Week 11 NFL Power Rankings: Fox Sports Jumps Vikings Up One Spot

The trend is continuing for the Minnesota Vikings: positive increases in weekly power rankings despite losing efforts. Just a few weeks back, the Vikings were raised by a couple of the major power rankings following a loss to the Green Bay Packers in which rookie quarterback got his first start and almost led his team to a win. Now, the Vikings have lost to the Packers in a much less desirable fashion, and move up in another power ranking list.

Fox Sports bumps them up one spot:

22. Every time I see the Vikings play, two players jump off the screen. Jared Allen on defense and Adrian Peterson on offense. Unfortunately for the Vikings, that is just about the extent of their talent this season.    

That's one spot up, and it's likely because other teams were dropped below where Minnesota was. Brian Billick's reasoning is likely that the Vikings were very much expected to lose to the Packers, and that the loss doesn't change how dangerous they are to other teams, which is the essence of power rankings. 

Week 11 NFL Power Rankings: CBS Sports Raises Vikings One Spot

The Minnesota Vikings suffered a bad loss on Monday Night Football, and most Week 11 Power Rankings reflect that in a big way. But the loss was to the undefeated Green Bay Packers, so most power rankings are keeping them in relatively the same place. Still though, they find themselves near the bottom of most power rankings this week.

CBS Sports actually bumps them up one spot:

24. They just aren't close to being in the same class with the Packers. The rest of the season has to be about Christian Ponder growing as a quarterback.    

That's one spot up from their previous spot, at No. 25, though it's mostly due to the other teams dropping. Pete Prisco is maintaining that the Vikings should hold based on the fact that they played the Packers, and everybody loses to the Packers. But other teams (like the Browns) moving down excessively has led to the Vikings getting a small bump.

Week 11 NFL Power Rankings: ESPN Drops Vikings Three Spots

The Minnesota Vikings made things interesting the first time they met the Green Bay Packers this season, but Monday Night's tilt at Lambeau Field was nothing short of an absolute beatdown. Minnesota has felt a spark offensively with rookie quarterback Christian Ponder taking over, but had little success against the rival Packers. They find themselves at the bottom of the division, while the Lions sit behind Green Bay and the Bears are trending upward.

ESPN drops the Vikings three spots in their Week 11 NFL power rankings:

27. While the Vikings ponder their stadium offers, coach Leslie Frazier continues to develop his young quarterback, Christian Ponder. (Clayton)    

Aside from the overdone wordplay, the statement hits the nail on the head in regards to the Vikings on the field product. Right now, it's all about Ponder - developing him for the future to see if he's the franchise's best option at quarterback. Donovan McNabb was not going to be the answer, and before the team even knew that Ponder would be better for them offensively, they made the conscious decision to concentrate on the future.

Week 11 NFL Power Rankings: Vikings Fall To No. 30

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