The AP Pro 32 Power Ranking Places the Vikings Third Overall

The first AP Pro 32 Poll of the season was released on Tuesday, and the Minnesota Vikings received 355 votes, starting the season ranked third behind the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles and the runner-up New England Patriots. The Vikings were the only team in the top four (the Los Angeles Rams came in at number 4) not to garner a first place vote from one of the twelve voters. They did, however, grab two second place votes.

While these polls are completely subjective, the folks that actually make the poll in this case have a little bit more experience with the game. Among the voters are former NFL head coach Tony Dungy, former NFL executive Pat Kirwan, former NFL quarterback Jim Miller, and NFL uber-nerd John Clayton. From their website:

The AP Pro32 is determined by a simple points system based on how each voter ranks the NFL’s 32 teams. A team receives 32 points for each first place vote, 31 for second place and so on through to the 32nd team, which receives one point.

Around the NFC North, the Packers pulled in the ninth overall ranking, while the Lions came in at 19th, and the Bears rounded out the division at number 28.