The Vikings won ugly…where will that land them?
The Minnesota Vikings are coming off a win, and an ugly one, over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 10. Teams consistently above the Vikings in the power rankings this season — like the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs — also won in ugly fashion.
But a win is a win, and how will that factor into the Vikings’ place in the power rankings landscape?
I’m glad you asked — here is the consensus look at this week’s power rankings.
If you have any other rankings you think should be included, feel free to DM me @Brandon_Warne on the tweets.
Let’s talk to it (rankings are hyperlinked for maximum clickage):
The Rankings
- NFL.com — 6th (previously 6th)
Key excerpt: “The Vikings know they have to throw their full weight behind Darnold if they’re going to shake this post-bye malaise. He’s really their best shot, warts and all, but it’s nice to know the defense can still bail out the offense.
- The Athletic/New York Times — 8th (previously 7th)
Key excerpt: “Sunday was the game the Sam Darnold skeptics have been waiting for.”
Key excerpt: “Non-QB MVP: Running back Aaron Jones. Receiver Justin Jefferson is the Vikings’ best player, but Jones’ impact on the offense has been enormous this season.”
- Pro Football Talk — 8th (previously 8th)
Key excerpt: “The more time Sam Darnold has to throw, the less accurate the throws seem to be.”
- CBS Sports (Pete Prisco) — 7th (previously 7th)
Key excerpt: “Sam Darnold needs to get back playing good football. That showing in Jacksonville was bad with his three picks. Good teams will make him pay for it.”
- Palm Beach Post (Joe Schad) — 7th (previously 6th)
Key excerpt: “Justin Jefferson is second in the NFL in receiving yards.”
- The Score — 6th (previously 5th)
Key excerpt: “T.J. Hockenson is back. The tight end already has over half as many receiving yards (99) in two games as Josh Oliver (182) has in nine.”
- NFL Trade Rumors — 10th (previously 6th)
Key excerpt: “This is reminiscent of the 2022 Vikings team, a season in which they didn’t look inspiring but built an impressive record regardless.”
- Sports Illustrated — 5th (previously 6th)
Key excerpt: “I enjoy how Sam Darnold has just his second game of the season in which his quarterback rating is under 100 and we’re now treating it as if he’s the Cinderella carriage that has been turned back into a pumpkin.”
- USA Today — 8th (previously 6th)
Key excerpt: “Too bad the Vikes don’t reside in the AFC South, whose teams they’ve beaten by an average of 13.3 points. They can complete a divisional season sweep Sunday in Nashville.”
- Yahoo! Sports — 11th (previously 9th)
Key excerpt: “…but the last two weeks is why Darnold never took off with the Jets or Panthers.”
- The 33rd Team — 5th (previously 5th)
Key excerpt: “They’ll need Darnold to be better moving forward, but this is the type of ugly win that good teams need to get.”
- Marquee Sports Network — 7th (previously 7th)
Key excerpt: “Vikings defense gave Sam Darnold a mulligan. Vikes QB has to be better moving forward.”
- New York Post — 8th (previously 7th)
Key excerpt: “An ugly win is still a win.”
Average ranking: 7.43 (104 ranking points/14 rankings with NFL.com ranking pending)
Spare thoughts: I absolutely love the point made in the Sports Illustrated excerpt. Darnold has been nails in every game except two this season, and people are acting like he needs to be taken out back and given the Ol’ Yeller treatment.
What do you think? Join the conversation below (and recommend other power rankings to add if you wish)!