Week 9 NFL Power Rankings: Vikings Movin' On Up

While the Minnesota Vikings have enjoyed a rise in most Week 9 NFL power rankings, how is the rest of the division doing? Well, it's not good news for the Vikings, either, as the rest of the division is mostly trending upwards in the major power rankings from ESPN, SB Nation, FOX Sports and CBS Sports as well. Christian Ponder is the reason the Vikings moving up, what about the other teams?

Green Bay Packers

Really - does anything need to be said? They're at the top of any respectable power ranking lists and they don't look like they're about to go down. Number one, number one, number one, number one. 

Detroit Lions

The Lions vented a lot of frustration on Sunday, beating down the Denver Broncos 45-10. They'd fallen out of the top ten in a couple power rankings following two straight losses, but have either held near ten or so, or have moved back into said top ten. SB Nation has them the highest, at No. 7

Chicago Bears

They're coming off a bye week and are doing well in the power rankings. SB Nation moved them up a spot regardless, and ESPN has them the highest - at No. 10, three spots than the next highest (SB Nation has them at 13). CBS Sports held them at 16, the lowest they appear in the major rankings.

The Vikings continue to move on up along NFL power rankings. Everything is focused on one thing: Christian Ponder. One power ranking invited a very raw Aaron Rodgers comparison, which is probably unwarranted, but nice to hear. Some claim he plays like a veteran while others are just professing how great it is that Donovan McNabb isn't under center any longer. Now, they move up some more.

CBS Sports moves them up three spots:

25. They have to be excited about the play of Christian Ponder. He plays smart like a veteran.    

Minnesota was at No. 28 last week in these rankings, and beating the Carolina Panthers appears to be enough to warrant a three-spot jump. It's probably not so much that game itself, but the fact that the Vikings offense, with weapons like Percy Harvin and Adrian Peterson, now has a spark with a capable quarterback behind it in Christian Ponder. Even if Minnesota lost and Ponder played well, they might have moved up a bit.

The Vikings find themselves moving up and up power rankings with just a simple quarterback switch and a thrilling win over the Carolina Panthers. It's not necessarily that beating the Panthers necessitates some huge shift in power, but more how the offense is looking and playing ... how they're got a spark since Donovan McNabb was benched. It's progress no matter how you look at it, so the rise in rankings is warranted.

FOX Sports bumps them up three spots:

23. Rookie QB Christian Ponder has had rather pedestrian numbers during his first two starts, but he reminds me a little of Aaron Rodgers in his ability to slide in the pocket and use his legs effectively on the run. It never hurts to have the best running back (Adrian Peterson) in the game behind you.     

What a comparison to invite, even on the lowest of levels. Whether or not there's any kind of Rodgers-vibe there at all, Ponder is undoubtedly better than McNabb at this point in their careers, whether it be because he's just that good, McNabb is just that bad at his age, or McNabb just doesn't care anymore. The point is that Ponder is, at the very least, a beacon of hope for the future of the Vikings offense.

This is a welcome change for Minnesota Vikings fans, isn't it? Unless you're eyeing a top pick in the draft, then you should be happy to see Minnesota move up the Week 9 NFL Power Rankings. Christian Ponder led the Vikings to their second win of the season and got the first win of his career. He's 1-1 now as a starter, and it was almost 2-0 had he been able to seal the deal against the Green Bay Packers.

ESPN puts the Vikings at No. 23:

23. QB Christian Ponder looked calm and collected in the fourth quarter of Minnesota's win over Carolina. (Clayton)

That's a five-point jump up the power rankings for the Vikings, who have been in the bottom three at one point this year. Christian Ponder did indeed look calm and collected, that's why they're moving up the rankings. They're a more dangerous team now than before, so even if they don't make the playoffs, they should not be overlooked.