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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:

Below you will find a Week 14 roundup for the Vikings in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 23

Player who must step up: LB Anthony Barr

A knee and subsequent hamstring injuries have limited the linebacker to playing in just six games this season, during which he has totaled 0.5 sacks and one interception, defended three passes and recorded 28 tackles. That comes on the heels of missing all but 1½ games in 2020 due to a season-ending pectoral tear. The Vikings reworked Barr's contract in the offseason to make him a free agent in 2022 after paying him $9.4 million on a fully guaranteed one-year deal. Barr hasn't seen the field much over the past two seasons to justify another big payday. He'll need a strong showing in Minnesota's final five regular-season games to show he is capable of getting back to his Pro Bowl form. -- Courtney Cronin

NFL.com -- Rank: 19

Some things we'll just never know: Who built Stonehenge? What became of Amelia Earhart? Why did Cameron Dantzler play 11 yards off the receiver? The Vikings' latest ridiculous loss could have significant long-term ramifications for the franchise, especially if Minnesota's truly manic season ends with the team one win shy of a playoff berth. The Vikings dug themselves out of a 20-6 hole, only to still find a way to lose to a Lions team that hadn't claimed victory in 364 days. Mike Zimmer's future with the team has never been hazier, and you wonder if more seismic changes are in store once this wildly frustrating season reaches its sure-to-be-absurd conclusion.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 21

That was a terrible loss to the Lions on the road. They face a playoff-like game this week against the Steelers.

USA Today -- Rank: 21

Coach Mike Zimmer bemoaned last year's defense, saying it was the worst he'd ever had. He might be singing the same tune after this season.

The Athletic -- Rank: 22

Best-case scenario: If the Vikings don't finish strong and make the playoffs -- a 4-1 finish probably gets them in -- they can look back at Sunday's loss to the winless Lions as the beginning of the end for coach Mike Zimmer, general manager Rick Spielman and quarterback Kirk Cousins. Minnesota has two games left against Chicago, so there's that. But the Vikings also have the Rams and Packers remaining on the schedule, in addition to the Thursday night game against Pittsburgh this week. A best-case scenario would be the aforementioned troika remaining employed, but hope is fading.

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