NFL power rankings entering the final week of the regular season suggest the Vikings are only a fringe top 10 team.
Only a pair of respected outlets have put the Vikings inside the top 10; the rest have the Purple ranked 10th or 11th.
NFL.com: 11th
“Hard to keep the Vikes this low after a 49-17 win, but who can we put them over? They are 1-4 vs. the top 10 in the Power Rankings, including a couple of blowout losses.
Still, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, #SKOL and all that Purple People Eater stuff to theVikings, who ensured a spot in the playoffs for the first time in three years with the authoritative win over the Giants on Sunday night. After seeing the Vikes run the ball, tackle and dominate the game in the elements, are we suuure we don’t want an outdoor stadium in Minnesota? Just asking. ZiggyWorld isn’t complete yet, right?”
ESPN: 11th
“The Vikings are heating up at the right time, as they’ve had their two most decisive victories in the past two weeks. Their 49 points Sunday night were their most since 1998.”
Monday Morning Quarterback: 10th
“Teddy Bridgewater’s passer rating is north of 110 in the last three mistake-free weeks. That’s what I’d want entering a division championship game in a hostile and cold place, which is what the Vikings are doing Sunday.”
Washington Post: 7th
“The Vikings are probably the better team at this point in their showdown Sunday night with the Packers for the division crown. But does that ensure a victory, given that the game is being played at Lambeau Field? Certainly not.”
SB Nation: 10th
“Speaking of peaking at the right time, the Vikings have dominated their last two opponents with a combined score of 87-34 and look to be firing on all cylinders. They’ll look to ride that success into next week’s enormous matchup with the Packers, which will determine the winner of the NFC North.”
Shutdown Corner (Yahoo): 8th
“Jerick McKinnon is averaging 5.3 yards per carry. But he only has 49 carries all season because he plays behind one of the few remaining guys who can handle 325 or so carries in a year.”
