Vikings In The Power Rankings, Week 3

The Vikings are 1-1. They could pretty easily be 2-0, but considering that the season opened at home against a solid Atlanta team before a trip to Lambeau against the improved Packers defense, 1-1 is probably about where most people expected them to be at this juncture.

The defense was has looked incredible for six of eight quarters. Dalvin Cook leads the league in rushing. Kirk Cousins, meanwhile...

Let's see how the national media views the Vikings heading into a home game against the Raiders.

SI.com/MMQB: 10

The Vikings fell three spots from the 7th slot they occupied last week. They were ranked as high as 6th and as low as 16th by SI's 11 voters.

Quote: "Kirk Cousins’s performance against the Packers, including that brain-cramp pick in the endzone late, may hint at why Mike Zimmer wants to run the ball."

NFL.com: 10

Like SI, NFL.com dropped the Vikings from 7th to 10th after their loss.

Quote: "It should be noted that the Vikings were on the wrong end of three questionable offensive pass interference calls, including a penalty buzzed down from upstairs that negated a Stefon Diggs TD. Mike Zimmer won't sleep 'til Thursday."

ESPN: 11

Down two spots from 9th.

Quote: "[Dalvin] Cook has revitalized the Vikings' run game at a time when the offense needs it most. Maintaining that output throughout the season is possible and will carry this team if quarterback Kirk Cousins struggles like he did against the Packers. But doing so will require Cook to stay healthy and the Vikings to take the necessary precautions to not place too much stress on him."

USA Today: 11

USA Today has the Vikings in its third tier of teams. The headline for its power rankings article is "The Kirk Cousins contract is officially a bust." Yikes.

Quote: "We’re now officially past the halfway point of Kirk Cousins’ fully guaranteed contract, and it might be time to officially declare it a mistake."

CBS Sports: 12

Pete Prisco moved the Vikings down four spots from 8th.

Quote: "If Kirk Cousins doesn't pick up his play in the big games they won't even be a playoff team. They have to get more from the passing game."

Yahoo Sports: 11

Down two spots from 9th.

Quote: "The Vikings, aside from the first quarter on Sunday at Green Bay, have played very well. But they’re not going anywhere if Cousins can’t elevate his game."

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