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Well, after the lackluster performance that the Minnesota Vikings put up against the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Soldier Field, you'd probably expect them to begin trending back down the power rankings. And your expectations will be met in this week's roundup, as you'll see here shortly.
Here is the data for this week's roundup.
| Average Ranking (Number of Rankings) | 24.33 (9) |
| Average Change from Last Week | -3.33 |
| Highest Ranking (Source) | 23 (3 different sources) |
| Lowest Ranking (Source) | 26 (3 different sources) |
| Biggest Positive/Smallest Negative Change (Source) | -2 (SB Nation/Yahoo!) |
| Largest Negative/Smallest Positive Change (Source) | -6 (Fox Sports) |
And now, here is the graphic representation.
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So, what do the "experts" around the interwebs have to say? Let's take a look.
SB Nation: 23rd (Last week: 21st)
No team-specific commentary
SI.com: 24th (Last week: 20th)
Undoubtedly, there is potential for the Vikings' Teddy Bridgewater-led offense. At present, however, Bridgewater has turned jumpy behind an offensive line that couldn't block off a parking space if you provided the traffic cones. The result is a game like Sunday's in Chicago, where the Vikings managed just 243 total yards.
ESPN: 24th (Last week: 21st)
Minnesota is 0-6-1 in its past seven divisional road games, so at least the Vikings get to host the red-hot Packers this week. They've got that going for them, which is nice.
(Hey, that's our reference, damn it.)
NFL.com: 24th (Last week: 21st)
Thought the Vikings had a shot to pick up another victory Sunday, even though I predicted Chicago would win at home. Yet, despite facing a terribly ineffective Bears defense, Minnesota's passing game didn't get one play of 25-plus yards, and the Jerick McKinnon- Matt Asiata combo platter carried the ball all of nine times. Bear in mind the fact that this was a one-score game.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: 26th (Last week: 23rd)
Teddy Bridgewater is looking like a rookie passer. But that's OK. It's all about next season.
Pat Kirwan, CBS Sports: 23rd (Last week: 20th)
The Vikings are young with a lot of fight and a rookie QB in Teddy Bridgewater. Now without Adrian Peterson the rest of the season (at least), they are building for 2015. I think they fall short of 8-8 this season, but with another solid draft they could contend.
Yahoo! Shutdown Corner: 23rd (Last week: 21st)
Sunday's loss to the Bears was the fifth time in six games the Vikings didn't reach 20 points. And it was against the Bears, who give up 14 by the time the national anthem is done. Lot of work to be done there.
USA Today: 26th (Last week: 21st)
They get to play their next three games at TCF Bank Stadium, where the game clocks work perfectly well.
Fox Sports: 26th (Last week: 20th)
This doesn't look like a Norv Turner offense. Despite a matchup against a reeling Bears secondary, Teddy Bridgewater didn't attempt a pass more than 20 yards downfield until the final play of the game.
Not a whole lot we didn't already know, sadly. I wouldn't anticipate these numbers getting back on the upward trend when we do this next week, either.