is questionable, and both TE Tyler Conklin (hamstring) and OT Christian Darrisaw (groin) were also limited in practice on Wednesday. This comes on the heels of losing TE Irv Smith Jr. (torn meniscus) for the season, and RB Kene Nwangwu and WR Dan Chisena will start the season on IR. The Bengals had a large roster overhaul. Of the 46 players who appeared in the final game of 2020, 22 are not on the 53-man roster — including eight starters.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Minnesota Vikings
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