Saturday, November 20, 2021

Minnesota Vikings Week 11 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Minnesota Vikings rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 16.2 (17th)
  • Best ranking: 11 (USA Today)
  • Worst ranking: 19 (Multiple)

Below you will find a Week 11 roundup for the Vikings in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 19

Most important remaining game: Sunday vs. Packers

The Vikings are currently No. 8 in the NFC playoff picture and only a half-game behind seventh-seeded Carolina -- who they beat in Week 6. At 4-5, the Vikings must string together wins to stay in the fight for one of the final two wild-card spots. Plus, remember when Aaron Rodgers told Chicago Bears fans. "I own you"? He has an even more compelling case against Minnesota, having thrown 50 touchdown passes to seven interceptions in his career -- a 7-1 ratio that is the best by any QB versus a single opponent, according to Elias Sports Bureau. The Vikings are far behind the Packers in the NFC North pecking order, but games like this always carry more weight. -- Courtney Cronin

NFL.com -- Rank: 14

The Vikings' offense needed to start taking chances again. The attack had become increasingly conservative in recent weeks, with Kirk Cousins repeatedly throwing short of the sticks. That changed in Sunday's win over the Chargers, a critical victory in which Justin Jefferson re-established himself as the most explosive playmaker on the team. Jefferson was uncoverable at times, finishing with nine catches for 143 yards, including the crucial 27-yard catch late in the fourth quarter that helped Minnesota run out the clock to seal the win. Per Next Gen Stats, Cousins was 5-for-6 for 114 yards when targeting Jefferson more than 10 yards downfield. It's a trend that must continue with a critical showdown against the Packers on tap.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 19

That was an impressive road victory over the Chargers. But now they face a big one at home against the Packers. It's a big game for Kirk Cousins.

USA Today -- Rank: 11

Eight of their nine games have been decided by one score, but Minnesota has won three of the past five to close the gap to a half-game for the final NFC playoff spot.

The Athletic -- Rank: 18

Steal a player: Myles Garrett, Browns defensive end

Mike Zimmer is out here terrorizing quarterbacks with, and we mean this with all due respect, D.J. Wonnum and Everson Griffen. The Vikings are tied for the NFL lead with 29 sacks, so it might not seem like they need a pass rusher, but imagine what Zimmer could do by adding Garrett to this mix. With Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook and Justin Jefferson, Minnesota has enough offense to be a factor if it can improve a defense that ranks 21st in the league in yards per play allowed (5.6).

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