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ESPN Power Rankings: Minnesota Vikings miss Top 10

By Ryan Palmer

Sep 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Shaun Hill (13) passes the ball with defensive pressure from Tennessee Titans linebacker Wesley Woodyard (59) during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Shaun Hill (13) passes the ball with defensive pressure from Tennessee Titans linebacker Wesley Woodyard (59) during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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ESPN released their Week 2 NFL Power Rankings on Tuesday, and once again the Minnesota Vikings are getting zero respect. Amazingly the Vikings didn’t even crack the top 10.

Apparently the folks over at ESPN think the 2016 Minnesota Vikings are hapless after losing Teddy Bridgewater for the season.

So where did the Vikings land on the list? (See the entire list here)

ESPN’s Top Ten

  1. Green Bay Packers
  2. New England Patriots
  3. Seattle Seahawks
  4. Pittsburgh Steelers
  5. Arizona Cardinals
  6. Carolina Panthers
  7. Houston Texans
  8. Denver Broncos
  9. Cincinnati Bengals
  10. Oakland Raiders

For the second week in a row Minnesota ranked in at number 12. Here is ESPN’s reasoning for the Vikings placement.

"The Vikings’ defense scored two touchdowns in Week 1 while the offense scored no touchdowns. It resulted in a win, but that was against the Titans. Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers will provide a tougher test in Week 2."

The main argument against the Minnesota Vikings is their apparent lack of a viable offense. The Vikings weren’t exactly lighting-it-up last year either, but we still had a fantastic season.

Denver is starting a second year, seventh round draft pick in Trevor Siemian. New England is starting Jimmy Garoppolo, Houston has Brock Osweiler, there are question marks all over the top 10 when it comes to QB play. Yet the Minnesota Vikings have a veteran back-up, and a former number one pick in Sam Bradford. Still no love for the guys in purple.

Lists of this sort can drive a fan crazy trying to figure out their logic. Here are a few glaring flaws that stick out like a sore thumb.

Green Bay at number 1

I understand that Minnesota did face the lowly Titans, however Green Bay barely squeaked out a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jags might be on the rise, but according to this list, they still are not considered a top 20 team. As a matter of fact the Jaguars were only three spots ahead of Tennessee. (23 and 26 respectively)

Houston Texans at number 7

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Just last week Houston was right behind the Vikings at number 13. I guess beating up on last year’s NFC North bottom-dwellers means a lot. The Texans jumped ahead six spots after their week one victory over the Chicago Bears. Total poppycock.

Oakland Raiders at 10

The Raiders are another team supposedly on the rise. However their defense couldn’t seem to stop a roll of paper towels on Sunday. Oakland’s D was struggling so much that former Viking linebacker Jack Del Rio went for a two point conversion instead of putting his defense out on the field for overtime.

Next: Patterson, Defense spark Minnesota Vikings Victory

I can’t wait for the Minnesota Vikings to defeat the Packers Sunday night. Perhaps then we will finally get the respect we deserve.

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