Cincinnati Bengals: AFC North standings heading into Week 1 of 2021

Bengals vs. Vikings – Sunday, Sept. 12 (1:00 EST)

The Bengals probably have the easiest matchup of the weekend but considering they were the worst team in the division a season ago, that doesn’t mean a victory is guaranteed.

Despite being the home team and facing a winnable opponent, the Bengals find themselves as home underdogs to the Vikings, as Minnesota is favored by three points (per WynnBet) in the Week 1 battle at Paul Brown Stadium.

Bengals fans are excited to see what this team can do and the Vikings provide a good Week 1 test for them. They’re not too difficult of a team but at the same time, Minnesota has plenty of obstacles that will be tough for the Bengals to overcome.

First and foremost, Dalvin Cook is going to be a problem and the Bengals’ run defense hasn’t exactly been top of the class. The Vikings also have two electric receivers in the form of Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen, who should be able to pad the stats against a new-looking Bengals secondary.

If the Bengals can keep this game close or even win, fans will leave Week 1 feeling good about their team’s chances this year. Losing to Minnesota in a blowout, however, would have fans feeling anxious about the season to come.