On Saturday, The Bengals And Vikings Will Both Attempt To Maintain Their Postseason Hopes.
Cincinnati, Ohio (AP) — The Vikings vs. Bengals game on Saturday is one of the most significant of the year. At 7-6, both teams are in the running for the playoffs.
The winner will stay in the playoff race in their conference. The loser will have a much more difficult road and need more help from other teams to get to the postseason.
The game will feature backup quarterbacks for both teams.
Jake Browning will make his fourth start for the Bengals. The Vikings will start Nick Mullens at QB, their fourth different starter this season after Kirk Cousins, Jaren Hall and Joshua Dobbs.
LB IS THE VIKINGS PLAYER TO WATCH Ivan Pace Jr. With seasoned defensive coordinator Jordan Hicks out due to a shin injury, the undrafted rookie who attended Cincinnati for his college career has assumed leadership of the huddle. Pace was the NFC Defensive Player of the Week after recording a career-high 13 tackles, including a game-winning interception, in last week’s victory over Las Vegas. Pace had a sack in each of the previous two games.
BENGALS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Jake Browning’s past two games have been outstanding. Stepping in for injured franchise QB Joe Burrow, Browning threw for 354 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score in a win over the Jaguars. Then last week he threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another to beat the Colts to keep Cincinnati in the AFC playoff mix.
KEY MATCHUP: Browning against the Vikings defense. The Bengals scored 34 points in each of the past two games, tying a season high. The Minnesota D has allowed 12 touchdowns in its past 10 games, the fewest in the NFL over that span.
Principal Injuries: RB RT and Alexander Mattison (ankle) After leaving the game against the Raiders due to an ankle injury, Brian O’Neill has been ruled out. RG Ed Ingram (hip) is coming back. WR Justin Jefferson (chest) stated on Wednesday that he intends to play after limited practice. He is marked as dubious. Bengals: Due to ankle problems, WRs Ja’Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd, as well as CB DJ Turner II, were limited during practice.
SERIES NOTES: The longest win streak in the series was just two, then the Vikings prevailed in 1989 and ’92. … The teams have alternated wins in the past seven games from 1995 to 2021. … The Vikings are 1-7 all time in Cincinnati, with four straight losses since their lone road win in 1992. … They’ve never lost to the Bengals in six games in Minnesota.