Minnesota Vikings Power Rankings Roundup: Week 3

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Hooo, boy

Well, the Minnesota Vikings had their second consecutive ugly loss to start their 2020 season, falling 28-11 to the Indianapolis Colts. As you’d probably expect, the team is plummeting quickly in the Power Rankings around the internet, and I’m not certain if we’ve reached the bottom yet.

How bad is it this week? Well, let’s have a look around, as it’s time for our Minnesota Vikings Power Rankings Roundup.

Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports: #23 (Last week: #16)

Stefon Diggs is valuable, but he’s not that valuable. Kirk Cousins was fantastic last season, and without Diggs this season, he was awful in Week 2. Cousins had 113 yards, no touchdowns, three interceptions and a 15.9 passer rating. The only good news is that Cousins started slow last season and turned it around.

Nate Davis, USA Today: #23 (Last week: #13)

Simply put, they’re horrendous at just about every level ... and now lose LB Anthony Barr (torn pec). You were warned, Harrison Smith.

Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: #24 (Last week: #14)

Kirk Cousins has had a rough start because they are more dependent on him. The defense is the most disastrous it has ever been under Mike Zimmer. Minnesota needs to take down Tennessee at home in Week 3 to save the season.

Danny Kelly, The Ringer: #22 (Last week: #17)

Nothing specifically about the Vikings this week.

Reddit: #22 (Last week: #14)

RIP Vikings

Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk: #28 (Last week: #22)

Some teams were prepared for the strangest season ever, some weren’t. One team doesn’t really seem to care that the season has started.

Matt Williamson, Pro Football Network: #27 (Last week: #20)

A ball-control team by nature, the Vikings possessed the ball for a measly 21:35 against the Colts in Week 2. Hey, at least that beats the 18:44 that Minnesota’s offense was on the field in Week 1. And the Vikings have allowed 71 points in the process.

Dan Hanzus, NFL.com: #20 (Last week: #16)

Everything is going wrong for the Vikings to start the season. A week ago, Aaron Rodgers embarrassed the defense. On Sunday, it was the offense’s turn to wear the dunce cap. Kirk Cousins appears to have no connection with pass-catchers not named Adam, and Dalvin Cook is getting buried by early deficits and blown-up game scripts. Cousins threw three interceptions (a first during his time in purple), and the offense finished with a measly 175 total yards. Minnesota’s offense is clearly trying to find itself at the same time a defense loaded with new faces is attempting to get off the ground. It’s a wicked combination that equals 0-2.

Conor Orr, MMQB: #23 (Last week: #15)

The Vikings are struggling with the things they normally do well. All around, a hard-to-recognize Mike Zimmer team two weeks into the regular season.

ESPN: #19 (Last week: #14)

Under-the-radar fantasy standout: RB Alexander Mattison

The Vikings’ offense doesn’t look great right now, and poor time of possession has hindered the number of chances this unit has had. However, backup running back Mattison is going to be an important asset for Minnesota, particularly in the passing game, if and when the Vikings are able to turn things around. Mattison caught four passes in the season opener, and he is a nice outlet for Kirk Cousins in the short-to-intermediate game. If the Vikings can get Dalvin Cook going, that means more opportunities down the line for Mattison as an RB2.

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: #25 (Last week: #23)

Their start has been a disaster so far and it hasn’t been pretty for Kirk Cousins. They are in a big hole with a tough game against the Titans this week.

Bleacher Report: #19 (Last week: #11)

In the inaugural set of these power rankings, the Minnesota Vikings ranked inside the top 10.

Last week, after losing at home to the Green Bay Packers, they just barely dropped out of the top 10.

They no longer get the benefit of the doubt.

On Sunday, the Vikings got pummeled by an Indianapolis Colts team that lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1. The offense was putrid, managing only 175 total yards and one garbage-time touchdown. Quarterback Kirk Cousins finished with all of 113 passing yards and three picks.

Heading into the 2020 season, the Vikings were viewed as a Super Bowl contender in some circles. After two games, it looks like the only thing they will be in contention for is a top-five draft pick.

Sheil Kapadia, The Athletic: #22 (Last week: #15)

What we learned: Their offense is a complete mess right now. Going up against a Colts defense that has mediocre talent, Kirk Cousins went 11-for-26 for 113 yards and three interceptions (granted, one was a Hail Mary right before halftime). Cousins hitched while backed up in his own end zone and took a safety. He targeted Adam Thielen in double coverage and was picked. The Vikings kicked a field goal on their first possession and then went scoreless on their next eight. That was the worst offensive performance by any team through the first two weeks, based on EPA per snap. Many expected the Vikings’ offense to take a step back, given the Diggs trade, but that was ugly.

Associated Press: #25 (Last week: #16)

No Vikings-centric commentary from the AP this week.

Not only are the Vikings officially into “bad team territory,” they are deeeeeeeeeeeep into “bad team territory.” Their average ranking this week is all the way down to 23.14, exactly seven spots lower than last week’s average of 16.14. That’s not a good sign at all, and with the Titans coming to town this week, there’s at least a decent chance that it’s going to get worse.

As you can see from our first graph of the year, there’s a general trend to be seen here. . .downwards. If you’d like to embiggen the chart below, you can do so by clicking on it.

Yes, I believe that’s what the kids might refer to as “fug.” Not the actual chart itself, the direction everything is going. . .though I suppose both might qualify.

But, that’s your Power Rankings Roundup for this week, folks. Will it get better next week? I have my doubts, but we’re going to find out anyway!

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