The Minnesota Vikings finally getting respect in latest NFL power rankings, near unanimously a top 5 team
The Minnesota Vikings aren't just sitting at 3-0, they are dominating the top competition in the National Football League. It's been a really impressive start for the Vikings where they haven't trailed in the majority of the games. How NFL media has viewed the Vikings in past years hasn't been with rose-colored glasses. Their 13-4 […]
The Minnesota Vikings aren't just sitting at 3-0, they are dominating the top competition in the National Football League. It's been a really impressive start for the Vikings where they haven't trailed in the majority of the games.
How NFL media has viewed the Vikings in past years hasn't been with rose-colored glasses. Their 13-4 season wasn't about the success the Vikings were having but rather how it was unsustainable. Each of the Vikings' three wins this year wasn't just earned, it was convincing and not a fluke.
The power rankings heading into week four give the Vikings a lot more respect, including all but one having the Vikings in the top five.
ESPN's NFL Nation
Last week: 11
This week: 3
Biggest issue on offense: Right guard play
There haven't been many issues for a team that ranks fourth in the NFL in both scoring (26 points per game) and overall offensive efficiency (72.03). But if we're nitpicking, the Vikings continue to cover for subpar play from right guard Ed Ingram. Through three weeks, Ingram ranks 54th in pass block win rate (82%) and 44th in run block win rate (68.1%) among guards. The Vikings could mix in veteran Dalton Risner when he is activated from injured reserve, but if the worst thing you can say about an offense is that one interior offensive lineman is underperforming, you're probably in pretty good shape. — Kevin Seifert
Yahoo! Sports' Frank Schwab
Last week: 11
This week: 4
Sam Darnold avoided a significant knee injury and shouldn't miss any time with a bone bruise. That's great news because Darnold is having a fantastic start to the season. There's no reason to believe he can't continue this pace. The Vikings' offense will get better when Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson return.
Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio
Last week: 11
This week: 7
Currently, they’re the most balanced team in the NFL.
The Athletic's Josh Kendall
Last week: 7
This week: 4
Surprise: Sam Darnold’s start
Surprise: Sam Darnold’s start
He might turn into a pumpkin by Halloween, but for now Darnold leads the NFL in touchdown passes (eight) while throwing only two interceptions. Given up on by the Jets, Panthers and 49ers, Darnold is third in the league in passer rating (117.3) playing for Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell. Darnold’s best passer rating in his first six seasons in the league was 92.6, but he outplayed Houston’s C.J. Stroud on Sunday by a wide margin, throwing four touchdown passes. One note on defense: The Vikings became the third team since 1990 to have at least five sacks in each of their first three games.
CBS Sports' Pete Prisco
Last week: 5
This week: 3
The good news is Sam Darnold isn't badly hurt. Did I just write that? Yes because he's played so well in the 3-0 start that his health really matters.
NFL.com's Eric Edholm
Last week: 15
This week: 3
Vikings fans: Yes, I hear you! You’ve proven your point, and it’s time for that point to be reflected properly in these rankings. I harbored some doubt about Sam Darnold and a banged-up offense, as well as a defense that had been impressive the first two games but with clear caveats. Throw those concerns out the window following the 27-point blowout of the Texans, who were pretty much cooked by the third quarter. Darnold was sacked four times, but the offense took advantage of great field position on the first two scores. That was thanks to a masterful defensive game plan from Brian Flores, who could once again be a head-coaching candidate to watch this coming offseason. He blitzed the heck out of C.J. Stroud, and the plan worked. Stroud had been effective versus extra rushers his first season-plus, but the Vikings were undaunted in coming after him. And what a sweet day it had to be for Jonathan Greenard to sting his former team for three sacks.
The Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer
Last week: 13
This week: 4
The Vikings have built a strong resume by knocking off the 49ers and Texans back-to-back at home. Their offense is being operated well by Sam Darnold, and the defense is going gangbusters under DC Brian Flores. This fun can continue.
Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr
Last week: 9
This week: 5
What has been masterful about Brian Flores’s defensive performances to me is that, like some of the other Bill Belichick disciples who have left New England only to commit the same sins—loading up on former Patriots, paying them big money and trying to run the same defense—Flores has loaded up on former Dolphins and Patriots. However, he has taken those players and plugged them into a whirlwind defensively that is zigging while the rest of the NFL is sitting in Cover 2 and praying for no big plays (sorry gang, Andy Dalton is back and that’s not gonna happen). While it’s harder to maintain a great offense than a great defense, and at some point the referees and the league will step in to goose scoring, we need to take note of how wonderful and maddening this defense has been over the course of three games.
How Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell took a widely used concept and fooled the Texans defense is sheer brilliance
Creativity is a staple in Kevin O’Connell’s offense
