Vikings Climbed Higher than Anyone in NFL.com’s Pecking Order This Week
Dustin Baker
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Due to a commendable road victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 10, the Minnesota Vikings climbed NFL.com’s pecking order of power rankings more than any NFL team.
In Week 9, following another meltdown loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota sunk to #21 in the league list of best teams. The Vikings had a 14-point lead over Baltimore – twice – and still squandered the game late, gutting the Vikings to a shameful 3-5 record.
But they exorcised demons in Week 10. Kirk Cousins and his Vikings downed the then 5-3 Chargers, displaying consistently aggressive offensive and some sturdy defense. And for the offense, the four-quarters prosperity was a big deal. In almost every 2021 game, Minnesota offense hopped out to a hot start, only to drag in the second and third quarters. Versus Los Angeles, the Vikings kept a foot on the gas pedal all game long. Wouldn’t you know it – the Vikings won as a result. Wild how that works.
The Chargers were no slouch. They led the AFC West before Sunday, falling off the throne thanks to Mike Zimmer’s Vikings.
At least for a while, national NFL punditry recognized the feat. Minnesota climbed to #14 in NFL.com‘s power rankings – a seven-rung climb in one week. No other team rose as much as that from Week 10 to Week 11. Here’s what Dan Hanzus said about the Vikings this week:
The Vikings’ offense needed to start taking chances again. The attack had become increasingly conservative in recent weeks, with Kirk Cousins repeatedly throwing short of the sticks. That changed in Sunday’s win over the Chargers, a critical victory in which Justin Jefferson re-established himself as the most explosive playmaker on the team. Jefferson was uncoverable at times, finishing with nine catches for 143 yards, including the crucial 27-yard catch late in the fourth quarter that helped Minnesota run out the clock to seal the win. Per Next Gen Stats, Cousins was 5-for-6 for 114 yards when targeting Jefferson more than 10 yards downfield. It’s a trend that must continue with a critical showdown against the Packers on tap.
The Vikings flirted with this position not long ago. After stunningly beating the Carolina Panthers, Zimmer’s team also sprinted to the 14-hole. Yet, after losses to the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens, the franchise tumbled – rightfully so – down to #21.
Sitting at #14, the Vikings are considered bedfellows with teams like the New Orleans Saints (#13) and Indianapolis Colts (#15).
The key for Minnesota will be prolonging the wins. When they lost five out of eight matchups to begin the season, the margin for error was trimmed immensely. The Vikings can only really lose about two more games to stay classified as a playoff contender. Right now, Minnesota is a half-game behind the upstart Panthers, who were energized by Cam Newton’s return to the franchise last Sunday.
After 10 weeks, the Vikings are finally over the hump of a brutally tricky schedule. The Green Bay Packers will not be easy this weekend, but that game is the only one remaining against a conference-frontrunning team. Aside from Green Bay twice, the Vikings will play the 49ers, Lions, Steelers, Rams, and Bears (twice). If Zimmer’s team is actually good and clutch down the stretch, there should be a 6-2 or 5-3 record in there somewhere. We shall see if the against-the-Chargers mentality carries over.
Per DVOA, the Vikings remaining schedule is the 10th-easiest in the league from here on out.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
Also Read: Vikings a Whisker Away from Playoff Seeding
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