Cincinnati Bengals vs Minnesota Vikings Prediction, 9/21/2025 NFL Picks, Best Bets & Odds Week 3

Game: Cincinnati Bengals vs Minnesota Vikings

Date: Sunday, September 21, 2025

Location: U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN

TV: CBS

Odds-Point Spread: Vikings (-3)

Total-Over-Under: 42

U.S. Bank Stadium is the location where the Minnesota Vikings (1-1) will attempt to beat the Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) on Sunday. Cincinnati opens this contest as 3-point underdogs. The total is 42.

The Cincinnati Bengals step on the gridiron holding a record of 2-0 for the year. The last time they took the field, the Bengals played the Jacksonville Jaguars and went home with a win by a final score of 31-27. Chase Brown was the leader on the ground for the Bengals with 16 totes for 47 yards (2.9 yards per carry). Ja'Marr Chase averaged 11.8 yds per catch by notching 165 yards on 14 catches. Jake Browning finished 21-32 with 241 yds passing and 2 TDs. He had a QB rate of 69.9 and finished the game with 3 interceptions. When it came to stopping the run, the Bengals conceded 139 yards on 27 attempts, which is 5.1 yds per run allowed. Cincinnati surrendered 24 pass completions on 42 tries for a total of 261 yards, and a completion rate of 57.1%. In all, they ran 62 plays which converted into 350 yds. The Cincinnati Bengals rushed the ball a total of 17 different times and accumulated 48 yds, which earned them an average of 2.8 yards per carry.

If you examine scoring, the Cincinnati Bengals have an average of 24.0 points per outing. Offensively, they're averaging 47.0 rushing yards which is 32nd in professional football. The Bengals have attained 491 yards over the course of the season. Cincinnati has accumulated 24 first downs offensively, and they have been hurt by 10 penalties for 62 total yards. They have turned the ball over 3 times. If you analyze putting the ball in the endzone, Cincinnati has racked up 4 touchdowns through the air and 2 touchdowns via the run.

The Bengals rank 16th in the NFL when examining opponents scoring, allowing 21.5 points per outing. The opposition is running for an average of 3.7 yds per run and 94.0 rushing yards per contest over the course of this season. If you examine pass yards, the Bengals have yielded 539 yards, which is 28th in professional football. They have allowed 269.5 yards per contest by way of the pass, and are allowing a completion% of 63.2%. On the whole, they are yielding 363.5 yds per game, which is good for 24th in professional football. They have relinquished 4 touchdowns through the air, and 1 touchdown via the ground game. On the whole, they have allowed 188 rushing yards through 2 contests on the season.

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The Vikings step onto the field with a record of 1-1 for the year. The last time they stepped on the gridiron, the Vikings took a loss by a score of 22-6 when they faced the Atlanta Falcons. J.J. McCarthy finished the contest with 158 yards on 11-21 passing while his quarterback rating was 37.5. He had 2 interceptions and his avg yards per attempt was 7.5 yds. Justin Jefferson was the top contributor in the passing game for the Vikings, catching 3 passes for 81 yds (27.0 yds per reception). Jordan Mason carried the football 9 times for 30 yds, finishing the game with 3.3 yds per carry for Minnesota. The Vikings finished with 198 yds while running 40 plays (5.0 yards per play). Minnesota ran for 4.1 yards per tote, finishing with 78 yds on 19 carries. Minnesota allowed 39 rush attempts for 218 yards (5.6 yds per rush). The Vikings pass defense gave up a completion rate of 61.9%, relinquishing 108 yds on 13 for 21 passing.

When examining the points being put on the board, the Vikings currently sit 27th in football, with an average of 16.5 PPG. This year, the Vikings sit at 254 pass yards and hold an average of 127.0 pass yards per contest, ranking them 30th in the NFL. They have an average of 99.0 rush yards per contest, and have carried the ball for 198 yds. The Minnesota Vikings have an average of 226.0 total yards per outing, which has them ranked 31st in the NFL. The Minnesota offense has relinquished 100 total yards on 16 infractions, which has them ranked 12th in the NFL when examining making mistakes. They have earned 12 first downs.

They have allowed 1 touchdown via the pass in addition to 153.0 pass yards per game, which is good for 5th in professional football. Minnesota has yielded a total of 337 rush yards (168.5 yards per game), along with 2 touchdowns via the ground game over the course of the season. The D has recorded 2 takeaways. On the whole, they have allowed 46 points. The Vikings defense has taken the field for 126 plays from the line of scrimmage, which is good for 21st in professional football. The Vikings are giving up 23.0 points per game, ranking them 17th in the league.

Who will win tonight's Bengals-Vikings NFL game against the spread?

Parlays Pundit's Pick: Take the Vikings -3 and over 42 total points

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