Vikings Power Rankings Review: Inching up entering Week 11

The Minnesota Vikings continue to be one of the more well-respected teams in the expert power rankings heading into Week 11 against the Chicago Bears.

Entering Week 11 of the 2018 NFL season, the Minnesota Vikings are sitting on a 5-3-1 record following their bye week. However, as the season inches toward its conclusion, the playoff picture is starting to take form.

One of the biggest matchups for the purple and gold comes this week when the Vikings take a trip to Chicago to take on the Bears in a game that could shift the dynamic of the NFC North for the time being.

But Minnesota is currently looking forward to four of their final seven games of the season being divisional matchups, meaning their destiny rests in their own hands. Let’s take a look at where the Vikings are ranked heading into the big divisional contest on Sunday Night Football according to experts all around the internet!

Ranked 6th

• FanSided – Russell S. Baxter: “After a slow start, the defending NFC North champions have regained their footing for the most part.” (Down one spot)
• Sports Illustrated – MMQB Staff: “Highest-place vote: Fourth (2), Lowest-place vote: Ninth (2)” (Up two spots)

Ranked 7th

• Bleacher Report – Consensus: “With the additional week off to rest, Cook should be at or near 100 percent for the Bears game.” (Up one spot)
• CBS Sports – Pete Prisco: “They come off their bye with a monster game against the Bears. First place is at stake.” (Up one spot)
• Sporting News – Vinnie Iyer: “Expect a lot more Dalvin Cook to take the pressure off Kirk Cousins.” (Up one spot)
• The Score – Staff: “Coming off their bye, the Vikings’ time to pounce is now with a prime-time game against the division-leading Bears.” (Up one spot)
• USA Today – Nate Davis: “Better be rested out of bye because they only have two home games before Christmas. First stop — at Chicago in battle for NFC North lead.” (Up one spot)
• Yahoo Sports – Frank Schwab: “Who would have thought that Minnesota’s game on Sunday at Chicago might be the biggest in the NFC North this season?” (Up one spot)

Ranked 8th

• ESPN: “The Vikings aren’t far off from reaching the all-time mark for defensive efficiency on third down (25.2) that they set last season.” (No change)
• NFL.com – Elliot Harrison: “The Vikings were off last week, providing a couple of stars with a chance to catch their breath and ease back into the swing of things.” (No change)
• Pro Football Talk – Mke Florio: “A dark horse Super Bowl contender still lingers in the NFC.” (No change)

Ranked 11th

• SBNation – Rebecca Toback: – no commentary – (No change)
• Washington Post – Mark Maske: “It’s the most significant game thus far for Kirk Cousins as Minnesota’s QB.” (No change)

It’s a little strange to see Minnesota making a move upward a bit when they didn’t have a game last week, but the move is more about some of the teams above the Vikings shifting around after suffering a big loss or having a big victory.

Last week, a majority of experts had the purple and gold in the eighth spot on their list while they now reside in seventh. However, a win over the Chicago Bears would put them in even better position and likely move them up a little more.

Fans are just waiting for the team to put together a strong offensive and defensive performance at the same time. If and when that does happen, another big jump should be in store in future.

But somewhere around seventh and eighth is more than fair. However, having others putting Minnesota from sixth to eleventh shows that some experts still aren’t completely sold on the team, and that uncharacteristic Week 3 loss to the Bills likely has a lot to do with it.

With the Minnesota Vikings fully rested up and the upcoming Sunday Night Football matchup being a massive divisional contest with the lead in the NFC North on the line, this should be some great football and a game fans will want to be watching closely!