MN Vikings Rise Up NFL Power Rankings

The Minnesota Vikings were involved in a battle of the backup quarterbacks on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Jake Browning got them back in 2023 during his first crack at his former employer. He wasn’t so lucky this time around and Minnesota walloped Cincinnati to the tune of a 48-10 victory.

After an ugly loss against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2, that was exactly the kind of performance Kevin O’Connell needed to see. Now, as his team heads overseas for two consecutive weeks, multiple outlets are taking note of what the Vikings may be capable of.

Sizable jump for Minnesota Vikings in NFL Power Rankings

Each week multiple publications react to the performances on the field. Minnesota needed a fourth quarter comeback to best the Chicago Bears in Week 1. Then the slept-walked through an ugly loss to the Falcons. It was the decisive victory against the Bengals that turned heads and has them shooting up the latest NFL Power Rankings.

It’s clear that there is a relatively general consensus when it comes to the Vikings positioning across the NFL as a whole. What’s most notable is how much one victory influenced outlets at ESPN and The Athletic. Both had Minnesota in the 20’s last week, only to jump them up significant spots. They had differing takes on what to watch for from the Vikings.

Kevin O’Connell picked up Carson Wentz four weeks ago, and even with limited practice reps and basically no training camp, Wentz guided the Vikings to a blowout win while throwing for two touchdowns and averaging 8.7 yards per pass. At this point, it would be fun to see which quarterback you could drop onto this roster with O’Connell and still win a game.

The Athletic

Through three weeks, the Vikings have the NFL’s best defensive expected points added per play (minus-0.17). But they also have a core of older veterans, and injuries have been an issue. Safety Harrison Smith (personal health issue) missed two games. Linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (concussion) missed one, as did cornerback Jeff Okudah (concussion). A chest contusion forced defensive lineman Javon Hargrave to sit out the second half in Week 3. Linebacker Blake Cashman (hamstring) is on injured reserve through at least Week 4. That’s a pretty significant list before October.

Kevin Seifert – ESPN

It is exciting to think how much Wentz could thrive in this offense. Like Sam Darnold last season, he presents another experimental signal caller with a high-floor for Kevin O’Connell to work with. As Kevin Seifert mentions though, the injuries are the greatest cause for concern.

Even after seemingly exiting the Bengals game healthy, O’Connell stepped to the podium on Monday and revealed rookie guard Donovan Jackson had wrist surgery. Minnesota will be without their complete offensive line through at least Week 7. They need some injury luck, and they need it quickly.

European swing presents opportunity for MN Vikings

In Week 4 the Minnesota Vikings will play the NFL’s first ever game in Ireland. As the road team against the Pittsburgh Steelers, they see Aaron Rodgers across the pond for a second-straight season. It’s a game they need to win, and one that could separate them from the competition.

Pittsburgh is very similarly ranked among the four power rankings (16.5 average), and the difference could come down to execution. Rodgers lit up the New York Jets in a revenge game during Week 1. He has been less effective in the past two weeks (loss to Seattle, win over New England).

"THE KICK IS BLOCKED!"

Kevin Kugler on the Packers-Browns Fox call with an insane finish in progress. #NFL pic.twitter.com/scuBhBpbx1

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 21, 2025

Beyond the Steelers, Minnesota sees a consistent London participant in Cleveland. The Browns are not close to the same level among power rankings (23.25 average). Despite a shocking upset of the Green Bay Packers in Week 3, Kevin Stefanski’s team remains rudderless.

The quarterback situation is a mess, and top wide receiver Jerry Jeudy has done nothing to follow up his breakout 2024 campaign. Another neutral-site road game, beating the travelling Dawg Pound is something that needs to take place.

Minnesota returns home to face the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7, after their bye, on October 19.