The Vikings followed up an impressive Week 1 victory with a Monday Night Football loss at Philadelphia.
Depsite the outcome, several outlets kept Minnesota's position steady leading into a divisional matchup against Detroit.
Here's a look at where the Vikings rank heading into Week 3:
No. 11 (down 4 spots): Dan Hanzus – NFL.com
Eight days after an impressive season-opening win over the Packers, the Vikings went to Philadelphia and got humbled by an Eagles team that was superior in every facet of the game. Minnesota's defensive game plan almost seemed tailored to make Jalen Hurts as comfortable as possible, while Kirk Cousins labored through yet another disastrous prime-time performance. Cousins was pressured constantly and routinely threw the ball up for grabs, resulting in three interceptions. Even Justin Jefferson had a rough night: The prodigious young wideout was held to just 48 yards and was largely erased when covered by Darius Slay, who had two picks while in Jefferson's orbit. An ugly night all around.
No. 8 (down 1 spots): NFL Staff – Bleacher Report
It's an act that has become all too familiar with the Cousins-led Vikings. They beat up on bad teams. Occasionally peel off a big win against a good team, ala Minnesota's big Week 1 win against the rival Packers. But just when you start buying into the Vikings, they lay an egg.
Minnesota will probably rebound this week against the Lions because that's what it does. The Vikings don't play another 2021 playoff team until a home date with the Cardinals on October 30.
But the confidence level in these Vikings got a lot shakier in Week 2.
No. 9 (down 2 spots): Vinnie Iyer – Sporting News
The Vikings are matching Miami's McDaniel hire early with Kevin O'Connell in the way he's scheming up Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook. The new-look defense with healthier personnel is the reason why they can keep pushing the Packers, whom they already beat, in the NFC North race.
No. 11 (down 4 spots): Pete Prisco – CBS Sports
They didn't do anything on offense against the Eagles. Then again, it was a Monday night. We know how Kirk Cousins plays on Monday night.
View photos from the Vikings-Eagles Monday Night Football game on Sept. 19 at Lincoln Financial Field.
No. 15 (down 2 spots): Conor Orr – Sports Illustrated
Kirk Cousins & Co. were stunned by a suddenly blitz-happy Eagles defense and a stellar coverage performance against Justin Jefferson. Was this the norm, or just a good learning experience for rookie coach Kevin O'Connell?
No. 23 (down 5 spots): Mike Florio – Pro Football Talk
Changing coaches fails to make Kirk Cousins better in prime time.
View photos of the Vikings 53-man roster as of Jan. 14, 2023.
1 K Greg Joseph
1 K Greg Joseph
2 RB Alexander Mattison
2 RB Alexander Mattison
3 CB Cameron Dantzler
3 Cam Dantzler
4 RB Dalvin Cook
4 RB Dalvin Cook
5 WR Jalen Reagor
7 CB Patrick Peterson
7 CB Patrick Peterson
8 QB Kirk Cousins
8 QB Kirk Cousins
12 QB Nick Mullens
12 QB Nick Mullens
66 P Ryan Wright
17 WR K.J. Osborn
17 WR K.J. Osborn
18 WR Justin Jefferson
18 WR Justin Jefferson
19 WR Adam Thielen
19 WR Adam Thielen
22 S Harrison Smith
22 S Harrison Smith
24 S Camryn Bynum
24 S Camryn Bynum
25 S Theo Jackson
25 S Theo Jackson
26 RB Kene Nwangwu
26 RB Kene Nwangwu
27 CB Kalon Barnes
27 CB Kalon Barnes
29 CB Kris Boyd
29 CB Kris Boyd
30 FB C.J. Ham
30 FB C.J. Ham
32 RB Ty Chandler
32 RB Ty Chandler
33 LB Brian Asamoah
33 LB Brian Asamoah
39 CB Chandon Sullivan
39 CB Chandon Sullivan
42 LS Andrew DePaola
42 LS Andrew DePaola
43 LB Luiji Vilain
43 OLB Luiji Vilain
44 S Josh Metellus
44 S Josh Metellus
45 LB Troy Dye
45 LB Troy Dye
47 LB William Kwenkeu
47 LB William Kwenkeu
54 LB Eric Kendricks
55 LB Za'Darius Smith
55 OLB Za'Darius Smith
56 C Garrett Bradbury
56 C Garett Bradbury
58 LB Jordan Hicks
58 LB Jordan Hicks
62 G/C Chris Reed
62 G/C Chris Reed
63 T Vederian Lowe
63 T Vederian Lowe
64 T Blake Brandel
64 T Blake Brandel
67 G Ed Ingram
71 T Christian Darrisaw
71 T Christian Darrisaw
72 G Ezra Cleveland
72 G Ezra Cleveland
74 G Olisaemeka Udoh
74 G Olisaemeka Udoh
83 WR Jalen Nailor
83 WR Jalen Nailor
84 TE Irv Smith Jr.
84 TE Irv Smith Jr.
86 TE Johnny Mundt
86 TE Johnny Mundt
90 DL Esezi Otomewo
91 OLB Patrick Jones II
91 DE Patrick Jones II
92 DT James Lynch
92 DT James Lynch
93 DL Jonathan Bullard
93 DL Jonathan Bullard
94 DT Dalvin Tomlinson
94 DT Dalvin Tomlinson
95 DL Khyiris Tonga
95 DL Khyiris Tonga
96 DT Ross Blacklock
96 DT Ross Blacklock
97 DL Harrison Phillips
97 DL Harrison Phillips
98 DE D.J. Wonnum
98 DE D.J. Wonnum
99 OLB Danielle Hunter
99 DE Danielle Hunter
No. 9 (no change): Nate Davis – USA TODAY Sports
It's not all bad, Minnesota fans. QB Kirk Cousins only has one more scheduled prime-time game in 2022 and won't see Philly CB Darius Slay any time soon.
No. 11 (no change): Frank Schwab – Yahoo! Sports
Kirk Cousins was pressing and looked awful in Monday night's loss to Philadelphia. We've seen that before from him. It's not a reason to give up on the Vikings being good this season. The Eagles might just be that much better.
