The Minnesota Vikings are still sitting near the top of the league in most national power rankings, but the first loss of their season has clearly changed the tone around them heading into Monday night’s meeting with the Buffalo Bills at U.S. Bank Stadium.
After opening 6-0, Minnesota took its first hit of the year Sunday in a 19-15 loss to the Lions, and several outlets moved the Vikings down a notch or two in their Week 9 rankings. The consensus is simple: the defense still gives them a chance, but the offense is starting to draw real scrutiny.
USA TODAY placed Minnesota at No. 8 and framed the team’s slide this way: “Live by the blitzing broadsword, die by the blitzing broadsword. However, the bigger question surrounding the Vikes as their 10-game winning streak comes to an end might be whether they have the right guy at quarterback.”
Pro Football Talk had the Vikings at No. 6 and offered a blunt read: “A quarterback change may be needed.”
The Athletic also dropped Minnesota to No. 8 after ranking them fourth a week earlier. Its breakdown pointed to the loss at Detroit and the numbers behind it, noting the Vikings allowed their highest explosive-play rate under defensive coordinator Brian Flores and that they “managed only two scores against a bad Detroit defense.” The outlet also compared Minnesota to “the 2025 Colts” and said, “Reality check: They feel a bit like the 2025 Colts.”
Bleacher Report kept the Vikings at No. 6, but the tone was more cautious after the loss. The outlet wrote that Minnesota’s perfect start ended on the first day of November and added that, “Despite their mediocre quarterback play, the Vikings are still one of the league’s best teams, so they should remain within the top 10 in the power rankings for now.” It also pointed ahead to a rough stretch that includes the Bills, Packers at Lambeau Field, and 49ers.
CBS Sports also slotted Minnesota at No. 6, saying, “The offense just isn’t good enough, which is why they suffered their first loss at Detroit Sunday. They have a tough one this week against the Bills.”
FOX Sports kept the Vikings at No. 6 as well, but its assessment was the harshest of the bunch. “Kyler Murray is terrible, and I don’t care what his numbers were or how few interceptions he’s thrown this season,” the outlet wrote.
It added that “Even a team that seems to have one of those really special defenses can’t keep winning like this,” before saying Murray is “a drag on their championship dreams.” FOX also included a stat showing that among the 98 NFL teams to start 6-1 since 1985, the Vikings rank last in both yards per game and points per game through seven games.
ESPN had Minnesota at No. 7, down from No. 3 last week, after the loss to Detroit. The network’s Vikings note looked back at one of the franchise’s notable in-season additions, naming DE Jim Marshall as its “Best in-season trade acquisition ever.”
ESPN pointed out that Marshall was part of the group acquired from the Browns as the Vikings began their inaugural season, and it highlighted his 282 consecutive games, 14 seasons as a captain, and four trips to the Super Bowl. Fran Tarkenton called him “the greatest leader in football that I’ve ever played with.”
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