The Cincinnati Bengals topped the Minnesota Vikings by a score of 27-24 in overtime on Saturday afternoon, and the win meant something a little extra to quarterback Jake Browning.
Browning, who went undrafted out of the University of Washington back in 2019, ended up signing with the Vikings as a free agent later that offseason. However, Browning never played a snap for Minnesota before ultimately being released by the club in September 2020.
He proceeded to sign with the Bengals in September 2021 and had been serving as Joe Burrow’s backup until Burrow went down for the season with a wrist injury last month.
Well, Browning got his opportunity for revenge this weekend, and he delivered, going 29-for-42 with 324 yards, a couple of touchdowns and an interception.
“It was definitely a little extra,” Browning said, via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. “I remember getting cut there last time and just being told, ‘We might have a spot for you on the practice squad but go back to the hotel and wait.’ So I sat in the hotel for a couple hours not knowing if I had a job or not, and just got a call from my agent. They didn’t tell me. I had been there for two years. I’ve been cut my fair share of times and that was probably the shittiest one. There was a little bit more this week.”
Browning showed some extra emotion when the Bengals kicked the game-winning field goal during the extra session.
“That one felt good,” Browning said. “Right after the field goal to win the game I screamed at the camera, ‘They never should have cut me.’”
Cincinnati has now won three straight games, all coming with Jake Browning under center. The Bengals improved to 8-6 with their win over the Vikings and will head on the road to battle the Pittsburgh Steelers next Saturday. They will then take on the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns to close out the regular season.
Cincy is aiming to make its third straight trip to the playoffs.
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