After a 12-3 record where the Minnesota Vikings are arguably the most clutch team in the National Football League, they are still not getting enough respect.
Hell, one analyst had a depleted, inconsistent Los Angeles Chargers team ranked ahead of them.
Power rankings are more often than not a futile exercise, but they give a real sense of where the media believes the Vikings rank across the league.
This week’s rankings show that they are relatively consistent, but the rationale for each one is slightly different.
Nate Davis-USA Today
Last week: 8
This week: 7
Davis doesn’t have high hopes for the Vikings getting that number one seed.
“In order to keep their slim hopes of taking the home field from Philadelphia alive, dome-dwelling Vikes will have to win at Green Bay and Chicago as they conclude regular season.”
Mike Florio-Pro Football Talk
Last week: 7
This week: 7
Florio is starting to get convinced that the Vikings might be for real.
“At a certain point, it’s no longer luck.”
Dan Hanzus-NFL.com
Last week: 8
This week: 7
Hanzus praised Jefferson and his ability to be a true difference maker.
“While doubters keep wondering when regression will take hold, the Vikings keep winning. Minnesota triumphed in yet another one-score game on Saturday, getting a walk-off 61-yard field goal from Greg Joseph to beat the Giants, 27-24. Joseph got his chance thanks to Justin Jefferson, whose 17-yard completion in the final minute moved the ball into Giants territory and capped another dominant day from a player who absolutely deserves to be in the MVP conversation. The Vikings are 11-0 in one-score games this season, and Jefferson has been in the middle of the action during every crucible moment. A true difference-maker.”
Vinnie Iyer-Sporting News
Last week: 6
This week: 7
Iyer had the Vikings dropping a spot due to the Cowboys beating the Eagles.
“The Vikings aren’t lucky. They put themselves in position to win with good offensive play design that involves top skill players Justin Jefferson, Dalvin Cook and T.J. Hockenson at the right times. They also proved defense and special teams can be a factor when needed.”
Pete Prisco-CBS Sports
Last week: 6
This week: 6
Prisco continues to be the high man on the Vikings and we love him for it.
“At 12-3, they are pushing to be the second seed. But if the Eagles were to stumble twice, they could end up with the top seed if they won out.”
NFL Staff-Bleacher Report
Last week: 7
This week: 7
Bleacher Report has been really consistent with how they view the Vikings.
“The Minnesota Vikings like to keep things interesting. When kicker Greg Joseph blasted through a franchise-record 61-yard field goal as time expired to beat the Giants, it marked Minnesota’s 11th one-score win and the sixth time the Vikings have won this season with a score in the final minute of the fourth quarter or in overtime. Both are NFL records.
By the time the dust settles on the 2022 campaign, wide receiver Justin Jefferson may have a record of his own. After another huge game, Jefferson needs 209 yards to break Calvin Johnson’s single-season receiving record.
The question now is whether a Vikings team that lives dangerously with such regularity and sports the worst pass defense in the league can continue pulling rabbits from hats in the playoffs.”
NFL Nation-ESPN
Last week: 7
This week: 7
ESPN has been consistent with the Vikings the last few weeks.
“In the most improbable moment of a most improbable season, the NFL’s receiving leader snagged a high pass from Kirk Cousins with one hand and held on as he crashed to the ground late in the Vikings’ Week 10 game at Buffalo. The 32-yard play allowed the Vikings to continue their final possession of regulation; the Vikings eventually turned the ball over on downs at Buffalo’s 1-yard line, but they scored on the next play after recovering a Josh Allen fumble in the end zone. The Vikings prevailed in overtime, one of eight games they’ve won after trailing or being tied in the fourth quarter. On the year, Minnesota has won an NFL-record 11 games by one score.”
Austin Gayle-The Ringer
Last week: 7
This week: 7
Gayle has moved the Vikings up to deep postseason contenders, which is what they are.
“Justin Jefferson is a runaway favorite (minus-800) to win Offensive Player of the Year, and rightfully so. No other non-quarterback has done more for their team this season than Jefferson. Tyreek Hill has blown the top off the ceiling of the Dolphins’ offense, but what separates Jefferson is what he does to raise the floor for the Vikings offense and help his team win close games.”
NFL Staff-The Athletic
Last week: 9
This week: 7
The Athletic moved up the Vikings after an impressive win over the Giants.
“Another week, another one-score victory for the team of destiny that has now won all 11 of its one-score games this season, an NFL record. It would be easy or incurious to chalk that up to a string of good luck bound to bounce back or to say the Vikings’ plus-five point differential is a better indication of their standing relative to the rest of the league (10th, sandwiched between the Jaguars and Jets). Instead, how about a little faith that what’s going on is exactly what it looks like? Minnesota simply wants it more than every team it lines up against.”
Conor Orr-Sports Illustrated
Last week: 7
This week: 8
“The Vikings are collecting one miraculous win after another. Last week, we wondered if the Colts game would produce some level of fatigue. This week, they edged the Giants on a 61-yard field goal. Their constants have remained constant in 2022, and this week we’ll get a glimpse of them operating in a true playoff atmosphere.”
Frank Schwab-Yahoo! Sports
Last week: 7
This week: 7
Schwab is a believer in Kirk Cousins.
“If you signed a quarterback and he delivered 20,504 yards, 151 touchdowns to 47 interceptions and a 101.3 passer rating in five seasons, including one season that included eight fourth-quarter game-winning drives for a 12-3 team, that’s a good signing, right? It’s OK for Kirk Cousins haters to acknowledge that Cousins isn’t as bad as you like to think.”
