Bengals vs. Vikings final score: Cincinnati blows out Minnesota 42-14 to inch closer to postseason berth

The Cincinnati Bengals had a chance to clinch a playoff berth in the AFC this Sunday and all they had to do was get some lucky bounces elsewhere around the league and beat the Minnesota Vikings. It was clear from the start that one of those two things was going to be very easily accomplished as the Bengals steamrolled the Vikings in a brutal blowout that may end up costing Leslie Frazier his job at the end of the year.

Andy Dalton can be thanked for all of that as he went bananas on the Vikings defense, throwing for over 350 yards and four touchdowns on the day. A.J. Green benefited nicely from the offensive surge, scoring a pair of touchdowns in addition to going over 100 yards receiving.

It’s not like the Vikings defense stood much of a chance, but the fact that they put up so little fight isn’t good for Leslie Frazier’s future in Minnesota. Jay Glazer said before the game on FOX that the last two games for the Vikings were crucial to Frazier’s future and so far that future is bleaker than ever.

But things are brighter and shinier in Cincinnati this afternoon as the win, coupled with a Dolphins loss, means the Bengals will  be punching their ticket to the postseason for the third consecutive year. The Bengals offense may have been up against a lackluster secondary but Dalton’s razor sharp arm sliced though Vikings defense in a way that gave warning to other AFC teams writing Cincinnati off after last Sunday night’s loss to the Steelers. The Bengals are hardly favorites, but after a 42-14 blowout win, the conference is on notice.