The Vikings said bye to the bye week — but are they still No. 2?
The Minnesota Vikings are back from the bye week, and at least one team below them in the power rankings made a case to usurp their No. 2 spot on many power rankings.
That team, of course, is the Detroit Lions, who absolutely flattened the Mike Zimmer-led Dallas Cowboys defense for 47 points in a 47-9 drubbing over the weekend.
Did the Lions do enough to leapfrog the Vikings?
I’m glad you asked — here is the consensus look at this week’s power rankings.
If you have any other rankings you think should be included, feel free to DM me @Brandon_Warne on the tweets.
Let’s talk to it:
The Rankings
- NFL.com — 1st (previously 1st)
Key excerpt: “The Vikings need to clean up the offensive turnovers and special teams mistakes to keep the perfect run going.”
- The Athletic/New York Times — 1st (previously 1st)
Key excerpt: “…Darnold had 1,346 passing yards in Weeks 1 through 6 of the 2018 season with the Jets. The difference? Darnold had nine passing touchdowns and seven interceptions to start that season.”
Key excerpt: “…at 5-0, Minnesota is more than halfway to ensuring a winning record in 2024. The Vikings have also dominated their opponents with an NFL-high 63-point scoring differential.”
- Pro Football Talk — 3rd (previously 3rd)
Key excerpt: “With the Lions and Rams four days apart, the Vikings are about to be tested.”
- CBS Sports (Pete Prisco) — 2nd (previously 2nd)
Key excerpt: “Coming off their bye, they face the Lions at home, which will be a big division game. The Brian Flores defense will be challenged by that Lions offense.”
- Palm Beach Post (Joe Schad) — 2nd (previously 2nd)
Key excerpt: “Bye.”
- The Score — 2nd (previously 2nd)
Key excerpt: “Pat Jones II had five total sacks in his first 42 games. He’s already tallied five this season to go along with six tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits, and a forced fumble.”
- NFL Trade Rumors — 2nd (previously 2nd)
Key excerpt: “The Vikings were on bye this week and host the Lions in Week 7.”
- Sports Illustrated — 3rd (previously 3rd)
Key excerpt: “I wonder what Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores have cooked up after the self scout.”
- USA Today — 3rd (previously 2nd)
Key excerpt: “Leaders of an NFC North off to a historically hot start, the Vikes currently have the only intra-divisional win of 2024 but will get another chance to certify their (undefeated) legitimacy with the Lions coming to the Twin Cities on Sunday.”
- Yahoo! Sports — 3rd (previously 2nd)
Key excerpt: “The pair of undefeated teams had the week off, but the other three solidified their place among the top tier of contenders.”
- The 33rd Team — 2nd (previously 2nd)
Key excerpt: “The Minnesota Vikings are no September fluke. They are the real deal, and the biggest reason is their coaching staff. …After five games, the Vikings appear to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender in the NFC.”
- Marquee Sports Network — 2nd (previously 2nd)
Key excerpt: “Vikings get the Lions off their bye. That’s appointment viewing.”
- New York Post — 2nd (previously 2nd)
Key excerpt: “Brian Flores’ blitz-heavy defense had the second-most sacks (20) in the NFL entering their bye week, led by Patrick Jones II (five). An automatic kicker, Will Reichard, helps, too.”
Average ranking: 2.14 (30 ranking points/14 rankings)
Spare thoughts: For the second week in a row, I’m not really sure what Mike Florio is talking about. Don’t get me wrong, two games in less than a week are tough no matter who you’re facing — but there’s gotta be a better way to frame it than the Rams (No. 25 in Florio’s own rankings) being a huge challenge when considering who the Vikings have already dispatched.
What do you think? Join the conversation below (and recommend other power rankings to add if you wish)!