NFL power rankings Week 6: Experts grapple with surging Vikings at No. 1

Ryan OLeary

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NFL power rankings Week 6: Experts grapple with surging Vikings at No. 1 image

The Minnesota Vikings head into their bye week as arguably the most impressive team in the NFL through the first month of the season. 

For a team that was forced to pivot to journeyman Sam Darnold at quarterback in early August, it doesn’t get much better than this. 

The Vikings (5-0) made yet another statement in Week 5, their defense buzzing around Aaron Rodgers to the tune of three sacks, three interceptions and an Andrew Van Ginkel pick-six in Sunday’s 23-17 win over the New York Jets in London. The Vikings did enough offensively to fend off Rodgers’ late push, with Darnold leading a pair of clutch field goal drives in the fourth quarter to keep the Vikes among the NFL’s two remaining undefeated teams, along with the Kansas City Chiefs.

With the Chiefs ravaged by injuries and looking less dominant than their recent championship teams, you could easily make the argument that Minnesota — behind its league-leading plus-63 point differential through five games — has been not only the most impressive, but the flat-out best team in the league.

NFL analysts grappled with that very question on Monday morning. Here’s how the experts think the Vikings stack up against the league’s elite.

NFL Power Rankings Week 6: Minnesota Vikings

Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: No. 2 (no change) 

Iyer: "The Vikings have done everything to prove their worth as the best team in the NFC, thanks mostly to Andrew Van Ginkel and the rest of Brian Flores' defense. They're not "perfect" as an undefeated team with some offensive kinks, but their resume is strong with the Jets being the latest victim.”

Taylor Wirth, NBC Sports: No. 2 (no change) 

Wirth: "Sam Darnold looked bad, the running game was ineffective and yet they still won thanks to that defense. Darnold is regressing to the mean but it's not proving to be detrimental ... yet.”

Brian Blewis, Pro Football Network: No. 3 (up 3 spots)

Blewis: “The Vikings remain undefeated after beating the Jets 23-17 in London. After having a career resurgence through the first four weeks, Sam Darnold had his first bad game of the season. As a result, the Vikings’ offense struggled. On Sunday, Minnesota’s offense had their worst performance of the season both by offensive yardage and expected points added. Nonetheless, the Vikings proved they’re a complete team, as their defense picked up the slack for their struggling offense. Against Brian Flores’ unit, Aaron Rodgers had his lowest EPA per dropback in a single game this season, and his box score statistics weren’t much better. For the day, Rodgers averaged just 4.5 yards per pass attempt and threw three interceptions. Now at 5-0, the Vikings will have their biggest test of the season yet after their bye week against a rested Lions team.”

Matt Johnson, Sportsnaut: No. 1 (no change)

Johnson: “The Minnesota Vikings are a perfect 5-0 heading into the bye and headed back from London. That’s what is most important for Minnesota right now. However, the Aaron Jones injury (hip) is the big question coming out of this game. Minnesota’s offense looked lifeless without its Pro Bowl running back, a bit reminiscent of what happened last season with a non-existent run game Kevin O’Connell was forced to abandon. Jones missing time would be a massive blow for the Vikings offense.”

Peter Dewey, Sports Illustrated: No. 3 (up 1 spot)

Dewey: "The Vikings just keep winning. Minnesota rode a strong defensive effort to beat the New York Jets in London, and now it heads into the bye week as the only undefeated team in the NFC.”

Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic: No. 2 (no change)

Cluff: “Are the Vikings really a contender? We can only go with what we have seen and that is a 5-0 record for Minnesota after five weeks, which includes wins over the 49ers, Texans, Packers, and Jets. Looks like a contender to us. Guess who the Vikings play after their bye this week? The Lions.”

Consensus: No. 2

MORE VIKINGS NEWS: Aaron Jones injury update

Ryan OLeary

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Ryan O'Leary has spent his entire professional career in sports multimedia, working as journalist, editor, podcaster, and in live events as a content manager and show emcee. His career highlights include working as a podcast host and audio editor for USA TODAY Sports Media Group, where he led a series of NFL podcasts for the company’s top-performing NFL sites. A born and raised New Englander, Ryan’s career kicked-off in newspapers after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in journalism. He developed an affinity for small-town youth, high school and college sports, while also realizing his childhood dream of covering the Patriots in multiple AFC Championship Games. Ryan enjoys kicking it with family and friends, beating his dad and brother in chess, and arguing with anyone crazy enough to insist that Tom Brady isn’t the GOAT.