Vikings rout Bengals in Browning’s first start since Burrow injury
Minnesota dominates Cincinnati 48-10 as Burrow’s injury timetable remains uncertain and Wentz leads the Vikings
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings overwhelmed the Cincinnati Bengals 48-10 on Sunday, with Jake Browning making his first start of the season in place of an injured Joe Burrow. Cincinnati’s bid for a 3-0 start quickly unraveled as Browning threw for one touchdown and two interceptions, and Minnesota built a 34-3 lead by halftime. The Vikings, who started backup Carson Wentz at quarterback, controlled the pace from the opening kickoff and kept the pressure on Browning throughout the afternoon.
Browning, a 29-year-old who began his NFL career with Minnesota in 2019 as an undrafted free agent, had entered the lineup last week after Burrow sustained a turf-toe injury in Week 2. He relieved Burrow in Cincinnati’s 31-27 win over the Jaguars and was making his first start of the season in Week 3. Burrow underwent surgery on Friday and is expected to miss about three months, though several observers cautioned that the exact timeline could stretch longer depending on recovery. Fox analyst Jay Glazer, on Fox NFL Sunday, suggested three months may not be a hard deadline and that a return would be more plausible if the Bengals advance to the playoffs, given Burrow’s recovery trajectory and his competitive mindset.
The Bengals’ offense struggled throughout, with Browning throwing one touchdown and two interceptions while being sacked multiple times in the first half. Cincinnati never found rhythm against a Vikings defense that pressured Browning into mistakes and limited their scoring opportunities. Minnesota took control early, scoring 21 unanswered points through the first two quarters and forcing a 34-3 advantage by halftime. The Bengals finally added a late score, but the game had long since swung in Minnesota’s favor.
Off the field, Browning’s fiancée, Stephanie Niles, attended the game in Minnesota. In an Instagram video posted around game day, Niles showed off her outfit and shared a lighthearted comment about the last-minute fit, continuing a connection that has drawn attention among Bengals fans after her earlier viral moment in 2024.
In a broader sweep of the day’s context, Cincinnati will try to rebound next week on the road against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football, while the Vikings moved to 2-1 with Wentz under center.
The game underscored how much the Bengals will miss Burrow’s presence as they navigate the next stretch of the schedule without their former first-overall pick. Cincinnati’s offense must adapt quickly to Browning’s lead while Burrow works through his rehabilitation, a process that will be watched closely by fans and analysts alike. For Minnesota, the day represented a steady, if unflashy, step forward with Wentz at the helm and a defense that repeatedly disrupted Cincinnati’s rhythm. The Vikings improved to 2-1, a pace that keeps them in the mix as the early-season NFC picture begins to take shape, while Cincinnati remains at 2-1 as it looks to stabilize amid the Burrow absence.
