The Vikings are all out of room for error after falling below .500 again.
Author:
Will Ragatz
Publish date:
The Vikings' loss to the Lions on Sunday felt like a pretty perfect microcosm of their season. There were injuries. There were turnovers. There were missed opportunities. And in the end, the result was another one-score loss, their eighth of the season.
This has been quite the "what could've been" year for Kevin O'Connell's team. They clearly have some special talent on offense, though the injury to Kirk Cousins realistically sunk their season. The defense has fallen off a bit in the last two weeks, but Brian Flores' group has been outstanding overall. They've just been killed by turnovers — they're tied for second in the NFL with 30 giveaways in 15 games — and one or two key plays not going their way.
A year after going 11-0 in one-score games, they've predictably regressed to a 6-8 mark in those contests. With one more margin of eight points or fewer in the season's final two games, they'll set the all-time record. It's been a crazy 2023 for this team.
Now the margin for error is gone. The Vikings' playoff hopes are on the ropes as they prepare to take on the Packers on Sunday night in what amounts to an elimination game. Can they find a way to dig deep and respond?
Let's take a look at this week's national power rankings to see what various analysts thought of the Vikings' latest heartbreaking defeat.
Josh Kendall, The Athletic: No. 18 (Up 1 spot)
MVP: T.J. Hockenson
It’s not Justin Jefferson because Minnesota has a losing record when he plays and a winning one when he doesn’t. Instead, it’s another pass catcher, Hockenson, who was acquired last season via trade with the Lions. Hockenson has been targeted more than any tight end in the NFL (127) and has more receiving yards (960) than all of them except Travis Kelce.
The Vikings aren't done, but it's getting late. They deserve a ton of credit for keeping the season alive -- and even extending the team's midseason win streak to five games -- after Kirk Cousins was lost for the season. Justin Jefferson was sidelined for that entire hot stretch, so it really is a credit to Kevin O'Connell's and Brian Flores' coaching jobs, getting the most out of their respective units to remain in the playoff race. In Sunday's six-point loss to Detroit, Jefferson put on a show, reminding everyone just how rare he is, whether via his incredible diving TD catch or his improbable conversion in the waning minutes on 3rd-and-27. But that show was also a reminder of what could have been had this team kept its core healthy for more of the season. A 2-0 finish against the Packers and Lions can get the Vikings in the postseason, but they must prepare themselves for the possibility that their largely-inspiring campaign might come up just short.
Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports: No. 17 (Down 3 spots)
Just when we thought Jameis Winston wouldn't be a big part of this 2023 season, he somehow assumed the identity "Nick Mullens." Mullens is Jameis Lite, with the possibility of a 60-yard highlight or the worst interception you've seen on every pass attempt. Not good for the blood pressure of any Vikings fan or coach.
Bleacher Report Staff: No. 19 (No change)
That the Minnesota Vikings have been able to hang around the fringes of the NFC postseason chase despite a litany of injuries is a testament to the team's resilience.
But the injuries (and poor quarterback play) appear to finally be catching up to the team. After Nick Mullens tossed four more interceptions against the Lions in a game in which the Vikings lost tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee), Jordan Addison (ankle) and edge-rusher D.J. Wonnum (quad), the Vikings are 7-8 and on the outside looking in.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: No. 18 (Down 4 spots)
The defense has had major issues the past few weeks, which is surprising. They still have a playoff shot, but they will need help.
It’s too late to give up on Nick Mullens.
David Helman, FOX Sports: No. 23 (Down 4 spots)
It's weirdly impressive that the Vikings managed to turn the ball over four times and still scare the Lions. With Justin Jefferson back in the lineup, Minnesota certainly looks capable of beating Green Bay and hanging tough in the wild-card conversation.
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