Week 1 of the NFL season is officially over, and that means the weekly release of power rankings begins across all NFL media outlets. After a dominant 28-6 win over the Giants, the Vikings have gained an advantage in most power rankings, but only marginally.
We’ve compiled a number of power rankings from various media sources and compiled them into one comprehensive list. Below you’ll find the list, as well as the rankings of the Vikings’ opponents in the NFC North Division…
The highest rating of the week came from Josh Kendell of The Athletic, who wrote, “It’s the Sam Darnold Show, and the first episode wasn’t half bad.”
Pete Prisco of CBS Sports sees the Vikings rise seven spots in his rankings this week, writing, “Sam Darnold impressed in leading the Vikings to a win over the Giants. The defense also played great. This team may be better than expected.”
Connor Orr of SI was impressed with the work of the Vikings coaching staff in Week 1, writing, “Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores continue to stand out as one of the best playmaking duos in the NFL.”
Orr, like many others this week, was impressed by Darnold’s solid debut.
“Sam Darnold didn’t throw an incomplete pass until just before halftime. He looks nothing like the player the Jets and Panthers were sure had no long-term prospects. Imagine that,” Orr wrote.
The Vikings were able to improve by three places in Eric Edholm’s rankings.
“It’s been a great start for the intriguing Vikings, but the schedule gets pretty serious over the next three Sundays (vs. 49ers, Texans, Packers),” Edholm wrote.
“We’ll see if Week 1 was more about Sam Darnold taking the first step toward a career turnaround or if the Giants were abysmal on defense,” Yahoo’s Frank Schwab wrote when he moved the Vikings up six spots. “What we do know is that Darnold had one of the best games of his career. Given the positive environment around him, he could have a good season.”
Minnesota jumped just one spot in ESPN’s power rankings. Kevin Seifert noted, “Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell gave away five game balls, four of them to rookies, after Sunday’s 28-6 win over the New York Giants. But none had more impact than Darnold, who completed 15 of his first 17 passes.”
Noted Vikings fan Mike Florio was perhaps the strictest of all the Power Rank experts, placing Minnesota all the way back at No. 24. Florio moved the Vikings up just one spot this week, writing, “It’s hard to say if the Vikings simply beat up a bad team or if they have a chance to get good.”
Below you can see where the rest of the NFC North ranks in the rankings compiled above. For clarity, we’ve averaged the rankings into one number. Most notable was the Packers’ unsurprising drop after an opening week loss and the injury to starting quarterback Jordan Love. Green Bay fell from an average No. 6 ranking to start the season to an average No. 14 ranking this week, with some ranking the Packers in the 20s.
Detroit Lions
Average ranking: No. 3.14 (previously 3.5)
Highest ranking: No. 2 (SI)
Lowest ranking: No. 5 (The Athletic)
Green Bay Packers
Average ranking: No. 14.14 (previously No. 6.66)
Highest ranking: No. 6 (SI)
Lowest ranking: No. 24 (Yahoo!)
Chicago Bears
Average ranking: No. 15.71 (previously No. 15.8)
Highest ranking: No. 13 (PFT)
Lowest ranking: No. 19 (SI)
