2023 NFL Power Rankings: Minnesota Vikings

Young riser: WR Jordan Addison

Addison, 21, leads all NFL rookies with six touchdown receptions. The 23rd pick of the 2023 draft started the season as the Vikings' No. 3 receiver but quickly earned quarterback Kirk Cousins' trust and has often been Cousins' first read following the hamstring injury to star receiver Justin Jefferson. Addison has a smooth release from the line of scrimmage and naturally moves toward open areas of the field. "Jordan is the real deal," Cousins said. "We hit on that draft pick. He's a great player." -- Kevin Seifert

The wild goal-line sequence in the third quarter that ended in a Minnesota field goal made me think the Vikings were going to blow the game. That decision felt flawed at the time, and the 49ers came right back and scored. But I give Kevin O'Connell credit for his game plan on the whole (which limited possessions) and his trust in the defense (which made big stops in crunch time). KOC also called a terrific game for Kirk Cousins. To his own credit, Cousins made a ton of terrific throws under fire, enjoying one of his best outings in recent memory. Jordan Addison missed a chunk of the game to injury, but the rookie wideout was absolutely tremendous, especially after losing that early pass on the interception. We're not quite back in 2022 mode, but this team is suddenly dangerous again.

They've won two straight games to right things and maybe hold off any potential fire sale. Kirk Cousins was outstanding against the 49ers.

QB Kirk Cousins' third career Monday night win (in 13 attempts) — plus S Camryn Bynum's heroics (2 INTs) and an airtight offensive line — bring an unexpected victory that suddenly has Minnesota a half-game out of a wild-card spot after a 1-4 start.

One question: Who designs the Vikings' turnover celebrations?

Whoever it is should get a raise. Minnesota forced three turnovers Monday night against the 49ers but got to do four celebrations because one was called back when Brock Purdy was ruled down by contact. On the first, the Vikings defenders did a limbo line using 198-pound cornerback Akayleb Evans as the limbo pole. On the second, the defenders all sat in a circle in the end zone and played duck, duck, goose. On the third one, Camryn Bynum and teammates did the worm in the end zone. On the fourth, Bynum and friends celebrated finishing off the upset.

Don't look now, but the Vikings are officially in the mix for a wild-card spot. And they got there by beating a member of the league's elite. Not a bad place to be when all the talk about this team has centered around trading off assets before the deadline.

That was Kirk Cousins' masterpiece. It will be forgotten the first time Cousins has a bad game because everyone likes dunking on Cousins, bringing up his poor prime-time record and acting like he has never had a good game in the NFL. But he threw for 378 yards to save the Vikings' season against a 49ers defense that might be the NFL's toughest, and did it all without Justin Jefferson.

Was last night a fluke, or the first flicker of a flame?

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