If the Vikings go across the pond and build off the success they had Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium, the conversation surrounding who should start under center is bound to get much louder.

The question has already started to be asked in some circles after veteran quarterback Carson Wentz looked like a total professional while leading the Vikings to a 48-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. He completed 14 of 20 passes for 173 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He did not put the ball in harm’s way.

There’s an argument to be made that Wentz gives the Vikings a better chance to win in the short term than second-year QB J.J. McCarthy does at this point in his career.

But this isn’t about that.

Not after the performance running back Jordan Mason put forth for the Vikings in the blowout of the Bengals.

Though the storylines after the game centered on Wentz’s performance while filling in for McCarthy, and cornerback Isaiah Rodgers’ NFL history-making game, Mason’s dominance might have been the most important development for the Vikings.

Mason finished with 16 carries for 116 yards and two touchdowns. It was the first time since head coach Kevin O’Connell took over in Minnesota that a running back for the Vikings rushed for more than 100 yards and a pair of scores.

There was a nastiness to the way Mason ran as he used his 5-foot-11, 225-pound frame to deliver punishment to potential tacklers. He finished with 47 rush yards over expected, according to Next Gen Stats, which measures how many yards a player gained compared to how many yards an average player would be expected to gain on that play.

The effort from Mason was the epitome of the play style O’Connell has preached. Now it’s on O’Connell to let Mason shoulder the load.

That might be tough for O’Connell, considering he has made a name for himself as an offensive mastermind who can scheme players open. He has won with a potent passing attack pretty much wherever he has been. It’s seemingly written into his DNA to push the ball downfield.

Can he adjust if the Vikings need to lean more on the running game this season?

There are promising signs to suggest O’Connell has already started to alter those tendencies. He appears to be more committed to pounding the rock than ever before.

Maybe that’s because O’Connell is trying to lessen the load on Wentz and McCarthy in the short term. The key for O’Connell will be not reverting back to what’s comfortable down the road. He needs to stick with the running game, even when the passing game progresses.

It should be even easier for O’Connell to fully lean in after seeing how dynamic Mason can look with the ball in his hands. He was a beast for the San Francisco 49ers last season, and he looks like he could be a beast this season.

So long as he’s given the opportunity.

Frankly, whether it’s Wentz or McCarthy starting under center, they should be instructed to hand the ball off to Mason more often than not. That’s going to give the Vikings the best chance to win games, both now and in the future.

Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (27) center, is congratulated on his touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals by his teammates in the second quarter of a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

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