Week 8 NFL Power Rankings still view Minnesota Vikings as a great team
The Minnesota Vikings found their first loss of the 2024 season when they fell 31-29 to the Detroit Lions on Sunday. It wasn't all bad as the Vikings answered their biggest question as they continue to navigate their schedule. The Vikings were somewhat exposed on Sunday with their pass defense gashed by one major concept. […]
The Minnesota Vikings found their first loss of the 2024 season when they fell 31-29 to the Detroit Lions on Sunday. It wasn't all bad as the Vikings answered their biggest question as they continue to navigate their schedule.
The Vikings were somewhat exposed on Sunday with their pass defense gashed by one major concept. It was an issue last season as well, which is a big deal that it's still causing issues. Despite that, they didn't fall down the power rankings very far and experts across the NFL still believe in them with the majority having them in the top five.
ESPN's NFL Nation
Last week: 2
This week: 6
Young riser: PK Will Reichard
The rookie sixth-rounder has made all 30 of his attempts this season, including 18-for-18 on extra point attempts and 12-for-12 on field goal tries, the most by any NFL kicker this season without a miss. That includes four makes of 53 yards or longer, and coach Kevin O'Connell said he was prepared to send out Reichard, 23, for a 68-yard attempt to win the Vikings' Week 7 game before a penalty pushed the line back 5 yards. — Kevin Seifert
Yahoo! Sports' Frank Schwab
Last week: 2
This week: 4
You shouldn’t downgrade the Vikings much. They’re a very good team who got beat in the final minute by a slightly better team. The trick will be not turning one loss into more, with a tricky Thursday night matchup at the Rams up next.
CBS Sports' Pete Prisco
Last week: 2
This week: 4
The Lions gave them their first loss of the season in large part because the defense wasn't as good. They have a short turnaround to play Thursday to get things fixed.
NFL.com's Eric Edholm
Last week: 1
This week: 4
It has to be a little concerning to the Vikings that the Lions moved the ball with ease through the middle part of the game, especially against a defense that had been borderline elite this season, but in no way, shape or form should Sunday's 31-29 loss be discrediting of Minnesota. Kevin O'Connell's team lost its first game in the final seconds to a highly motivated, highly talented division rival. This group never had realistic designs on 17-0; things are not much different today than they were Sunday morning. Aaron Jones gutted through injury to give this team an offensive boost. The Vikings dealt some blows and took a few more, but they never wavered. Sam Darnold rebounded from his worst outing this season before the Week 6 bye to have arguably his best on Sunday, even with an interception. Three of the next four are on the road, but all four are eminently winnable, so I expect this team to continue stacking successes, even after the first setback.
USA Today's Nate Davis
Last week: 2
This week: 3
They're also still unblemished on the road – and that's where they're going to live in the near term, four of their next five away from U.S. Bank Stadium, but only one of those trips (Chicago) to visit a club .500 or better.
The Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer
Last week: 2
This week: 3
The Vikings fought hard to come back vs. Detroit with their passing game and defense, but they saw their pass rush not come through late, leading to the first loss and giving up the division lead.
Bleacher Report's NFL Staff
Last week: 2
This week: 3
Despite Sunday's loss to the Lions, the Vikings didn't look out of place among the NFC's best. Yes, Minnesota has its first loss on its record. That's OK. No one expected the Vikings to go undefeated. In fact, most didn't expect them to start the season 5-1, particularly with Sam Darnold leading the way.
But Darnold and the team didn't look out of place against the Lions. Instead, Minnesota played well enough at points to have won the game. The Vikings came up just short, yet they showed that they very much belong among this year's top contenders. — Brent Sobleski
Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr
Last week: 3
This week: 5
This should not be any disrespect to the Vikings, who, like the Texas Longhorns on Saturday, lost to a great team also at their best and had to take a tiny little slide down the rankings because of it. I did not come out of Sunday any less impressed with Sam Darnold, Brian Flores or Kevin O’Connell. Really, Minnesota’s loss came down to who was holding the ball last and, as a show of respect to Minnesota, Dan Campbell went way out of his way to ensure that didn’t happen. The Lions took a tremendous risk throwing the ball into double coverage to set up a game-winning field goal. If any of that goes haywire, we’re talking about the Vikings being the best team in football on Tuesday morning.
The Ringer's Diante Lee
Last week: 8
This week: 7
With running back Aaron Jones back in the lineup, the Vikings offense instantly regained its balanced identity and went blow-for-blow with one of the league’s best teams before losing a close one to the Lions. Sam Darnold is playing well against almost every defense he’s faced this season, and we’re seeing that he’s able to spread the ball around when Justin Jefferson draws all the defensive attention. Even if the Vikings aren’t quite at the level of the top tier of Super Bowl contenders yet, their playing style and quality of coaching puts them right at the doorstep.
Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio
Last week: 3
This week: 4
Can they recover from losing to the Lions before Thursday night?
The Athletic's Josh Kendall
Last week: 1
This week: 3
How many good wins are we giving the Vikings credit for with the 49ers looking iffy? Honestly, Sunday’s loss to the Lions may have been Minnesota’s second-best showing. If Jake Bates misses a 44-yard field goal with 15 seconds left, the Vikings are still undefeated. Minnesota remains fourth in the league in point differential (61 points).
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