The last time the Vikings cracked the top 5 of any significant power rankings was back in 2009 when Brett Favre was long removed from stepping off the Wilf’s jet and settled in as, potentially, the first QB since Fran Tarkenton to take the Vikings to the Super Bowl. At this stage of the 2009 season the Vikings were ranked number 3 in the ESPN power rankings with a 7-1 record and only trailing the eventual Super Bowl contestants that year – the Saints and Colts who were both 7-0 on November 3, 2009.
This year, it’s a little different make-up with a 5-2 overall record and a fifth place ranking in a Washington Post power ranking poll and 8th in the latest nfl.com power rankings. Perhaps ESPN is the realist in the bunch as it has the Vikes at number 11 this week. Interestingly, the Vikes’ upcoming opponents – Rams, Cardinals, Seahawks and Packers – are all ahead of them at this point in the latest rankings of ESPN.
I’ve noted before that I have not been impressed to date with the Vikings offense. The Bears’ game perhaps softened that stance a bit – but I’m still concerned that when it comes to the heart of the schedule, the Vikes won’t be able to muster a boat load of points to compete with teams that are ahead of them. They should beat the Rams this weekend and the Raiders the following week. Yet, in each of these games, I believe they will need to score at least 25 points to win.
Currently, the Vikings defense is giving this team the best chance to win each week. With it’s number six overall ranking, the defense has been getting better every single week. To compete with the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Carson Palmer, Eli Manning and even Russel Wilson, you have to have a stingy defense that can create pressure and cover on the back end. Give credit to Coach Zimmer – he’s getting his defense where he wants it.
One thing I love about this team is how it is becoming a team. They rally around themselves. Guys like Linval Joseph and Adrian Peterson are showing leadership skills like never before. Coach Zimmer is not letting anyone feel comfortable. Sounds like he even lets the team know often that no one is really taking them seriously. They seem to feed off of the fact that they are always a bit of the underdog every week – despite a 5-2 record and taking the Broncos to the end of the game with a legit chance of winning.
Whatever it is, let’s hope the mix of it all continues in a positive way going forward. The key for the remainder of the season will be the offense and the balance and prowess, at times, it can provide. Guys like Rudolph and Wallace need to step up more. Teddy still needs to prove it every week. Adrian needs to be Adrian and then some. And, it doesn’t even have to be pretty – style points usually win nothing in the NFL. In the end, it really comes down to an old adage I’ve used before and one the late Al Davis always used – “just win, baby.”
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