Vikings Take a Step Back in Power Rankings during Week Off
Dustin Baker
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The Minnesota Vikings took the week off for a bye – and lost ground in the national opinion pecking order.
Why? Because the Las Vegas Raiders win over the Philadelphia Eagles bumped Derek Carr’s team to the #11 spot while sliding the Vikings back to #15, per NFL.com’s weekly power rankings.
Last week, Minnesota lived in the 14th slot after a thrilling win over the Carolina Panthers, although the Vikings should’ve stomped on the necks of the Panthers multiple times before the game became thrilling.
Dan Hanzus of NFL.com sandwiched the Vikings this week between the Kansas City Chiefs (#14) and Indianapolis Colts (#16). The Chiefs are undergoing turmoil not yet seen in the Mahomes era, whereas the Colts rebounded nicely as of late following a gruesome 0-3 start to 2021.
For Minnesota heading into Week 8, Hanzus made a point to talk about quarterback Kirk Cousins and his impact on the 3-3 Vikings:
“On a recent edition of the Around The NFL Podcast, we probed Vikings beat reporter Arif Hasan on the relationship between Mike Zimmer and Kirk Cousins. The tension between the head coach and starting quarterback seems palpable at times, but Hasan asserted that any frustrations with Cousins as a QB (or teammate) are largely negated by his play. The veteran might not ever inspire lengthy monologues about his leadership abilities, but he stacks numbers, year after year. The production will sneak up on you: In 58 games as Minnesota’s starter, Cousins has completed over 69 percent of his 1,805 attempts for 104 touchdowns and just 31 interceptions. His passer rating of 103.9 over that span represents the production of a star. Why don’t we see him that way?”
The answer to Hanzus’ question pertains to the Vikings offensive line. Since Cousins joined the franchise in 2018, the pass-protecting acumen of Minnesota’s offensive line has been dreadful most of the time. In 2021, the group has improved – and surprise, surprise – so has the general opinion of Cousins.
Thankfully – unlikely 2020 – the Vikings defense is playing competently, making Cousins’ life a bit easier. Through seven weeks, Minnesota ranks 13th in NFL in points allowed per game. At the end of the pandemic season, the Vikings were the league’s fourth-worst team per points allowed. With baby steps, head coach Mike Zimmer’s defense is returning to Zimmerian form.
If the postseason began this afternoon, the Vikings would own the seventh seed, placing them in a road contest with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Many NFC teams theorized as contenders – the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks, for example – have encountered troubles, clearing a path for the Vikings to inhabit the final spot of playoff positioning.
The next four games for Minnesota – Dallas, Baltimore, Los Angeles Chargers, Green Bay – are ominous. But if the Vikings can hold serve with a 2-2 record or so, Zimmer’s team should be in a good spot to remain in postseason contention after an 0-2 start to 2021.
The Vikings host the hot Dallas Cowboys this weekend on Halloween night. Per Hanzus’ rankings, the Cowboys are the NFL’s fourth-best team through seven weeks.
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).
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