NFL Power Rankings, Week 9: 49ers embarrass Panthers, Eagles shock Bills

5. Minnesota Vikings (9)

Since the Minnesota Vikings were playing on a shorter week, Mike Zimmer should just be happy his team found a way to defeat the Washington Redskins on Thursday since this game turned out to be much closer than it should have been.

Since that embarrassing Week 4 loss to the Chicago Bears, the Vikings have found a way to emerge as one of the hottest teams in the NFL by winning four games in a row, and could give the Green Bay Packers a run for their money in the NFC North race.

Even though Kirk Cousins didn’t throw a touchdown pass in the victory, the Minnesota quarterback still deserves plenty of credit for completing 23 of 26 passes for 285 yards to help the offense perform well enough to help earn the win over Washington.

After September, Cousins took plenty of heat for his play on offense for the Vikings, and rightfully so when looking at that hefty contract he signed prior to last season with all the guaranteed money.

Without Cousins, it’s tough to imagine Minnesota entering Week 9 on an impressive four-game winning streak, and if he can help the Vikings increase that streak to five by defeating the Kansas City Chiefs, it will make this team look even stronger in the NFC playoff race.