NFL power rankings Week 7: Experts debate where Vikings, Lions stand entering NFC North showdown
It was a wild first month of the NFL season, with week-to-week upheaval in the standings. That wasn?t the case in Week 6 as the Minnesota Vikings rested during their bye week.
Every other NFC North team ? the Detroit Lions (4-1), Green Bay Packers (4-2) and Chicago Bears (4-2) ? all won on Sunday. All four teams are now at least two games over .500.
With the Kansas City Chiefs (5-0) also idle on a bye, other top NFL contenders like the Baltimore Ravens (4-2) and Houston Texans (5-1) also picked up Week 6 wins.
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Detroit?s impressive, 47-9 dismantling of the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Sunday has NFL analysts debating the league's top three teams entering Week 7.
Here?s what the experts are saying about the Vikings entering their upcoming showdown with the Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium:
NFL Power Rankings Week 7: Minnesota Vikings
Iyer: ?The Vikings' defense and its big playmaking could only be cooled off by a bye week. They also could use better health to get players like tight end T.J. Hockenson back in the mix on offense, but with DC Brian Flores putting forth a "Coordinator of the Year" effort, this team can play with anyone.?
Wirth: "Sam Darnold is coming back down to Earth but they're still finding ways to win with their elite defense.?
Dewey: ?The only undefeated team left in the NFC, Minnesota was on a bye in Week 6.?
Johnson: ?The Minnesota Vikings are the best team in the NFL right now. Coming out of a Week 6 bye, Minnesota is healthier than the Kansas City Chiefs and better on both sides of the ball. We do have some concerns regarding how this Vikings looks when Aaron Jones (hip) is sidelined, but the Pro Bowl running back might only be out short-term. With that, the Vikings? resume cements their status atop our NFL Week 7 power rankings.?
Scataglia: ?The Minnesota Vikings won last week and were on their bye this week. They are the only unbeaten team remaining in the NFC and could continue this. Some people have not fully bought into Sam Darnold, but he?s balling out thus far and is very much an MVP candidate through the first six weeks of the 2024 NFL Season. The team might have the best overall coaching staff in the NFL with Kevin O?Connell as the head coach and their defensive genius Brian Flores as the DC. The Vikings could actually lose Flores this coming cycle to a head coaching job, but for now, they can enjoy this set up. They play the Detroit Lions next Sunday, and this could end up being one of the games of the week in Week 7. There really isn?t another team to rank no. 1 in our latest NFL power rankings than the Minnesota Vikings. Don?t overthink this here."
Consensus ranking: No. 2 (no change)
More Minnesota Vikings news:
Minnesota Vikings struck gold with $76M pass rusher in free agency
NFL insider: Vikings won't let star safety finish season without lucrative extension
Vikings poach one of Brian Flores? favorite draft prospects from Miami in proposed move
