What to know when the Vikings travel to play the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday afternoon:

Vikings at Bengals

When: 12 p.m. Saturday

Where: Paycor Stadium

TV: NFL Network

Radio: KFAN

Line: Bengals – 3.0

Over/Under: 40.5

Keys for the Vikings

— It’s on head coach Kevin O’Connell to put veteran quarterback Nick Mullens in a position to succeed in his first start. His game plan left something to be desired with journeyman Josh Dobbs running the show last week against the Raiders. The offense that O’Connell has put together thrives on rhythm and timing, and while Mullens probably has a limited ceiling given his skill set, he should be able to execute better than Dobbs given his experience in the system.

— Expect defensive coordinator Brian Flores to send pressure over and over again as he tries to rattle Bengals quarterback Jake Browning. Though he has emerged as a fun story as of late, Browning is about to get his biggest test to date. How he responds could determine the outcome of the game.

Keys for the Bengals

— There will be opportunities for the Bengals to rush the passer since the Vikings will be without star right tackle Brian O’Neill. They have to take advantage of that missing piece. Though the rest of the offensive line is in tact, the Vikings are going to be susceptible to plays being blown up before they even get started.

— If Browning gets pressured in the pocket, that likely means his pass catchers are going to get some single coverage on the outside. It’s on him to give guys like star receiver Ja’Marr Chase a chance to break the game open with a deep pass downfield.

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