When the Vikings Made the Bengals Tap Out by Halftime

 

 When the Vikings Made the Bengals Tap Out by Halftime

Todd Swank's Diary Entry for September 28, 2025

Luke had his six-month checkup at Mayo Clinic this week, and everything came back stable. These visits always crank up our stress levels like it’s playoff overtime, but this time we got the win—no big changes since last time. Huge relief, and a little reminder that sometimes the best news is nothing new at all. Thank you, God.

Looking out the hospital window at downtown Rochester, it’s hard not to notice the giant crater where Mayo Clinic is busy reinventing itself. This place has been an important part of my life since 1970, when I had thumb surgery at just six weeks old.  All four members of my family have been patients here in recent years. The $5 billion expansion is noisy, messy, and tearing up downtown—but when it’s finished, the new towers will be cranking out miracles. Well worth the headache!

Last Sunday the kids joined me for the Vikings game, and thanks to a season-ticket holder tailgate we even got some family photos outside U.S. Bank Stadium. After the Falcons fiasco, I walked in braced for heartbreak—but let’s just say things went a little differently this time.

We had a new QB starting this game, which always feels like rolling dice with the football gods. Rookie J.J. McCarthy was sidelined with a high ankle sprain—maybe real, maybe just a convenient way to let the kid watch a little longer from the bench before we throw him back into the fire. That meant it was Carson Wentz time. I’ve followed him since his NDSU days, and knowing he grew up a Vikings fan only made me more excited to see what he could do in purple.

When Carson Wentz first ran out onto the field, I had my phone ready to film the moment—and instead of heading straight to warmups, he beelined over to his kids. He knelt down, spent a few minutes with them, and it just hit me: this guy looks like a really good dad. I love rooting for players who seem like good people off the field too, not just stat machines on Sunday.

On the sideline I caught O’Connell talking with Wentz and Jefferson before the game—calm, collected, invested. They call him a ‘quarterback whisperer’ for a reason. He’s got that rare balance of poise + pressure. I trust he’ll get J.J. ready when the time comes—but I’m also itching to see what he lets Wentz do now that he’s got the wheel.

Pretty soon the cheerleaders were out on the field to get everyone fired up for kickoff. The routine was sharp, the energy was high, and let’s just say the lineup looked a little different this year. Either way, they did their job—and the crowd was cheering and ready for football!

We weren’t the only ones playing a backup QB—Cincinnati was rolling with Jake Browning while Joe Burrow recovered from toe surgery. Browning had beaten us before, so I wasn’t ready to get cocky, but there was a quiet hope this matchup might tilt our way.

Watching Carson drop back behind the line, I wasn’t sure what we’d get—Hall of Fame magic or another journeyman cameo. Turns out he was steady and serviceable, which is exactly what we needed. He went 14 of 20 for 173 yards, threw a pair of touchdown passes, and most importantly, didn’t turn the ball over once. For a guy signed just three weeks ago, that’s a pretty solid day at the office.

By the end of the day, it felt good to see the Vikings back on track. The run game was pounding away for big chunks, and the defense flat-out stole the show—two touchdowns on turnovers will do that. After weeks of frustration, this one felt like a reset button. Next up, they head to Dublin to take on the Steelers, and I can’t wait to see if the momentum carries across the pond. Something tells me most of you already know how that went…

Miss Sheri was driving near our neighborhood last night and came across five deer. It’s a pretty common sight around here, but it still feels special every time. There’s something about a quiet encounter like that—it reminds you that even the ordinary can still feel pretty extraordinary if you let it.

@toddswank Carson Wentz preparing for his first start as a Minnesota Viking. Will this be the beginning of an era? #skol #vikings #quarterback #carsonwentz ♬ Lovin Myself - Ava Max

@toddswank Sep 21, 2025 – Vikings 48, Bengals 10! Absolute beatdown today. Defense scoring, Mason running wild, and a record-setting FG. What a day to be at the Bank! #SKOL #VikingsWin #PurplePride #NFLGameDay #MinnesotaVikings ♬ Let's Go - JAXSON GAMBLE

@toddswank This clip is from last week’s game vs the Falcons — Isaiah Rodgers spent 10 minutes throwing balls with kids before kickoff. Fast forward to this week vs the Bengals… he’s scoring pick-6s and defensive TDs. Class on and off the field. #I#IsaiahRodgersV#VikingsS#Skol ♬ Hold My Hand - Jess Glynne