Bad Minnesota Vikings or just very good Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1?

The Minnesota Vikings are 0-1, but why did they lose in Week 1? Were the Cincinnati Bengals just a better team?

This is not what the Minnesota Vikings had planned going into their first game of the season. Two false start penalties in your first three offensive snaps are things you do not prepare for. Lack of preparation and organization was the biggest reason for the loss in Week 1.

The Vikings were heavy favorites heading into this matchup, and rightly so. Apart from having to travel to Ohio, everything seemed to be in the favor of Minnesota.

Quarterback Joe Burrow coming back for the Bengals from a horrific injury, the revamped defense for the Vikings, and their offensive weapons all being healthy. It was the perfect game for Minnesota to come into and make a statement. But it wasn’t to be.

Needless penalties to start the game continued throughout the first half and terrible play at the cornerback position were big reasons for the Vikings’ loss on Sunday. Minnesota’s two biggest issues last season appear to be coming back to haunt them again, issues with the offensive line and at cornerback.

Cincinnati Bengals came with a game plan and executed it well against the Minnesota Vikings

Although the Vikings had their faults and continuously shot themselves in the foot, the Bengals deserve a lot of credit. Especially on defense in the first half when they didn’t give Kirk Cousins anywhere to go with the ball.

But by sticking to the run on offense and keeping Burrow upright, for the most part, Cincinnati came with a plan on how they would attack Minnesota, and they looked much more prepared.

A few calls didn’t go the way of the Vikings on Sunday, but they need to be a lot better in the future if they want to be competitive this year.