The Vikings’ place in the Week 2 power rankings is all over the map, but one thing is clear: nobody is treating that opener like a normal win.
Minnesota came back from what had been tilting toward a rough season opener and somehow turned it into a 17-point victory over Green Bay. The scoreline still looks strange on paper, especially with the Packers up by 12 late in the third quarter, but Brian Flores’ defense - plus a helping hand from some penalties on the other side - flipped the game fast.
That’s the lens most of the rankings are using, even as they split on how much credit to give Minnesota. The Athletic and The New York Times bumped the Vikings to 15th from 19th, calling Flores “a mad man…and we mean that in a good way.” Their key takeaway was that he sent blitzes on 74 percent of the Packers’ dropbacks and helped overwhelm the offensive line late, while backup quarterback Carson Wentz led the offense during the comeback.
Pro Football Talk also has Minnesota at 15th, up from 19th, and boiled the opener down to a familiar pattern: “For the second straight year, the Vikings woke up just in time to get a key division win in Week 1.”
CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco is a little higher on the Vikings, slotting them 13th after they were 18th last week. His read was simple: “That was a heck of a comeback against the Packers.
The defense led the way. With Kyler Murray down, it’s Carson Wentz time now.”
The Score has Minnesota at 12th, up from 15th, but still flagged the biggest issue hanging over the team. “The QB position remains a huge question for Minnesota, and Wentz, who stepped in after starter Kyler Murray suffered a concussion, doesn’t offer much upside.”
Even so, the outlet added that with “the most baseline of quarterback play,” this team can be a legitimate playoff threat because the defense is still spry enough to cause problems. It also said they “should definitely call Jimmy Garoppolo, though.”
USA Today’s Nate Davis has the Vikings at 16th, up from 18th, and framed the opener as a mixed bag. “The bad news?
Quarterback disarray remains the baseline here. The good news?
Resurgent WR Justin Jefferson has already matched his 2025 TD total (2).”
One ranking wasn’t even really about style points. It said Minnesota won, which is the important part, but also noted they didn’t play especially well. The numbers were blunt: the Packers outgained the Vikings 419-239 and had 6.3 yards per play to Minnesota’s 3.9.
Still, for a team that spent most of the afternoon looking buried, the comeback changed the conversation fast. Now the Vikings turn to Chicago, who beat Carolina in a shootout and are sitting comfortably in most of these rankings.
In Other News...
Kevin OConnell May Be Making The Change Vikings Fans Needed
Kevin OConnell kept the focus squarely on wins after the Vikings comeback against the Packers, and that approach matters for a team that has spent enough time getting talked into the wrong priorities. Minnesotas head coach has long been known for his offensive background, but the message coming out of this one was less about style points and more about sticking with what can actually travel in a tight game. Even with the run game not always looking smooth early, the Vikings still handed it off 27 times, a sign OConnell was willing to stay patient rather than abandon the plan at the first sign of trouble.
For Vikings fans, that kind of steadiness is part of the appeal as the 2025 season takes shape around J.J. McCarthy. OConnell has already shown a willingness to adjust the offense for his quarterback, and the bigger question is whether he keeps leaning into the practical side of coaching instead of chasing appearances. If this is the version of OConnell Minnesota gets more often, the Vikings may be set up for a more grounded and sustainable stretch than the one fans have seen in the past. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Fans Are Melting Down After Vikings Win For One Reason
The Vikings comeback against Green Bay had plenty of football reasons behind it, starting with a second-half rally after the Packers had pushed out to a 12-point lead. Minnesota kept hanging around, the Packers kept giving away ground with their own mistakes, and the game turned into the kind of late mess that can flip a divisional result in a hurry.
Even so, it was the fourth quarter sequence that had Packers fans grinding their teeth after the final whistle. Several penalties from Shawn Hochulis crew helped set up Minnesotas go-ahead drive, adding another layer of frustration to a loss already defined by Green Bays late offensive line collapse and the self-inflicted errors that let the Vikings back in. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Head Into Bears Showdown With One Huge Problem
The Vikings head to Chicago for a Week 2 NFC North test with plenty already hanging over the matchup. They got through their opener with Carson Wentz at quarterback after Kyler Murray went down, but Murrays availability this week is still unresolved, leaving Minnesota to sort out its plan on the fly while trying to stay on schedule early in the season.
Chicago enters the divisional game with a real buzz after Caleb Williams delivered a strong Week 1 showing and helped move the betting market in the Bears direction. Minnesota now faces the kind of road game that can reveal a lot quickly, especially with the Bears favored and the Vikings still waiting on clarity at the most important position on the field. [Read more 🡒]