Cincinnati Bengals vs Minnesota Vikings Prediction, Preview and Odds - 09/21/2025

Game Time: 1:00 pm ET, Sunday, September 21, 2025

Venue:  U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN

Where to Watch:  CBS

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Bengals +3, Vikings -3; Over/Under:  41.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Bengals +3, Vikings -3; Over/Under:  42.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Bengals +3, Vikings -3; Over/Under:  42 points

Cincinnati Bengals:  2-0 (1st place, AFC North)

Minnesota Vikings:  1-1 (2nd place, NFC North)

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Cincinnati Bengals:  won their last game at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars 31-27.

Minnesota Vikings:  lost their last game at home against the Atlanta Falcons 22-6.

The Bengals are entering this game with a 2-0 record overall and they have a 1-0 record in their divisional games too. They are 1-0 in their home games, 1-0 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be on the road for this game. They won their last game against the Jacksonville Jaguars 31-27. Joe Burrow was the starting QB and he completed 7/13 passes for 76 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 0 interceptions before leaving the game injured and being replaced by Jake Browning who completed 21/32 passes for 241 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs. Chase Brown led the team in rushing yards with 47. Ja'Marr Chase led the receivers with 165 receiving yards on 14 receptions and 1 TD. Daxton Hill led the defense in that game with 8 solo tackles and 0 assisted tackles while Trey Hendrickson led the defense in sacks with 1. Daxton Hill and Jordan Battle each came away with 1 interception for them in that one.

 

 

 

The Vikings are entering this game with a 1-1 record overall and they have a 1-0 record in their divisional games too. They are 0-1 in their home games, 1-0 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be at home for this game. They lost their last game against the Atlanta Falcons 22-6. J.J. McCarthy was the starting QB and he completed 11/21 passes for 158 passing yards, 0 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Jordan Mason led the team in rushing yards with 30. Justin Jefferson led the receivers with 81 receiving yards on 3 receptions. Ivan Pace Jr. led the defense in that game with 6 solo tackles and 2 assisted tackles while Jalen Redmond, Dallas Turner, and Jonathan Greenard each led the defense in sacks with 1. No one on the defense came away with an interception for them in that one.

The current betting odds have the Bengals listed as a 3 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Bengals have looked great in their games this season with their 2-0 record overall which has them right at the top of the AFC North. Their offense took a big hit last week as they lost their starting QB Joe Burrow to injury, but Jake Browning didn't look bad in that one as he was able to come into the game and bring the team back to win it. The defense looked a lot better than it was last season too. Meanwhile, the Vikings haven't looked great in their games this season with their 1-1 record overall. The Vikings opened the season with a win on Monday Night Football, but they were trailing for most of that game and needed a miraculous effort in the 4th quarter to win that game. Now they are coming off a 22-6 loss at home to the Falcons in their last one and they looked a lot more like they did in the first 3 quarters of that series opener against the Bears. The Vikings still have one of the most talented defenses in the NFL and that has been keeping them in both games so far, but their offense can't stay on the field. Now they are without their starting QB McCarthy and as bad as he has looked in his first 2 games, Carson Wentz isn't anymore reassuring as the backup. Browning didn't play great last week, but he did enough to bring his team back to win the game and they have the more reliable offense to lean on here. The best way to place a bet here is on the Bengals to cover the spread in this game. 

Bengals Vikings Prediction:  Our NFL Pick for Sunday, September 21, 2025 (1:00 pm ET start time) is Bengals 24 Vikings 16.

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Cincinnati Bengals: 6-2 ATS in non-conference games. 8-3 ATS after scoring 30 points or more last game. 9-5 ATS after playing a game at home. 32-23 UNDER on the road after scoring 30 points or more last game. 

Minnesota Vikings: 3-7 ATS after 1 or more consecutive losses. 0-3 ATS after a game with a turnover margin of -2 or worse. 18-27 ATS off an upset loss as a home favorite. 8-1 UNDER in non-conference games.

Cincinnati Bengals:  D. Fairchild (OG) Injured - Shoulder. S. Stewart (DL) Injured - Ankle. C. Taylor-Britt (CB) Injured - Hamstring. L. Wilson (LB) Injured - Ankle.

Minnesota Vikings:  C. Darrisaw (OT) Injured - Knee. J. Greenard (LB) Injured - Oblique. D. Jackson (OG) Injured - Wrist. T. Jackson (S) Injured - Hip. R. Kelly (C) Injured - Concussion. A. Keys (LB) Injured - Groin. J. McCarthy (QB) Injured - Ankle. J. Okudah (CB) Injured - Concussion. J. Oliver (TE) Injured - Ankle. J. Skule (OT) Injured - Concussion. H. Smith (S) Injured - Illness. A. Van Ginkel (LB) Injured - Concussion.

“Resilient group that found a way. It feels like that’s what this year is turning into already. You know, just a group that believes in each other and never flinches, even when things are difficult.” - Zac Taylor after his team’s win against the Jags in their last game. 

“We’ve got to find a way to stay on the field longer, because it’s an important part of how we need to play as a team, especially against a team like that.” - Kevin O’Connell after his team’s loss against the Falcons in their last game. 

WR Chase, Ja'Marr

WR Higgins, Tee

WR Iosivas, Andrei

TE Gesicki, Mike

QB Browning, Jake

RB Brown, Chase

WR Jefferson, Justin

WR Nailor, Jalen

WR Thielen, Adam

TE Hockenson, T.J.

QB Wentz, Carson 

RB Mason, Jordan

Passing: J. Browning (241)

Rushing: C. Brown (90)

Receiving: J. Chase (191)

Touchdowns: C. Brown (1)

Passing: J. McCarthy (301)

Rushing: J. Mason (98)

Receiving: J. Jefferson (125)

Touchdowns: A. Jones Sr. (1)

Coaches:

Cincinnati Bengals: Zac Taylor (7th season)

Minnesota Vikings: Kevin O'Connell (4th season)