In one corner, it's the budding star-turned-journeyman Carson Wentz. In the other, it's the gunslinging Jake Browning. This wasn't what Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson expected when CBS planned to attend the Sunday matinee at U.S. Bank Stadium. But it's what we've got.

What should you expect? What components of the matchup are worth knowing before kickoff? As always, The Athletic's Alec Lewis and Jon Krawczynski are here for a preview.

Lewis: Jordan Mason. This feels like a breakout spot. Not only will he be starting with fellow running back Aaron Jones on injured reserve, but Mason is also going up against a middling Bengals run defense. Last week, the Jacksonville Jaguars of all teams averaged 5.1 yards per carry against Cincinnati. Mason is more formidable than Travis Etienne or Bhayshul Tuten. The difference in the Vikings' run game is stark with Mason on the field. Minnesota has a 51.9 percent success rate on Mason's runs thus far in 2025, which would be good for No. 1 in the NFL. The team had a 35.7 percent rushing success rate with Jones on the field, which would have hovered in the bottom third of the league. Double-teams should work against Bengals interior defenders B.J. Hill and T.J. Slaton. Mason should be in for a big day.

Krawczynski: OK, I'll take the easy one. Carson Wentz. The story on his background and his Viking fandom is neat, for sure. But the biggest reason Vikings fans should be optimistic is that this story is so dang familiar. They have routinely been saved by backup quarterbacks over the years, including some (cough, Case Keenum, cough) who had zero expectations when they were inserted into the lineup. Getting surprisingly good play from their backup QBs is a Vikings tradition, so let's see if Wentz can put his name alongside the likes of Randall Cunningham, Wade Wilson and Jeff George in Vikings lore.

Lewis: Trey Hendrickson. He is the most talented Bengals defender by a country mile. Even if elite left tackle Christian Darrisaw plays, the Vikings will have to ensure Hendrickson -- who leads the NFL in pressures with 14 -- does not wreck the game. He can. His combination of speed, power and technique resides among the best of them. If Darrisaw does not play, and the Vikings have to turn to third-string left tackle Walter Rouse or another depth option like Blake Brandel, it will be cause for red alert. The Vikings must chip him with tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver. Even then, Minnesota must have passing concepts that force Wentz to spit the ball out quickly.

Krawczynski: All the injuries. Kevin O'Connell announced Friday that Justin Skule and Ryan Kelly are out. Darrisaw may be back, but that situation hasn't been smooth. Harrison Smith? Maybe this week, maybe not. Andrew Van Ginkel is questionable as well. A team can only endure so much, and the Vikings have already had some bad injury luck. It has contributed to the jagged offense, J.J. McCarthy's struggles and the overall angst with the offense. All in all, not good vibes for a team that could use them.

Lewis: O'Connell's offense vs. Al Golden's defense. After two weeks, the Vikings rank 30th in offensive DVOA, an efficiency statistic that accounts for the strength of their schedule. The only two teams worse? Carolina and Tennessee. It's been an all-11 malfunction. The offensive line has not protected well. Receiver detail was not on point in Week 1. McCarthy has not been perfect. However, this is a chance to get right. Cincinnati's defense leaves a lot to be desired outside of Hendrickson. Its secondary is young. The edge rushers opposite Hendrickson are not menacing. Eliminate turnovers, and, even with Wentz, O'Connell's offense should find ways to move the ball.

Krawczynski: Justin Jefferson vs. Ja'Marr Chase. Jefferson has seven catches for 125 yards and a touchdown in two games. Historically, he has been capable of compiling those numbers in a half. Jefferson has 13 targets in two games. That is not nearly enough for the best receiver in the league. Chase, Jefferson's college teammate at LSU, may be the only player who can honestly challenge Jefferson for the title of the league's best receiver. Jefferson has been a terrific teammate throughout his tenure in Minnesota. He has had plenty of opportunities to act like a diva and has resisted at every turn. I wonder how much longer he can hold the line. He will be crucial to helping Wentz get comfortable, but he has to be involved to be a threat. So far, that hasn't been the case this season.

Lewis: Can the Vikings dig deep? They've done it before. You'll recall early in the 2023 season, when the team stumbled out of the gates. Minnesota lost to Tampa Bay, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. O'Connell entered the team meeting before the Week 4 game against the Panthers, and talked about his belief in what the Vikings could accomplish in October. They went on a run, and had Kirk Cousins not torn his Achilles, Minnesota would have been deemed one of the hottest teams in the NFL. O'Connell has a way of getting others to believe. A loss here, at the beginning of a must-win stretch with a tough midseason schedule looming, would take a lot of wind out of the sails.

Krawczynski: Can the Vikings GO deep? One element that has been severely lacking in the offense early on is a downfield threat. That was a staple of their offense last year with Sam Darnold, one of the better deep ball throwers in the league. McCarthy sometimes hasn't had the time to let routes develop down the field. Other times, he has held the ball too long and been sacked while waiting for the play to unfold. Either way, the Vikings offense hasn't looked threatening, so maybe a veteran like Wentz will be able to come in and process things a little bit faster, which could open up the deep ball a little more.

Here is where each team ranks in 2025 in the following categories, using explosive play rate for explosiveness, success rate for efficiency and DVOA's strength of schedule rating:

Lewis: Vikings 27, Bengals 17. Three aspects of this game are worth watching. First, 50-50 balls for Chase and Tee Higgins against the smaller Vikings corners. Second, turnovers ruining any offensive rhythm. Third, a potential special teams disaster. Avoid those three, and the Vikings should emerge with a win.

Krawczynski: Bengals 21, Vikings 18. I just don't have a good feeling. The injuries, the lack of offensive flow, the struggles in the run game, they all conspire to make me wary of this team heading into a game it really needs. Maybe Wentz will light a fire under the offense. Maybe the defense will take advantage of Browning and create some turnovers. Help them, Christian Darrisaw, you're their only hope.

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