The Minnesota Vikings are 7-2 and by virtue of a stunning Packers loss to the Lions now sit perched atop the NFC North all by their lonesies.
Naturally all the haters who hated on the Vikings the first few weeks of the season are now singing the team’s praises!
Power rankers definitely love the Vikings now. Here’s a quick rundown of all the Vikings power ranking love currently being transmitted across the internet and the world:
"The Vikings’ triumph in the East Bay went largely unnoticed around the country, what with the Patriots facing their nemeses of recent vintage and Peyton Manning assailing two records (most passing yards ever and most bad interceptions in a half)."
Washington Post has the Vikes all the way up at #4!
"The Vikings absolutely are for real and a victory Sunday at home over the downward-spiraling Packers would establish them as clearly the NFC North’s top team."
Yahoo! is slightly less enthusiastic about the Vikes but still has them at #6.
"Usually every season there’s a team that keeps outrunning the advanced stats that say they’re not really as good as their record. It seems like that’s the Vikings’ role this year."
Bleacher Report ranks the Vikings #5. FanSided ranks them #5 as well:
"The Minnesota Vikings continue to prove they’re for real, defeating the Oakland Raiders to improve to an impressive 7-2 record, and more importantly, passing the Green Bay Packers for first place in the division."
MMQB also has the Vikings at #5. I feel a consensus forming.
"Incredible. In two months, the Vikings have passed the Packers, legitimately, in the NFC North. And Minnesota is playing Green Bay in Minneapolis on Sunday, with a two-game lead in the division at stake."
"With Green Bay and Denver losing, it was impossible to keep a team that doesn’t feel like it has earned top-five status out of the top five."
SBNation has the Vikings at #4. Heavy.com has them #5.
"The Vikings got another impressive victory against a solid Raiders team. With the Packers losing, Minnesota now sits alone at the top of NFC North. The Vikings have a big statement game coming up next against the Packers."
Validation! It feels so good.