Cincinnati Bengals: 4 breakout candidates in Week 1 vs. Vikings

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (85) works with wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) one on one between plays during a training camp practice at the Paul Brown stadium practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021.Cincinnati Bengals Training Camp /

1 of 5

Vonn Bell, Cincinnati Bengals (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

Heading into week one of the regular season, the Cincinnati Bengals have a handful of favorable matchups against the Minnesota Vikings. This gives the Bengals several players who could have impressive performances in the season-opener.

Perhaps, players on the Bengal offense could be in store for a big game. Cincinnati could put up a lot of points versus a defense that ranked 29th in the NFL last season allowing 29.7 points per game.

Minnesota was not particularly great at anything on the defensive side of the ball last year, which of course plays right into the hands of a young Bengals team poised to score a lot during the upcoming season.

Where the Bengals will be really hoping for breakout performances is on the defensive side. They must have players defend well if they are to slow down the explosive Viking offense that was 11th in the league last season scoring 26.9 points per contest. The combination of Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, and Adam Thielen makes Minnesota a difficult opponent to slow down.

For Cincinnati, who could potentially put forth remarkable efforts against the Vikings?

Home/Bengals News