Friday, September 29, 2023

Minnesota Vikings Week 4 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 4 roundup for the Minnesota Vikings in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 26

Biggest issue on offense: Turnovers

The Vikings lead the NFL with nine turnovers. Their seven lost fumbles are tied for the second most through three NFL weeks since at least 2000, and Kirk Cousins' two interceptions have both been costly. One occurred at the goal line a Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers, and the other happened in the end zone to seal their Week 3 defeat against the Chargers. Coach Kevin O'Connell added new practice drills to address the fumble problems after Week 2, but tight end T.J. Hockenson fumbled to end their first possession in the ensuing game. It's hard to overstate the significance of these turnovers to a team that has lost its three games by a mere 13 points. -- Kevin Seifert

NFL.com -- Rank: 26

Is the season over? No, but it's getting late early. Brian Flores' defense had acquitted itself fairly respectably in the first two games, even if the limitations were obvious. On Sunday, the unit was diced up by Justin Herbert and Co., unable to pressure him enough or cover on the back end. The Chargers threw 48 passes -- 41 were completed, and Vikings DBs batted away only three throws. Actually, Akayleb Evans could have made it four, but his deflected pass went right to Joshua Palmer for a TD. That was bad luck, but the reality of the situation is that the defense has little chance to hang with elite offenses.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 29

At 0-3, their season is all but done. Climbing out of that hole won't be easy, and the defense probably won't make it possible.

USA Today -- Rank: 24

WR Justin Jefferson might be your early Offensive Player of the Year, on pace for nearly 2,600 receiving yards. Unless it's QB Kirk Cousins (league-high 96 completions, 1,075 yards and 9 TDs). Question is, will "KFC" — should he? — finish the season with presently winless Minnesota?

The Athletic -- Rank: 25

QB confidence rating: 7

The only concern about Kirk Cousins in Minnesota is how long he'll be there. He's on pace for 6,091 yards and 51 touchdowns this year. Despite Patrick Mahomes existing and Tua Tagovailoa throwing to a collection of aliens, Cousins leads the league in passing yards (1,075) and passing touchdowns (nine). On Sunday, he became the fifth player ever with at least 325 passing yards and two touchdowns in each of his team's first three games. The Jets, Falcons and maybe the Saints have to be interested in that.

FOX -- Rank: 20

Two more turnovers in Week 3 gave the Vikings nine for the season, and both of these came deep in Chargers territory. They were painfully close to winning this game, just as they were painfully close to winning the other two. I honestly still like their chances to pull out of it, provided they can ever hold on to the football.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 24

Let's run this stat back: The Vikings were 11-0 in one-score games last season, an NFL record, and this season they're 0-3. It seems like the Vikings are by far the best of the winless teams, but it's tough to come back from 0-3. Only six teams in the Super Bowl era started 0-3 and made the playoffs. Since 2002, only one of 99 teams (the 2018 Texans) that started 0-3 made the postseason, via Fox 9 in Minnesota. The Vikings have lost three games by 13 combined points and are in a world of trouble.

PFT -- Rank: 28

The Vikings out-Chargered the Chargers.

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