The Minnesota Vikings are 12-2 and are proving they can be a force in the NFC. Three wins will win the Vikings the NFC North and that performance should win head coach Kevin O'Connell Coach of the Year.
With all that said, are the Vikings given enough respect? Last week's power rankings have the Vikings firmly as a top five team with just one analyst not believing in them.
When you look at the Vikings as a whole, they are an excellent team with an explosive offense and defense that can force turnovers.
In this week's power rankings, the Vikings fell down a spot or two in most analysts' eyes, despite dominating the Chicago Bears 30-12 on Monday Night Football. How does that make sense, especially after the Lions lost multiple defensive starters for the year? The rationale below is both fascinating and doesn't make a ton of sense.
ESPN's NFL Nation
Last week: 5
This week: 5
Biggest improvement: Wide receiver Jordan Addison's play
Injuries, off-field issues and a lack of familiarity with quarterback Sam Darnold generated plenty of questions about Addison, the Vikings' first-round pick in 2023. Through Week 8, he had caught 14 passes and only one touchdown while playing in parts of five games. But Addison has turned it around in the second half of the season. He caught 37 passes between Weeks 9 and 15 for 540 yards. His six touchdown catches in that span are tied for third in the NFL. -- Kevin Seifert
Yahoo! Sports' Frank Schwab
Last week: 5
This week: 5
The Vikings took a 10-0 lead and hit cruise control, knowing the defense wasn’t going to give the Bears too much. It wasn’t the prettiest game but a 12-2 record is impressive.
CBS Sports' Pete Prisco
Last week: 5
This week: 4
It was a little disjointed against the Bears, but they just keep on winning. They face a tough road game at Seattle this week as they eye the potential division title.
NFL.com's Eric Edholm
Last week: 5
This week: 5
The defense set the tone in the first half with two turnovers on downs and a strip sack by Jonathan Greenard that sent a tremor through U.S. Bank Stadium, and the offense scored after all three stops, giving Minnesota the 13-0 halftime lead. Chicago kept hanging around in spite of the mistakes, as Sam Darnold threw a second-quarter pick and found himself in a third-quarter funk. But Darnold ripped a beautiful pass to Justin Jefferson to set up the Aaron Jones touchdown, and the Vikings cruised from there. This was another statement victory against a team Minnesota dawdled around against (and almost lost to) in Chicago. It was also the Vikes' seventh straight win, giving them more positive momentum heading into the tough final slate: at Seattle, vs. Green Bay, at Detroit. With Detroit ailing and the top seed still within reach, Minnesota's confidence has to be soaring.
USA Today's Nate Davis
Last week: 5
This week: 5
Like the Lions, they also control their path to the NFC North crown – one that could end with a winner-take-all game at Ford Field in Week 18 … and the way things are trending, the Vikes, who have won their last seven games, look increasingly poised to pillage.
The Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer
Last week: 3
This week: 5
The Vikings moved into a tie with the Lions by extending their winning streak to seven with a home win over the Bears on Monday night. Minnesota is rolling with its signature passing game and keeps getting what it needs from the attacking defense.
Bleacher Report's NFL Staff
Last week: 4
This week: 5
Things have gotten very interesting for the Minnesota Vikings—in more than one way.
Not only did Monday's win over the Chicago Bears pull the Vikings into a virtual tie atop the NFC North with a massive Week 18 matchup in Detroit looming on the schedule, but once Minnesota's playoff run ends, the team has to figure out what to do with quarterback Sam Darnold.
If Darnold can navigate a three-game gauntlet to end the season that includes games with the Packers and Lions, it's going to be difficult to justify kicking him to the curb.
Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr
Last week: 4
This week: 5
A fitting tribute from Justin Jefferson, Cris Carter, Jake Reed and all manner of Vikings to the legend Randy Moss on Monday Night Football. Get well soon.
The Ringer's Diante Lee
Last week: 7
This week: 7
Within two possessions, it was clear on Monday night that Brian Flores’s defense would have little trouble shutting down Caleb Williams and the Chicago offense. The Bears offensive line got rocked throughout the game by this Minnesota pass rush. With its constantly changing coverage looks, Flores’s defense is able to feast against offenses as simple as what the Bears are running. The door is now open for Minnesota to win the division and the 1-seed in the conference.
Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio
Last week: 4
This week: 4
They have a shot at their first 15-win season since Randy Moss’s rookie year.
The Athletic's Josh Kendall
Last week: 3
This week: 5
MVP: Wide receiver Justin Jefferson
Sorry, Sam Darnold, we’re going with the more proven commodity here. Jefferson is second in the league in receiving with 1,243 yards. He has topped 1,000 yards every season of his career and has a good chance to get past 1,500 for the third time in five seasons. This is why the Vikings gave him $110 million in guaranteed money in a four-year extension this summer.
