The Minnesota Vikings (9-2) won on the road for the third consecutive week and extended their win streak to four games on Sunday in Chicago. While the national media continues to discuss the NFC as a two-team race for the No. 1 seed, the Vikings are very much alive and in the hunt with the Detroit Lions (10-1) and Philadelphia Eagles (9-2).
Minnesota might not be winning with as many style points. There’s certainly bias over quarterback Sam Darnold and how far the NFL journeyman can take his team in January. But it’s time to give the Vikings their due as a top-five team entering Week 13.
Analysts continue to fight that fact in Monday morning power rankings, but the scoreboard is the scoreboard. Minnesota has nine wins, is relatively healthy and has a favorable schedule coming up, starting with three consecutive games at U.S. Bank Stadium.
MORE: Vikings keep pace with Lions, hope for NFC’s No. 1 seed alive with wild OT win
The Eagles look like a major problem in the NFC right now, but they have a couple games against tough AFC North opponents — at Baltimore this week and home vs. Pittsburgh in Week 15 — that could jeopardize their current seven-game win streak.
The Lions are the Lions, but Minnesota came one defensive stop away from knocking them off in Week 7, and the Vikings will get another crack in Week 18.
Where does Minnesota stand among the Lions and Eagles in the NFC? Here’s what the experts are saying entering Thanksgiving weekend:
NFL power rankings Week 13: Minnesota Vikings
- Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News: No. 5 (up 1 spot)
Iyer: "The Vikings are cruising with their defense and offense complementing each other well, and they won't relent while staying right behind the Lions in the NFC North.”
- Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic: No. 5 (up 1 spot)
Cluff: "The Vikings blew a 24-10 lead with 7:22 remaining and a 27-16 lead with 1:56 remaining against the Bears, but got the job done in overtime to move to 9-2.”
- Sayre Bedinger, NFL Spin Zone: No. 3 (up 4 spots)
Bedinger: "How about the Minnesota Vikings? Sam Darnold is still playing well and this team is now 9-2 on the season after a huge win in overtime against the Chicago Bears, who have lost five games in a row. The Vikings are still hanging around in the NFC North race, which is quite something. And this is the best division in football by a mile. The Vikings ceiling in the postseason is interesting with Darnold at QB. And it’s even more interesting to think what this team would do if they actually won a playoff game or two. Would they bring Darnold back for another year or two and continue to redshirt rookie QB JJ McCarthy? This could be the main story to follow as we closeout the 2024 NFL Season.”
- Matt Johnson, Sportsnaut: No. 6 (up 1 spot)
Johnson: "The Minnesota Vikings were essentially gifted 10 points from the Chicago Bears and that was the difference in the closing 2 minutes as Minnesota led 27-16. Then, the Vikings did an impression of the Metrodome roof with a catastrophic collapse that allowed the Bears to take this to overtime. We had positive takeaways from the Vikings before the collapse – Aaron Jones’ first 100-yard game since Week 3 – but the implosion once again re-ignites concerns about just how capable this team is of making a playoff run.”
- Taylor Wirth, NBC Sports: No. 5 (up 1 spot)
Wirth: "Sam Darnold and the offense looked explosive against a good Chicago defense, even without Justin Jefferson doing much. Their acclaimed defense, however, was less than impressive and barely squeaked out an overtime win.”
- Peter Dewey, Sports Illustrated: No. 7 (up 3 spots)
Dewey: “It took overtime, but the Minnesota Vikings and Sam Darnold picked up another huge win over the Chicago Bears, keeping them in the mix for the NFC North crown.”
Consensus ranking: No. 5 (up 2 spots)
MORE: Vikings named among 2 ‘likeliest teams’ to sign exiled $160 million QB next week
