2021 NFL Power Rankings: Minnesota Vikings
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: 19.8 (20th)
- Best ranking: 18th (USA Today)
- Worst ranking: 21st (Multiple)
Below you will find a Week 10 roundup for the Vikings in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.
ESPN -- Rank: 20
Bold second-half prediction: The Vikings will have a coaching change.
Things can't stay the same. The only realistic window for Vikings owners to move on from Mike Zimmer, who has two years remaining on his contract, would come after two back-to-back losses to the Chargers and Packers. A loss to Minnesota's division rival at home in Week 11 to further emphasize its inferiority in the NFC North could be what pushes ownership to make a change. In a last-ditch effort to right the ship and save his job, Zimmer could change offensive playcallers and hand Klint Kubiak's duties to running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu (the only other person on staff who has called plays, albeit at the college level) -- though this move feels less likely than the former given the optics of Zimmer moving on from his sixth offensive coordinator since 2016. -- Courtney Cronin
Things can't stay the same. The only realistic window for Vikings owners to move on from Mike Zimmer, who has two years remaining on his contract, would come after two back-to-back losses to the Chargers and Packers. A loss to Minnesota's division rival at home in Week 11 to further emphasize its inferiority in the NFC North could be what pushes ownership to make a change. In a last-ditch effort to right the ship and save his job, Zimmer could change offensive playcallers and hand Klint Kubiak's duties to running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu (the only other person on staff who has called plays, albeit at the college level) -- though this move feels less likely than the former given the optics of Zimmer moving on from his sixth offensive coordinator since 2016. -- Courtney Cronin
NFL.com -- Rank: 21
The Vikings are a formidable team with a fatal flaw: They have no idea how to close out games. It happened again on Sunday in Baltimore, where Minnesota kicked away a 14-point third-quarter lead in a crushing 34-31 overtime loss to the Ravens. The Kirk Cousins-led offense remains maddeningly hot and cold, with too many quickly extinguished possessions that put the defense in a bad spot. The Ravens ran 89 plays compared to 52 for the Vikings -- and when Anthony Barr came up with an acrobatic interception in overtime, Minnesota's offense responded with a three-and-out that doomed the team. This has been a season of immense frustration; it's fair to wonder if the Vikings are close to a breaking point.
CBS Sports -- Rank: 21
They've lost a lot of close games, including to the Ravens in overtime Sunday. They need to start winning or the playoffs could be a long shot.
USA Today -- Rank: 18
How good was Minnesota's defense Sunday? It gave up 500 yards, 36 first downs, was on the field for more than 46 minutes and had to make 89 tackles in the overtime loss to Baltimore. So basically, not good.
The Athletic -- Rank: 19
Are they good? The Vikings are extremely good at losing close games: All five losses have been by seven points or fewer, and three have been by three points or fewer. So does that make the Vikings better than their record? Or does it just make them a mediocre team that can't figure out how to win close games? We lean to the latter.
Previous updates:
- Minnesota Vikings 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 9
- Minnesota Vikings 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 8
- Minnesota Vikings 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 7
- Minnesota Vikings 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 6
- Minnesota Vikings 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 5
- Minnesota Vikings 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 4
- Minnesota Vikings 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 3
- Minnesota Vikings 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 2
- Minnesota Vikings 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 1
- Minnesota Vikings 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Post-Draft
More Minnesota Vikings pages:
- Minnesota Vikings Mock Draft Roundup
- Minnesota Vikings Snap Counts
- Minnesota Vikings Franchise Leaders
- Minnesota Vikings Draft History
- Minnesota Vikings Schedule
- Minnesota Vikings Tickets
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