Power Rankings mostly place Vikings as #1 in the NFL

Oct 9, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; A Minnesota Vikings fan holds up a sign for the defense during the second quarter against the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Texans 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; A Minnesota Vikings fan holds up a sign for the defense during the second quarter against the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Texans 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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As the only team with an undefeated record through five weeks of the NFL season, the Minnesota Vikings have climbed to the top of every major power ranking.

Even when the Minnesota Vikings have the best record in the National Football League, there are still media outlets who won’t put the hard-nosed team in the #1 position in their weekly power rankings.

And that’s okay. Power rankings shouldn’t be based on record alone. Instead they should be a look at the body of work the team has accomplished to this point and a thought of how the team can sustain that level of play.

Most media outlets have the Minnesota Vikings in the number one spot this week, but a couple of them have teams like the New England Patriots or Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of them. Here is a look at some of the most notable sites:

Ranked at #1

ESPN (up 5 spots) “Is there any doubt Mike Zimmer is the league’s front-runner for Coach of the Year right now? He lost his starting quarterback before the season started, yet has the Vikings unbeaten heading into a bye thanks to a defense that is allowing the fewest points per game. The Vikings ranked last in PPG allowed in 2013, the season before Zimmer arrived in Minneapolis.”

SBNation (up 1 spot) “After five weeks only one team has a zero in the loss column and the Minnesota Vikings haven’t given a single reason for anyone to believe they aren’t the best team in the NFL.”

PhillyMag.com (up 1 spot) “There’s a new No. 1 this week for the first time all season. Sam Bradford is the quarterback of the only undefeated team in the NFL. Who would have thought?”

Bleacher Report “Thanks to a few underdogs pulling off victories, we’re now down to just one undefeated team—which makes things a little easier to sort out at the top of this week’s power rankings.”

Detroit Free Press (no change) “I’m as surprised as you are. The defense obviously leads the way, but props to Sam Bradford for picking up the offense so fast and Mike Zimmer for somehow making this team click despite big injuries.”

RANKED AT #2

USA Today (up 1 spot): “With the league’s worst rushing attack and an alarmingly battered O-line, it’s a good thing that the defense is virtually impenetrable.”

Washington Post (no change): “This defense is fully capable of doing what Denver’s defense did last season and carry the Vikings to a Super Bowl triumph. Minnesota’s QB situation actually is better than the Broncos’ was last season, with Sam Bradford having stabilized things. Minnesota is the clear NFC favorite at the moment, but it will be interesting to see who emerges from among the Seahawks, Falcons, Cowboys, Packers and Eagles to vie with the Vikings for conference supremacy.”

NY Daily News (up 3 spots): “Mike Zimmer is the leader in the clubhouse for Coach of the Year after navigating a string of injuries to his starting quarterback, star running back and starting left tackle to become the only undefeated team in the league. Minnesota’s defense is scary good. Sam Bradford looks reborn.”

Next: Full game-by-game 2016 Vikings season preview

Next week, the Minnesota Vikings have the week off and will use the bye to get healthy and bring new offensive tackle Jake Long up to speed. However, they should also be gameplanning for the surprising Philadelphia Eagles, who will be their opponent during week 7.