MINNEAPOLIS — Isaiah Rodgers helped make Carson Wentz’s debut as Minnesota Vikings quarterback a rousing success, setting a team record with two defensive touchdowns and forcing three of the Cincinnati Bengals’ five turnovers in a 48-10 romp Sunday for the worst loss in Bengals history.

Jordan Mason rushed for 116 yards and two scores on just 16 attempts, Will Reichard made a 62-yard field goal — the longest in Vikings history — as the first half ended and Wentz threw for two touchdowns over three quarters before yielding the mop-up work to rookie Max Brosmer.

Jake Browning was picked off twice in a rough start for the Bengals (2-1), who lost three of their five fumbles and missed Joe Burrow more than ever in their first game since their franchise quarterback had toe surgery that will sideline him for at least three months.

Wentz hit Josh Oliver and T.J. Hockenson for scores and went 14 of 20 for 173 yards without a turnover for the Vikings (2-1), who posted their most lopsided victory since 1998 and their highest score since 2015.

All the breaks in the action gave the stadium operations crew plenty of opportunities to spotlight Rodgers on the video board as he smiled for the camera and his teammates waved their arms around him to jokingly try to cool him off.

Rodgers took the pressure off Wentz, who had some early trouble avoiding the pass rush but never forced a throw or fumbled the ball in a performance befitting his 10th-year veteran status. Signed as a free agent just three weeks ago, Wentz found himself taking over the offense for the team he grew up rooting for in North Dakota after J.J. McCarthy was sidelined by a sprained ankle.

Browning, who spent his first two NFL seasons on Minnesota’s practice squad and the next two on Cincinnati’s, achieved backup status in 2023 and filled in admirably after a wrist injury forced Burrow out down the stretch. After helping the Bengals secure a 27-24 overtime victory over the Vikings that year, Browning impulsively shouted at a television camera, “They never should’ve cut me!”

Browns beat Packers on 55-yard FG as time expires

The Browns’ Andre Szmyt celebrates his game-winning field goal against the Packers on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

CLEVELAND — Andre Szmyt kicked a 55-yard field goal as time expired, and the Cleveland Browns rallied from a 10-0 deficit with under four minutes left to beat the Green Bay Packers 13-10 on Sunday.

The Browns (1-2) snapped an eight-game losing streak dating to last season when it appeared for much of the game they might be shut out. But the defense kept them in it with four sacks and came up with the key turnover that resulted in it being tied.

The Packers (2-1) appeared as if they might win with a last-minute field goal when they drove to the Browns 25, but Shelby Harris blocked a 43-yard field-goal attempt by Brandon McManus and Greg Newsome II recovered at the 47.

Cleveland took over and went 16 yards in five plays. Joe Flacco had an 8-yard completion on third-and-2 to get the ball to the Packers 35. Flacco then spiked the ball, bringing Szmyt on with two seconds remaining.

It was redemption for the rookie kicker, who missed an extra point and field goal in a 17-16 loss to the Bengals in Week 1.

Flacco was 21 of 36 for 142 yards and rookie Quinshon Judkins had 94 yards on 18 carries, including his first NFL touchdown to tie it at 10 with 3:02 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Jordan Love completed 18 of 25 passes for 183 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown to John FitzPatrick with 3:23 remaining in the third quarter to put the Packers up 10-0.

Cleveland avoided being shut out for the first time since Week 14 of the 2014 season when Szmyt’s field goal was good from 35 yards with 3:38 remaining.

On the ensuing series, the Browns came up with their first takeaway of the season with 3:18 remaining when Grant Delpit picked off Love’s pass and returned it 25 yards to the Packers 4. It was also Green Bay’s first turnover.

Two plays later, Judkins ran up the middle from 1 yard out to tie it.

The only points of the first half was a 43-yard field goal by McManus on Green Bay’s second series. The 13-play, 43-yard drive included three third-down conversions.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/21/nfc-north-week-3-minnesota-vikings-green-bay-packers/