The Minnesota Vikings improved to 9-2 after a thrilling overtime victory against their division rivals, the Chicago Bears. This win marks their fourth straight and an impressive fifth consecutive victory at Soldier Field, a place that’s never an easy battleground.
Despite having one of the best records in the league, the Vikings are now starting to move back up in NFL power rankings on various sites. Even so, they’re still trailing the Detroit Lions in the NFC North, sitting one game behind with the Lions who hold a 10-1 record.
The Minnesota Vikings are proving they’re the real deal this season. Their offense is holding its own, averaging nearly 25 points per game, which puts them 9th in the league, and racking up 351 yards per game, good for 10th overall.
The real highlight is their defense though. They’re currently 4th in the NFL for total defense and 5th in scoring defense, proving they’re not just about putting up points, they’re also locking teams down.
Minnesota Vikings – Week 13 NFL Power Rankings
ESPN, The Athletic, Pro Football Talk, and Sportsnaut all dropped their latest power rankings heading into Week 13. According to Sportsnaut, the Vikings held steady at No. 7, the same spot they occupied last week. However, in the other rankings, Minnesota has started climbing back toward the top.
ESPN: No. 5 (Last Wk: No. 6)
The FPI accurately puts the Vikings’ defense at the top of the reasons the team is in an excellent position for a playoff berth. Coordinator Brian Flores’ group bamboozled opposing quarterbacks early this season and has continued to find ways to pile up takeaways (22) and sacks (38). As a result, opponents are averaging 17.9 points per game (fifth best in the NFL). The offense has been middling, but that’s probably a win given rookie first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s season-ending knee injury. The Vikings have gotten far more from quarterback Sam Darnold, including 21 touchdown passes, than anyone could have expected. – Kevin Seifert (ESPN)
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The Athletic: No. 6 (Last Wk: No 7)
The Vikings had a 300-yard passer, two 100-yard receivers and a 100-yard rusher in the same game for the first time since the 2000 season, and Justin Jefferson was not part of that. Sam Darnold got the passing yards. Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson got the receiving yards and Aaron Jones got the rushing yards. Darnold’s 330 passing yards were the fifth-most of his career, but his lack of playoff experience makes it hard to pick this team as a Super Bowl contender. – Josh Kendall (The Athletic)
Related: Final Vikings PFF Grades: Highest and Lowest Graded Players from Week 12 vs Bears
Pro Football Talk: No: 6 (Last Wk: 7)
With three straight home games, they could fatten up their record before a finishing kick that consists of at Seattle, Green Bay, and at Detroit. – Mike Florio (PFT)
Minnesota Vikings look to continue the climb in Week 13 vs Arizona Cardinals
The Minnesota Vikings have had a relatively smooth stretch in their schedule over the past few weeks, but this week, they’re up against a team with a winning record for the first time since Week 7. That was when they faced the Detroit Lions and took their first loss of the season.
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The Arizona Cardinals are currently tied for the top spot in the NFC South, making this matchup a solid test for the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings are aiming to keep up with the Detroit Lions in the NFC North standings and improve their record to 10-2 on the 2024 season.