The Cincinnati Bengals open up their 2021 season with a home date against the Minnesota Vikings. It’ll be the first game at Paul Brown Stadium with a hopefully packed stadium and it’ll be the first time we’ve seen Joe Burrow under center in a regular-season game since last November.
The Vikings are a winnable opening week opponent for the Bengals but that doesn’t mean this game will be easy by any means. Cincinnati is a three-point home underdog and there’s a reason for that.
Minnesota has a studly running back by the name of Dalvin Cook and two deadly receivers in Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen. The Bengals defense has to step up and make their presence known throughout this game or they won’t come close to winning.
With the game just days away, let’s take a look at what Madden thinks will happen when the Vikings come to town to face our beloved Bengals.
Madden Simulation: Bengals 17, Vikings 24
Stats – Bengals
- Joe Burrow – 17-of-28, 265 yards, TD, 2 INT; 6 carries, 27 yards
- Joe Mixon – 12 carries, 68 yards; 3 rec, 19 yards
- Samaje Perine: 5 carries, 17 yards, TD
- Tyler Boyd – 3 rec, 87 yards, TD
- Tee Higgins – 4 rec, 65 yards
- Logan Wilson – 10 tackles
- Trey Hendrickson – Sack
- Jessie Bates – INT
- Evan McPherson – FG: 1/1 (34 yards); XP: 2/2
Stats – Vikings
- Kirk Cousins – 23-of-33, 306 yards, 2 TD, INT
- Dalvin Cook – 18 carries, 101 yards, TD; 4 rec, 34 yards, TD
- Justin Jefferson – 6 rec, 94 yards, TD
- Adam Thielen – 3 rec, 52 yards
- Anthony Barr – 7 tackles, 0.5 sack
- Danielle Hunter – 1.5 sack
- Bashaud Breeland – INT
- Patrick Peterson – INT
This score wouldn’t surprise anyone. It’d be yet another game where Zac Taylor’s Bengals can’t pull out a close game despite being within one score. While the Vikings are no slouch, it’d be disappointing to see Cincinnati lose what appears to be a winnable game for them and to see their offense put up just 17 points.
Madden doesn’t predict a big day from Burrow in his return to action but Joe Mixon and Tyler Boyd both put up respectable numbers. The defense doesn’t get completely torn to shreds, as Dalvin Cook is limited (ha) to just barely over 100 yards but tacks on another 34 and a touchdown as a pass-catcher. Somehow, that doesn’t seem that bad.
Trey Hendrickson gets his first sack as a Bengal, taking down Kirk Cousins while Logan Wilson makes the most of his opportunities with double-digit tackles. Star safety Jessie Bates get in the action too with a pick of Cousins late in the game to try and help swing momentum in Cincy’s favor (though it doesn’t appear to work).
This would be a disappointing Week 1 result for the Cincinnati Bengals, but would anyone be surprised to see the game turn out this week? Definitely not.