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NFL Power Rankings: Vikings Land at No. 7 in Most Lists

The Vikings (12-3) won another one-score game as Greg Joseph hit a 61-yard field goal as time expired to beat the Giants 27-24.

Minnesota will continue to play for playoff seeding as it travels to Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers (7-8) on Sunday.

Here's a look at where the Vikings rank heading into Week 17:

No. 7 (up 1 spot): Dan Hanzus – NFL.com

While doubters keep wondering when regression will take hold, the Vikings keep winning. Minnesota triumphed in yet another one-score game on Saturday, getting a walk-off 61-yard field goal from Greg Joseph to beat the Giants, 27-24. Joseph got his chance thanks to Justin Jefferson, whose 17-yard catch-and-run in the final minute moved the ball into Giants territory and capped another dominant day from a player who absolutely deserves to be in the MVP conversation. The Vikings are 11-0 in one-score games this season, and Jefferson has been in the middle of the action during every crucible moment. A true difference-maker.

No. 7 (no change): NFL Staff – Bleacher Report

The Minnesota Vikings like to keep things interesting.

When kicker Greg Joseph blasted through a franchise-record 61-yard field goal as time expired to beat the Giants, it marked Minnesota's 11th one-score win and the sixth time the Vikings have won this season with a score in the final minute of the fourth quarter or in overtime. Both are NFL records.

By the time the dust settles on the 2022 campaign, wide receiver Justin Jefferson may have a record of his own. After another huge game, Jefferson needs 209 yards to break Calvin Johnson's single-season receiving record.

While addressing the media after the game, Head Coach Kevin O'Connell said the Vikings have learned to thrive when the stakes are at their highest.

"Our guys have the ability to play with a quieted mind," O'Connell said, "and just understand the situation of pitch-and-catch ... and have maybe the best execution all day in those [key] moments, and that's a theme for our team. Now what we've got to do is find a way to create that kind of urgency and execution level throughout four quarters, and we're going to see something really special with this team."

The question now is whether a Vikings team that lives dangerously with such regularity and sports the worst pass defense in the league can continue pulling rabbits from hats in the playoffs.

No. 7 (down 1 spot): Vinnie Iyer – Sporting News

The Vikings aren't lucky. They put themselves in position to win with good offensive play design that involves top skill players Justin Jefferson, Dalvin Cook and T.J. Hockenson at the right times. They also proved defense and special teams can be a factor when needed.

No. 6 (no change): Pete Prisco – CBS Sports

At 12-3, they are pushing to be the second seed. But if the Eagles were to stumble twice, they could end up with the top seed if they won out.

View frame-by-frame photos of Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson's 15-yard touchdown and celebration against the Giants in Week 16.

No. 8 (down 1 spot): Conor Orr – Sports Illustrated

The Vikings are collecting one miraculous win after another. Last week, we wondered if the Colts game would produce some level of fatigue. This week, they edged the Giants on a 61-yard field goal. Their constants have remained constant in 2022, and this week we'll get a glimpse of them operating in a true playoff atmosphere.

No. 7 (no change): Mike Florio – Pro Football Talk

At a certain point, it's no longer luck.

No. 7 (up 1 spot): Nate Davis – USA TODAY Sports

In order to keep their slim hopes of taking the home field from Philadelphia alive, dome-dwelling Vikes will have to win at Green Bay and Chicago as they conclude the regular season.

No. 7 (no change): Frank Schwab – Yahoo! Sports

If you signed a quarterback and he delivered 20,504 yards, 151 touchdowns to 47 interceptions and a 101.3 passer rating in five seasons, including one season that included eight fourth-quarter game-winning drives for a 12-3 team, that's a good signing, right? It's OK for Kirk Cousins haters to acknowledge that Cousins isn't as bad as you like to think.

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