NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

2021 NFL Power Rankings Week 15: Chiefs explode, Broncos remember a hero

By Randy Gurzi

2021 NFL Power Rankings; The Kansas City Chiefs players on the bench dance during the second half against the Las Vegas Raiders at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
2021 NFL Power Rankings; The Kansas City Chiefs players on the bench dance during the second half against the Las Vegas Raiders at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
11 of 32
Next
2021 NFL Power Rankings
2021 NFL power rankings; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Mackensie Alexander (24) celebrates with free safety Xavier Woods (23) during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

Minnesota Vikings. 22. team. 60. . . Previous: 22nd

22. Minnesota Vikings

A shoulder injury threatened to keep Dalvin Cook out of the lineup on Thursday Night Football, but the Minnesota Vikings ended up getting their running back on the field as they took on the Pittsburgh Steelers. And Cook didn’t disappoint.

He rushed 27 times for 205 yards and two touchdowns as he helped the Vikings jump out to a 29-point lead. But that 29-0 head-start ended up being threatened by the Steelers who finally got the ball rolling in the final 18 minutes.

Najee Harris scored a touchdown with a little over two minutes remaining in the third quarter and had another just 11 seconds into the fourth. The Steelers ended up putting up 21 in the final quarter and pulled to within 36-28 with 4:14 to go. They ended up with the ball and a chance to go for the tie but Chase Claypool decided to celebrate his greatness for converting a first-down, helping the Vikings run the clock down.

Eric Kendricks also deserves some praise as he saw an opportunity with Claypool and Trai Turner arguing to throw the ball down and waste even more time. He probably should have been flagged but no one saw this due to Claypool grabbing all the attention.

A savvy play helped them improve to 6-7 on the season. Minnesota feels like a team that should be better than that, but they can still make a run down the stretch.

Home/NFL