The Minnesota Vikings officially have the second-best record in the National Football League and the power rankings aren’t all the way there in reflecting that just yet.
The Vikings have been consistently in the top five across the power rankings but they aren’t getting the respect they deserve considering how good they have been this year.
This week, the Vikings saw some movement both up and down, including their highest ranking from their biggest critic.
Mike Florio-Pro Football Talk
Last week: 5
This week: 2
Florio has been incredibly critical of the Vikings so far, but he is finally giving them some credit.
“It probably won’t last, but they’ve earned it one win at a time.”
Nate Davis-USA Today
Last week: 5
This week: 7
Davis dropped the Vikings down two spots after their win against the Washington Commanders.
“WR Justin Jefferson’s next 100-yard receiving game will give him 20 in his career – and the record for most in a player’s first three seasons. Buy QB Kirk Cousins some more ice – new TE T.J. Hockenson ate into Jefferson’s target share Sunday – and he’s sure to get the ball.”
Dan Hanzus-NFL.com
Last week: 7
This week: 7
Hanzus still isn’t buying into the Vikings despite their 7-1 start.
“The Vikings once again found a way on Sunday against the Commanders, improving to 7-1 for the first time since 2009 and perhaps extinguishing any lingering drama about who will be crowned NFC North champions come January. T.J. Hockenson’s debut was incredibly encouraging: The ex-Lions tight end, who practiced just three times in Minnesota after last week’s trade, hauled in all nine of his targets from Kirk Cousins for 70 yards. Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook will continue to be the main drivers of this offense, but Hockenson needed just one afternoon to prove how useful a playmaker at tight end can be in this attack.”
MMQB Staff-Sports Illustrated
Last week: NA
This week: 6
The staff is very split on the Vikings with rankings as high as four and as low as 14, which if you ask me is quite absurd to have a 7-1 team ranked as low as 14.
“Raise your hand if you thought the Vikings would be up five games in the loss column over everyone else in the NFC North at this point in the season. It hasn’t always been pretty, but the Vikings have beaten everyone on their schedule except the Eagles.”
Pete Prisco-CBS Sports
Last week: 4
This week: 3
Prisco has been consistently high on the Vikings and that hasn’t changed.
“All they do is keep winning games. It’s six straight now. They face a big game this week on the road at Buffalo.”
NFL Nation-ESPN
Last week: 5
This week: 4
The Vikings stay top five according to ESPN and it’s hard to argue.
“Jefferson is the Vikings’ best player and is making a run at his goal of finishing out this season as the top receiver in the NFL. He ranks second in the league in receiving yards (867) and fifth in receptions (59). He only has three touchdown catches, but Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has begun throwing him 50-50 balls in the end zone to increase his opportunities. The addition of tight end T.J. Hockenson, meanwhile, has given defenses another point of focus as they consider whether to double-team Jefferson. — Kevin Seifert”
