The Vikings are 6-7 following a Week 14 win.
Minnesota is now in the midst of a long week before it travels to Chicago for a Monday Night Football tilt in Week 15. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. (CT) from Soldier Field.
Here's a look at where the Vikings rank heading into Week 15:
No. 17 (up 2 spots): Dan Hanzus – NFL.com
Why can't the Vikings just be normal? It's a simple question with a complicated, perhaps unknowable, answer. The Vikings jumped out to a 29-0 third-quarter lead at home against the Steelers on Thursday Night Football, and somehow still ended up playing another game that came down to the final snap. Credit the Vikings' defense for getting that last stop, but it's become obvious that Mike Zimmer's team is affected by the knowledge that it always lets opponents back into games. It's become the Vikings DNA, a self-fulfilling prophecy, and it's aging the entire state of Minnesota in dog years. Said Zimmer: "That team that played in the first half could probably beat anybody. That team that played in the second half could probably get beat by anybody."
No. 19 (up 3 spots): Frank Schwab – Yahoo! Sports
The Vikings aren't dead yet. In a bad NFC Wild Card race, they're actually very much alive. The problem is, do you trust the Vikings to not blow games down the stretch? They tried their best to screw up that Steelers win last week.
No. 18 (up 3 spots): Pete Prisco – CBS Sports
They always seem to make it interesting in the end. But they found a way against the Steelers last Thursday, which keeps them in the playoff mix.
No. 20 (up 1 spot): NFL Staff – Bleacher Report
The Minnesota Vikings played arguably their most dominant half of football Thursday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. They then turned around and let the Steelers right back into the game, which speaks to the problems they've had this season.
Running back Dalvin Cook gashed Pittsburgh for over 200 rushing yards, but quarterback Kirk Cousins completed less than half of his passes. The Vikings completely shut down the Steelers offense in the first half, but they allowed touchdowns on three straight drives in the second half.
Linebacker Anthony Barr told reporters afterward that all of the close games are taking a toll on his psyche, but he's glad to be on the right side of one after last week's crushing loss to Detroit.
"It is frustrating having to come down to the last second. It's taken a few years of my life this season, but it's good to be on this side of a close one," Barr said.
The Vikings have a chance to get back to .500 next week against the rival Bears. But with the Rams and Packers on the schedule after that, making a playoff push will be equal parts difficult and unlikely.
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. 20 (up 3 spots): Conor Orr – Sports Illustrated
Mike Zimmer's defense blew a last-second touchdown to the Lions and nearly blew one of the largest leads in NFL history on Thursday night. A team once destined for the seventh seed needs help, and much more consistency, down the stretch.
No. 20 (up 2 spots): Vinnie Iyer – Sporting News
The Vikings had a statement win mostly against the Steelers with Dalvin Cook returning to dominate in the running game and Kirk Cousins avoiding another total fourth-quarter meltdown. They need to avoid the Bears road trap game on Monday night, once again in prime time in Week 15.
No. 18 (up 3 spots): Nate Davis – USA TODAY Sports
WR Justin Jefferson's 2,688 receiving yards since the start of 2020 ... are second to no one. The Jefferson-Ja'Marr Chase debate might just rage for a few years.
No. 21 (up 2 spots): Courtney Cronin – ESPN.com
Note: ESPN looked at the league-wide rankings for offense, defense and special teams. ESPN Vikings reporter Courtney Cronin analyzed Minnesota's offense (10th), defense (26th) and special teams (20th).
Minnesota has played in 10 consecutive one-score games, which is reflected in its defensive FPI rating. The Vikings have been beaten four times on their opponent's final drive, and they nearly allowed the largest comeback in NFL regular-season history by almost squandering a 29-point lead against Pittsburgh. The offense has been a top-10 unit in large part due to Kirk Cousins' league-best TD-interception ratio (27-5) and the production it has seen from Justin Jefferson after Week 10. The Vikings struggles to put together a complete game on offense and defense (along with some ups and downs in the kicking game) have them on the outside looking in at the playoffs entering their final four games
No. 16 (up 6 spots): Mike Florio – Pro Football Talk
They still have a decent chance to blow a double-digit lead and lose in the Wild Card round.
