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This week's SB Nation NFL Power Rankings according to Joel Thorman saw the Minnesota Vikings move up very slightly even though they lost this past week. Minnesota jumped over the St. Louis Rams to the No. 30 spot, but Thorman does not like the chances of Minnesota moving up much further as they continue their rebuilding process:
30. Minnesota Vikings (2-9, LW: 31): With games coming up against the Broncos, Lions and Saints, it's only going to get worse.
Adrian Peterson continues to be hampered by an ankle injury, meaning rookie quarterback Christian Ponder has lost his safety valve on offense. The Broncos, Lions, and Saints are all teams fighting to stay in the playoff hunt too, making for a very difficult finishing stretch. It is unclear if Peterson will be able to return soon from a sprained ankle. The defense, however, is playing a little bit better as this team builds toward 2012.