NFL Power Rankings, Week 6: Vikings in Deep Trouble Without Jefferson
The Vikings falling to 1-4 with another "we could've had it" type of one-score loss against the Chiefs on Sunday was painful enough. To also lose their best player, Justin Jefferson, for at least a month just makes things even more bleak in Minnesota. This is a team that could easily be 3-2 or better, but it's going to be very tough to climb out of this early hole without the best receiver in the NFL.
Still, the Vikings have all six divisional matchups remaining within their final 12 games. If they can get a road victory against the Bears this week, they'll at least have a bit of life moving forward.
Let's check in on the national power rankings to see where the Vikings rank this week.
Conor Orr, SI.com: No. 27 (No change)
The Vikings didn’t play poorly on Sunday, they just played the Chiefs. To hold Kansas City scoreless in the fourth quarter, especially hanging tough defensively during a critical third-and-short situation, shows that the Vikings are at least still playing for each other. I thought their final scoring opportunity was a major whiff. For a former quarterback calling plays for another quarterback to leave Kirk Cousins in a situation where he’d be pummeled in a clear pressure situation was a letdown. The Vikings should have been able to make Kansas City work a little harder for this.
Josh Kendall, The Athletic: No. 21 (Down 4 spots)
Wide receiver Jordan Addison has been what the Vikings drafted him to be, a solid second option behind Justin Jefferson. Addison has 19 catches for 249 yards. Third-round cornerback Mekhi Blackmon is starting to show some flashes. He’s had nine tackles in the last two games he’s played and was active against the Chiefs on Sunday.
Eric Edholm, NFL.com: No. 25 (No change)
They’ve lost eight fumbles and allowed every single opponent they’ve faced to score first, which at least partially explains how they’re sitting at 1-4. So, do we take any solace from the fact that they were competitive against the Chiefs? It’s very hard to when Justin Jefferson had a tough game and left with a hamstring injury, and it’s even harder when the script plays out similarly to previous losses. A fumble on the first scrimmage play of the game, which no doubt was a point of emphasis all week in practice from Kevin O’Connell and his staff. ... Clock and game management errors. ... Offensive and defensive failures at key moments in a winnable game. That’s a lot to clean up before facing the Bears on the road. And now the Vikings must move forward without their best player for at least the next four contests, as Jefferson is hitting injured reserve.
Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports: No. 24 (Up 1 spot)
The Vikings were the worst 13-win team ever last season, by plenty of measures. This season, they're clearly the best 1-4 team. That's not even an argument. But 1-4 is a bad place to be in the NFL, and it's starting to feel like an unsatisfying end to the Kirk Cousins era, which has been unsatisfying before this season.
Bleacher Report Staff: No. 23 (Down 1 spot)
In 2022, the Minnesota Vikings lived by one-score games, winning an-NFL record 11 of them.
In 2023, the Vikings are dying by them.
After falling by seven points to the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, all five of the Vikings games have been decided by one score. And in losing four of them, any hopes the Vikings have of making the postseason is circling the drain. It's not hard to see why the Vikings are losing these close ones, either—Minnesota's 12 giveaways lead the league.
ESPN Staff: No. 25 (Down 1 spot)
Fantasy surprise: RB Alexander Mattison
Mattison himself has been decent when called upon, and a pair of touchdown receptions has boosted his fantasy point total. But in building their offense around receiver Justin Jefferson, and in attempting to come back from early deficits, the Vikings simply haven't run the ball much. They lead the NFL in passing attempts (204) and have fewer carries by running backs than all but one team. The biggest surprise is that Mattison, a powerful inside runner, hasn't been able to punch it into the end zone on any of his 11 red zone carries. The Vikings are one of two teams that don't have a rushing touchdown. — Kevin Seifert
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: No. 28 (Up 1 spot)
They competed against the Chiefs, but it doesn't matter. At 1-4, they now start playing division games, which gives them a chance to get back in the race. Or does it?
Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk: No. 27 (Down 2 spots)
The Vikings are about to get a taste of a possible future without Justin Jefferson.
David Helman, FOX Sports: No. 23 (Down 3 spots)
I understand regression to the mean, but this is getting ridiculous. It feels like the football gods are punishing the Vikings for going 11-0 in one-possession games last year, as they have now been within one possession in all five games and lost four of them. For what it's worth, I was impressed by the way Brian Flores and the Minnesota defense were able to frustrate the Chiefs.
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