Life moves pretty fast. So does the Vikings defense, which has served as a catalyst to Minnesota's first 3-0 start since 2016.

The Vikings latest display on that side of the ball once again came in dominant fashion, as Minnesota corralled five sacks and intercepted Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud twice in a 34-7 rout on Sunday.

Former Texan Jonathan Greenard led Minnesota with three sacks on the day, while his fellow former Texan-turned-Vikings teammate Kamu Grugier-Hill picked off Stroud on the first official play of the game.

Grugier-Hill's fourth career interception and first as a Viking set up Sam Darnold’s first of four touchdown passes during the game.

Minnesota became just the third team since 1990 to record five total sacks in each of its first three games of the season, according to CBS Sports' John Breech, joining the 2000 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and 2001 New Orleans Saints.

Defensively, the Vikings lead the NFL in sacks (16) and passes defensed (20) and are tied for second and third in interceptions (five) and takeaways (six), respectively.

Minnesota has been extremely restrictive so far in scoring defense. The Vikings have given up just 30 points through the first three weeks of the season (avg. 10.0 per game), which is the second-best mark in the league behind Pittsburgh (26 total points allowed, avg. 8.7 per game).

This season also marks the eighth in franchise history where Minnesota has allowed 30 points or fewer through three games to start a season and the first since 1988 (26 points allowed). Of those eight seasons, the Vikings have been undefeated four times, with the first three coming in consecutive years (Minnesota started 3-0 and allowed 30 total points in 1974 and 1975 and gave up 28 points when the team started 2-0-1 in 1976).

Minnesota is now one of five unbeaten teams left in the NFL, joining the Bills, Seahawks, Steelers and the defending back-to-back champion Chiefs. The Vikings second straight win against a 2023 playoff team moved them even higher in this week's Power Rankings, with the biggest jump being 12 spots.

Here's a look at where the Vikings rank going into Week 4:

No. 3 (up 12 spots): Eric Edholm, NFL.com

Vikings fans: Yes, I hear you! You've proven your point, and it's time for that point to be reflected properly in these rankings. I harbored some doubt about Sam Darnold and a banged-up offense, as well as a defense that had been impressive the first two games but with clear caveats. Throw those concerns out the window following the 27-point blowout of the Texans, who were pretty much cooked by the third quarter. Darnold was sacked four times, but the offense took advantage of great field position on the first two scores. That was thanks to a masterful defensive game plan from Brian Flores, who could once again be a head-coaching candidate to watch this coming offseason. He blitzed the heck out of C.J. Stroud, and the plan worked. Stroud had been effective versus extra rushers his first season-plus, but the Vikings were undaunted in coming after him. And what a sweet day it had to be for Jonathan Greenard to sting his former team for three sacks.

No. 3 (up 5 spots): NFL Staff, Bleacher Report

The Sam Darnold-led Minnesota Vikings are the hottest team in the NFL.

That is an actual, truthful statement.

The Vikings have taken it to two Super Bowl contenders in back-to-back weeks, downing the San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans. The play of Darnold has been a major surprise in the Twin Cities, but per Yahoo Sports' Frank Schwab, the even bigger surprise has been the dominant play of Minnesota's defense.

"(Brian) Flores' defense is a huge factor in the Vikings start," Schwab said. "The 49ers had seven points through three quarters at Minnesota last week. The Texans were shut out in the first half. Houston finally got on the board with 3:56 left in the third quarter, after Minnesota had run out to a 21-0 lead. The Vikings probably don't have top-five talent on defense but are playing like a top-five unit. That's coaching. The Texans had trouble generating any running game or explosive plays in the passing game. The latter is usually not a problem for C.J. Stroud, who had one of his worst games as a pro. Minnesota plays fast and physical, with consistent pressure and disciplined coverage. The Vikings confused Stroud and made him look tentative, which has been tough to do."

Minnesota's schedule doesn't get any easier moving forward — the team travels to Lambeau Field next week and then "hosts" Aaron Rodgers and the Jets in London in Week 5. But the way Minnesota has played this season, it shouldn't fear taking on any team in the league.

"We're now three weeks into the regular season," [Bleacher Report NFL analyst Brent] Sobleski said. "Maybe everyone should start believing in Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings. According to ESPN's Kevin Seifert, the Vikings are the first in nine seasons to start 3-0 without being favored by more than one point in those games. Minnesota currently [ranks third in the league] with a plus-55 point differential. How? Well, Darnold has fit seamlessly into Kevin O'Connell's offense. He currently leads the NFL with eight touchdown passes. With back-to-back wins against the San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans, the Vikings are very real."

No. 3 (up 2 spots): Pete Prisco, CBS Sports

The good news is Sam Darnold isn't badly hurt. Did I just write that? Yes because he's played so well in the 3-0 start that his health really matters.

No. 3 (up 4 spots): Nate Davis, USA Today

Have they looked more impressive than the 31 other teams through three weeks on the way to their first 3-0 start in eight years? It's not a difficult argument to make, either. Fully activated QB Sam Darnold is leading the league in TD passes (eight), the defense is leading the league in sacks (16), and Kevin O'Connell might be leading the league in Coach of the Year votes – were a straw poll to be taken. Eminently impressive rollout, particularly when considering the quality wins against the 49ers and Texans.

No. 4 (up 3 spots): Josh Kendall, The Athletic

He might turn into a pumpkin by Halloween, but for now [Sam] Darnold leads the NFL in touchdown passes (eight) while throwing only two interceptions. Given up on by the Jets, Panthers and 49ers, Darnold is third in the league in passer rating (117.3) playing for O'Connell. Darnold's best passer rating in his first six seasons in the league was 92.6, but he outplayed Houston's C.J. Stroud on Sunday by a wide margin, throwing four touchdown passes. One note on defense: The Vikings became the third team since 1990 to have at least five sacks in each of their first three games.

No. 5 (up 4 spots): Conor Orr, Sports Illustrated

What has been masterful about [Defensive Coordinator] Brian Flores' defensive performances to me is that, like some of the other Bill Belichick disciples who have left New England only to commit the same sins — loading up on former Patriots, paying them big money and trying to run the same defense — Flores has loaded up on former Dolphins and Patriots. However, he has taken those players and plugged them into a whirlwind defensively that is zigging while the rest of the NFL is sitting in Cover 2 and praying for no big plays (sorry gang, Andy Dalton is back and that's not gonna happen). While it's harder to maintain a great offense than a great defense, and at some point, the referees and the league will step in to goose scoring, we need to take note of how wonderful and maddening this defense has been over the course of three games.

No. 4 (up 9 spots): Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News

The Vikings have built a strong résumé by knocking off the 49ers and Texans back-to-back at home. Their offense is being operated well by Sam Darnold, and the defense is going gangbusters under DC Brian Flores. This fun can continue.

No. 4 (up 7 spots): Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports

Sam Darnold avoided a significant knee injury and shouldn't miss any time with a bone bruise. That's great news because Darnold is having a fantastic start to the season. There's no reason to believe he can't continue this pace. The Vikings offense will get better when Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson return.