MINNEAPOLIS— How long do the Minnesota Vikings have to go undefeated before they are considered a serious contender?
According to the NFL Network, it will be four games. The league’s media arm released its latest power rankings on Tuesday, with the Viking taking the top spot behind them 31-29 win on the road about the Green Bay Packers.
“Previous Vikings outfits may have taken this on, but this team showed toughness and reinforced the idea that it’s going to be a handful all season given the way things are going,” NFL Network’s Eric Edholm wrote.
The Vikings were ranked 19th in the preseason power rankings, with Edholm noting that they are “an interesting team that might finish above these rankings, but I’m a bit in limbo until I get a better understanding of the ceiling of their quarterbacks.”
Well, for Sam Darnold so far this season the ceiling is the roof, to quote Michael Jordan. He leads the league in passing touchdowns and passer rating, is third in adjusted yards per attempt and QBR and eighth in expected points added per game. He hasn’t been perfect — he’s had a few turnovers and would have had a few more if he didn’t have hard-handed defenders — but he’s better than expected, and certainly good enough to keep the Vikings rolling.
Meanwhile, Brian Flores’ defense looks to be one of the best in the league after four games. They are fourth in points allowed, second in turnovers, third in EPA/play and fourth in success rate. And it hasn’t run into a cupcake schedule, either: The 49ers and Packers rank seventh and 11th, respectively, in the EPA/play, and while the Texans rank lower overall (19th), they have one of the the league’s best young quarterbacks in the league. CJ Stroud and a great receiving corps.
The Vikings are ranked first in their division and are the NFC’s only undefeated team. The Kansas City Chiefs – the AFC’s only undefeated team – are ranked No. 2 in the NFL Network power rankings. If Minnesota can stop the winning streak the New York Jets this weekend in Londonit will be difficult for the NFL Network to knock them out of the top spot.
