Flashback Friday: Vikings clobber the Bengals in 2017
By Ali Siddiqui
In their most previous meeting with the Cincinnati Bengals, the Minnesota Vikings won in dominating fashion.
The wait is over. The 2021 NFL season is here. In their first game, the Minnesota Vikings will be traveling on the road to face the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Against the Bengals, the Vikings lead the all-time series 7-6, but they haven’t won a game in Cincinnati since 1992.
Before becoming Minnesota’s head coach, Mike Zimmer was the Bengals’ defensive coordinator from 2008 to 2013. This will be his second time facing his former employer, but it will be his first time going up against them in Cincinnati.
This weekend’s matchup should be a game that the Vikings win. But as the saying goes “any given Sunday.”
Minnesota Vikings cruised over the Cincinnati Bengals in their previous meeting
The last time these two teams met came in 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium where the Vikings defeated the Bengals by a final score of 34-7.
Minnesota quarterback Case Keenum completed 20 out of 23 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns. Vikings running back Latavius Murray rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries while Minnesota running back Jerick McKinnon caught seven passes for 114 yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks returned an interception 31 yards for a touchdown and Minnesota defensive lineman Brian Robison tallied two sacks.
In the fourth quarter, Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater entered the contest. It was Bridgewater’s first in-game action since the gruesome knee injury he suffered before the start of the 2016 season.
A very well-liked player and individual by many Minnesota fans (even to this day), he received a thunderous ovation. Bridgewater ended up finishing 0-for-2 with an interception, but Vikings fans and his teammates were glad to see No. 5 back on the field.
For Cincinnati, quarterback Andy Dalton completed 11 out of 22 passes for 113 yards and two interceptions. Bengals running back Giovani Bernard rushed for 30 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Cincinnati linebacker Vincent Rey recorded a game-high 11 tackles and Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins had two sacks.
With the win over Cincinnati, Minnesota’s record improved to 11-3 on the season. The loss gave the Bengals a 5-9 record.
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Fun Fact: Last three times the Vikings defeated the Bengals, they advanced to the NFC Championship (1998, 2009, 2017).