NFL Power Rankings, Week 15: What to Make of Vikings' 3-0 Win
It's a shame Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson got hurt and we never got to see what a fully-healthy version of the 2023 Minnesota Vikings could've looked like when everything was clicking.
Back when Kirk and JJ were clicking early in the season, the Vikings' defense was still figuring itself out and the offense couldn't stop turning the ball over. Ever since the Chiefs game in Week 5 — which was when Jefferson first went down — Brian Flores' defense has been simply unbelievable (the Vikings rank second in defensive DVOA since Week 6).
Things seemed like they were starting to click against the Packers in Week 8, when the defense was dominant and Cousins was sharp in a 24-10 win at Lambeau Field. Unfortunately, that's when Cousins tore his Achilles. Since then, after a brief two-game spurt of Josh Dobbs brilliance, the Vikings' defense has been carrying a struggling offense. That dynamic reached new, laughable heights on Sunday in Minnesota's 3-0 win over the Raiders.
With a healthy Cousins and Jefferson complementing this defense, the Vikings might be second-tier Super Bowl contenders. As it is, they have to hope they can figure something out on offense to win games down the stretch and make some noise in the postseason.
Let's check out this week's national power rankings to see what various analysts made of that bizarre 3-0 victory.
Conor Orr, SI.com: No. 19 (Down 2 spots)
I didn’t necessarily forget how hard Justin Jefferson goes on a down-to-down basis, but I was pretty amazed at the degree of hits he was set up for and willing to take upon his return (before exiting again with a chest injury). I said before the season that, if I were Jefferson, I wouldn’t play another down without a contract, and I wonder if Sunday’s game changed his perspective at all. Also, man, it was great to see Nick Mullens sling it again.
Josh Kendall, The Athletic: No. 18 (Up 2 spots)
Fantasy spotlight: T.J. Hockenson
The fifth-year tight end is on pace for a career season and is third among tight ends in fantasy points (111.9). He had five catches for 53 yards Sunday, which accounted for 22.9 percent of Minnesota’s total yards. The Vikings, who became the second team this season to win a game in which they averaged 3.3 yards per play or fewer (joining the Falcons who beat the Jets averaging 3 yards per play in Week 13), are currently the NFC’s No. 6 seed.
Eric Edholm, NFL.com: No. 17 (No change)
Kevin O'Connell did not pull the bye-week trigger on a quarterback change — but by the fourth quarter against the Raiders on Sunday, he'd seen enough, benching Joshua Dobbs for Nick Mullens. And it worked — kinda. Mullens was a more efficient thrower down the stretch, and a field goal was all Minnesota needed in a 3-0 win. KOC now faces an interesting decision: Go back to Dobbs or give Mullens a shot? Like any good coach, he kept his options open, saying they're "a week-to-week offense at this point," which is especially true with Justin Jefferson hurt again. But boy, this Vikings' defense is out to prove something. Ever since the Week 5 loss to the Chiefs, Brian Flores' group has been lights out. Shutouts are pretty darned rare; Minnesota's was just the fifth in the NFL this season, and there were only four in 2022. For that, the Vikings remain fascinating, warts and all.
Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports: No. 14 (Up 5 spots)
It's shocking how fast the Joshua Dobbs story crashed to earth. Nick Mullens got the nod in the fourth quarter when Dobbs was benched in a 0-0 game, and Mullens at least did enough to get a 3-0 win. That game was hideous but a huge win for Minnesota's playoff hopes. Mullens probably becomes the Vikings' fourth starting quarterback in this weird season for them.
Bleacher Report Staff: No. 19 (Down 3 spots)
Based on perspective, you could say the Vikings pulled off a gritty 3-0 road win over the Raiders, but in reality, their offense has put together subpar performances going back to Week 11. Minnesota has failed to score more than 20 points in three consecutive outings. On Sunday, the Vikings benched quarterback Joshua Dobbs for Nick Mullens, who helped lead the offense into field-goal range for the game-winning kick. Because of the Vikings' questions under center, they're not going to make much movement in the power rankings. They must address a quarterback controversy, which will significantly impact their push for a playoff spot.
ESPN Staff: No. 18 (Down 1 spot)
Biggest improvement: Defensive takeaways
The Vikings' defense has improved in several ways since its shaky start to the season. But after forcing only two turnovers in the first three games of the season, tied for No. 22 in the NFL, the defense forced 17 in its next 10 games — tied for No. 7 during that period. That uptick, which includes nine fumble recoveries and nine interceptions, has coincided with seven victories in 10 games. — Kevin Seifert
The Ringer Staff: No. 21 (Down 1 spot)
The Vikings are 7-6 and alive in the NFC playoff race, but Sunday’s 3-0 win against the Raiders didn’t encourage a lot of belief in this team. Minnesota will go through a week of quarterback-related questions after Nick Mullens was inserted for a struggling Josh Dobbs on Sunday, but the more important question has to do with wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who was taken to the hospital with a chest injury after getting hit hard by Las Vegas safety Marcus Epps in the second quarter, the first game back for Jefferson after he missed two months with a hamstring injury. — Nora Princiotti
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: No. 15 (Down 3 spots)
The offense is so limited right now, but the defense got a shutout to beat the Raiders on Sunday. They can't count on that every week.
Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk: No. 16 (Up 4 spots)
The defense is carrying the offense, a year after the offense carried the defense.
David Helman, FOX Sports: No. 17 (No change)
Please don’t make me talk about the league’s first 3-0 game since 2007. This isn’t an inspiring team right now, but I do think it’s very interesting that two of the Vikings’ final four games are against Detroit. In what weird way might that swing the postseason picture?
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