The Vikings have another chance to get over .500 this weekend after Minnesota (5-5) pulled off a chaotic 34-31 win over Green Bay.
The Vikings are on the road Sunday against the 49ers, who are also 5-5.
Here's a look at where the Vikings rank heading into Week 12:
No. 10 (up 4 spots): Dan Hanzus – NFL.com
The Vikings are the most predictable and — maybe — most dangerous team in the NFC. Kirk Cousins threw three more touchdown passes, including two to the unstoppable Justin Jefferson, in a 34-31 win over the Packers that served as notice to the rest of the league: When the Vikings are humming like they are right now, they can beat anyone. It came down to a final-second field goal by Greg Joseph, because, well, that's the only way the team seems to know how to play. It appears to be taking a toll on the head coach: "Sundays are not fun," said the lovably cantankerous Mike Zimmer. "You know how they say Sunday is fun day? It's not ... at all."
No. 12 (up 3 spots): Frank Schwab – Yahoo! Sports
Justin Jefferson on Sunday: eight catches, 169 yards, two touchdowns. Finally the Vikings realize that their first priority in the offense needs to be getting Jefferson touches.
No. 16 (up 3 spots): Pete Prisco – CBS Sports
Beating the Packers in dramatic fashion Sunday keeps their division hopes alive, but the reality is they are likely chasing a Wild Card spot. The offense can be dynamic.
No. 15 (up 2 spots): NFL Staff – Bleacher Report
The story of the 2021 season for the Minnesota Vikings has been heartbreak. The Vikes have been in every game this year, only to continually come up short at the end. All five of Minnesota's losses have come by seven or fewer points, including a pair of losses in overtime.
Sunday against the rival Packers, it appeared for a while like we might see the same sad story play out again — after taking a 31-24 lead late, the Vikings allowed Aaron Rodgers to burn the team for a 75-yard scoring strike to Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
However, rather than folding, this time the Vikings rallied, driving the length of the field before Greg Joseph knocked through a chip-shot field goal as time expired to lift Minnesota back to .500 and into a playoff spot as things stand now.
It's the kind of win that can establish some real momentum for a team. But the Vikings won't have any time to rest — next Sunday brings a trip to Levi's Stadium to battle a San Francisco 49ers team that is also contending for a Wild Card spot in the NFC.
No. 13 (up 4 spots): Gary Gramling – Sports Illustrated
Kirk Cousins has been consistently tasked with delivering late-game heroics this year, and he's done so repeatedly. The schedule is about to soften up for the Vikings, and anything less than 10 wins would be a disappointment.
No. 14 (up 3 spots): Vinnie Iyer – Sporting News
The Vikings could be a lot higher in the NFC standings with better results from their early-season one-possession games, but all that has been quickly forgotten with recent wins over the Panthers, Chargers and Packers. The key to making the playoffs will be staying consistent through four quarters every game over the final two months.
No. 10 (up 1 spot): Nate Davis – USA TODAY Sports
Even QB Kirk Cousins is looking for room on Minnesota's bandwagon. Not much room on Cousins bandwagon either, Pro Football Focus justifiably ranking him as league's second-best passer after Sunday's upset of Green Bay, in part due to his 0.5% interception rate.
View photos of the Vikings 53-man roster as of Jan. 5, 2022.
1 K Greg Joseph
1 K Greg Joseph
3 P Jordan Berry
16 P Jordan Berry
7 CB Patrick Peterson
7 CB Patrick Peterson
8 QB Kirk Cousins
8 QB Kirk Cousins
11 QB Kellen Mond
11 QB Kellen Mond
12 WR Dede Westbrook
12 WR Dede Westbrook
14 QB Sean Mannion
14 QB Sean Mannion
15 WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
15 WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
17 WR K.J. Osborn
17 WR K.J. Osborn
18 WR Justin Jefferson
18 WR Justin Jefferson
20 CB Harrison Hand
20 CB Harrison Hand
22 S Harrison Smith
22 S Harrison Smith
23 S Xavier Woods
23 S Xavier Woods
24 CB Mackensie Alexander
24 CB Mackensie Alexander
2 RB Alexander Mattison
2 RB Alexander Mattison
26 RB Kene Nwangwu
26 RB Kene Nwangwu
3 CB Cameron Dantzler
27 CB Cameron Dantzler
29 CB Kris Boyd
29 CB Kris Boyd
30 FB C.J. Ham
30 FB C.J. Ham
31 RB Wayne Gallman
31 RB Wayne Gallman
4 RB Dalvin Cook
33 RB Dalvin Cook
35 TE Luke Stocker
35 TE Luke Stocker
41 LB Chazz Surratt
41 LB Chazz Surratt
42 LS Andrew DePaola
42 LS Andrew DePaola
44 S Josh Metellus
44 S Josh Metellus
45 LB Troy Dye
45 LB Troy Dye
48 LB Blake Lynch
48 LB Blake Lynch
52 G Wyatt Davis
52 G Wyatt Davis
55 LB Anthony Barr
55 LB Anthony Barr
56 C Garrett Bradbury
56 C Garett Bradbury
58 DT Michael Pierce
58 DT Michael Pierce
59 LB Nick Vigil
59 LB Nick Vigil
64 T Blake Brandel
64 T Blake Brandel
69 T Rashod Hill
69 T Rashod Hill
74 G Olisaemeka Udoh
74 G Olisaemeka Udoh
75 T Brian O'Neill
75 T Brian O'Neill
78 G Dakota Dozier
78 G Dakota Dozier
83 TE Tyler Conklin
83 TE Tyler Conklin
85 WR Dan Chisena
85 WR Dan Chisena
90 DT Sheldon Richardson
90 DT Sheldon Richardson
92 DT James Lynch
92 DT James Lynch
91 OLB Patrick Jones II
91 DE Patrick Jones II
94 DT Dalvin Tomlinson
94 DT Dalvin Tomlinson
96 DT Armon Watts
96 DT Armon Watts
98 DE D.J. Wonnum
98 DE D.J. Wonnum
No. 16 (up 3 spots): Courtney Cronin – ESPN.com
Note: ESPN looked at the most memorable Thanksgiving game in each team's history. ESPN Vikings reporter Courtney Cronin went Randy Moss' massive game against Dallas in 1998.
Moss scored every time he caught the ball in the Vikings Thanksgiving demolition of the Cowboys defense during the receiver's rookie season. All three of Moss' touchdowns were [more on plays that gained more than 50 yards as] he totaled three receptions for 163 yards and three TDs, and he helped Minnesota extend its winning streak to four games. The Vikings went on to score a then-NFL-record 556 points and finished the year with a 15-1 record. Their season came to an end against Atlanta in the NFC Championship Game.
No. 13 (up 2 spots): Mike Florio – Pro Football Talk
They've led in every game by seven or more points, and they've lost half of them. Hello, 9-8.
