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Before the 2021 season, Minnesota earned a No. 15 ranking from USA TODAY’s Nate Davis. The Vikings then went and lost to the Bengals.
So, Minnesota dropped quite a bit in the Week 1 power rankings. Davis had them at No. 24 this week. Davis wrote:
“When you commit a dozen penalties for 116 yards, and your best player (RB Dalvin Cook) fumbles in overtime? Welp. Not harbingers for the campaign you want.”
Vikings fans may be irked by that last part, considering whether Cook actually fumbled or not is up for debate. However, the team did not put itself in a position to succeed on Sunday. Minnesota’s offensive line struggled against Cincinnati. The Vikings let a team like the Bengals, coming off a 4-11-1 season, hang around for way too long.
In the end, the Vikings got what they deserved: a loss to start the year and a lower ranking in a lot of different NFL power rankings.