Minnesota Vikings Power Rankings Roundup, Week 10

Generally, when a National Football League team spends a week not playing, their standing in the Power Rankings around the internet doesn’t change that much. This week, the Minnesota Vikings got the opportunity to rest on Sunday and watch the rest of the league, and now it’s time to see if they have risen, fallen, or stayed the same in the eyes of the pundits we use to put together our Power Rankings Roundup.

So, let’s get to it, shall we?

Associated Press: #7 (Last week: #8)

No Vikings-centric commentary from the Associated Press this week.

SB Nation: #11 (Last week: #11)

No Vikings-centric commentary from the mothership this week.

Walter Cherepinsky, Walter Football: #13 (Last week: #12)

Nothing new or noteworthy from Walter Football this week.

MMQB, Sports Illustrated: #6 (Last week: #8)

No Vikings-centric commentary from the MMQB this week.

Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports: #7 (Last week: #8)

Who would have thought that Minnesota’s game on Sunday at Chicago might be the biggest in the NFC North this season? That’s a good Sunday night matchup.

Bleacher Report: #7 (Last week: #8)

It’s already been a wild ride for the Minnesota Vikings.

The Vikings entered the 2018 season as a Super Bowl favorite in many eyes and the No. 1 team in these power rankings. The latter lasted as long as it took the Vikings to lose at home to Buffalo. After losing to the Rams the following week, Minnesota ended September a disappointing 1-2-1.

However, of late, the Vikings appear to be figuring it out. Minnesota’s 15-point win over the Lions in Week 9 was the Vikings’ fourth win in five games, with the only blemish being a Week 8 setback against the Saints. Three of those wins were by double digits.

Even more importantly, as the Vikings prepare to meet the Bears in Chicago in a huge NFC North showdown, one of their best offensive playmakers is back in the fold. Tailback Dalvin Cook returned to action in the Lions game after a lengthy absence, gaining 109 total yards on 14 touches.

With the additional week off to rest, Cook should be at or near 100 percent for the Bears game.

Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk: #8 (Last week: #8)

A dark horse Super Bowl contender still lingers in the NFC.

Elliot Harrison, NFL.com: #8 (Last week: #8)

The Vikings were off last week, providing a couple of stars with a chance to catch their breath and ease back into the swing of things. Minnesota has been without the services of Dalvin Cook and Everson Griffen for the bulk of the season. Both will be significant factors in determining whether the Vikings can survive a robust NFC playoff field. Cook only received 10 carries against the Lions in Week 9. Expect that load to fatten up real quick.

USA Today: #7 (Last week: #7)

Better be rested out of bye because they only have two home games before Christmas. First stop — at Chicago in battle for NFC North lead.

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: #7 (Last week: #8)

They come off their bye with a monster game against the Bears. First place is at stake.

ESPN: #8 (Last week: #8)

Defining stat: 25.7. The Vikings aren’t far off from reaching the all-time mark for defensive efficiency on third down (25.2) that they set last season. Minnesota’s defense ranks No. 1 in third-down stops (just 26 of a total 101 allowed), a testament to the effectiveness of a pass rush that has generated 31 sacks, which is tied with three other teams for first in the NFL. Nine of those sacks came on third down.

Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: #7 (Last week: #8)

The Vikings during their bye did not get the help they needed to sneak back into first place, but their running game and defense both are built to serve them better down the stretch. Expect a lot more Dalvin Cook to take the pressure off Kirk Cousins.

Well, even without taking the field, the Vikings did manage to edge up in the rankings in a lot of outlets this week. Of the 12 places we survey each week for our Roundup, more than half (seven) actually bumped the Vikings up a bit. Four of them held the Vikings steady to where they were last week, while one outlet. . .Walter Football, who at this point we just have to assume is still sore about the way last season ended for the Vikings. . .pushed them down a spot.

When you add it all up and average it out, the Vikings moved up a little more than half a spot in the overall rankings. Last week, the Vikings’ average ranking was 8.58, while this week it’s at a nice, even 8.

Here is the trend graph over the course of this season so far. As always, you may click to embiggen.

That’s a look at your Power Rankings Roundup for this week, ladies and gentlemen. Hopefully we will continue to see an upward trend after Sunday Night Football this week.