NFL Power Rankings: Vikings hold steady after bye week

Justin Jefferson should be coming back this week and adding the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year probably isn’t getting enough attention in the playoff race. The Vikings’ quarterback situation is a lot shakier after Joshua Dobbs’ disaster against the Bears in Week 12, but anyone would be helped out by throwing to Jefferson.

Will Justin Jefferson make the quarterback, whoever it is, play better?

Since Kirk Cousins became a regular starter in 2015, he is sixth in the NFL (among quarterbacks with more than 1,000 attempts) in passer rating (99.9) and 10th in EPA per pass attempt (.21). After beating two NFC South teams in the first weeks without Cousins, the Vikings have lost their last two, and it’s clear how much they miss Captain Kirk. There’s every reason to believe Cousins will return at basically full strength from his torn Achilles, but he’s scheduled to be a free agent in 2024. Minnesota should fix that.

Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores plucked Metellus out of special teams obscurity to fill a key role in his defensive scheme. Listed as a safety, Metellus has started all 12 games and played 92.7% of the team’s defensive snaps in a hybrid linebacker/nickel role. He has rushed the passer more than any NFL defensive back (78) and leads the Vikings with a 22.8% pressure rate. Along the way, Metellus has recorded 77 tackles, forced three fumbles, notched 1.5 sacks and intercepted a pass. — Kevin Seifert

This week’s post-bye game against the Raiders figures to have some real drama beyond whether Justin Jefferson plays or not. There’s a chance that head coach Kevin O’Connell could make a change at quarterback — either before Sunday’s contest or during it — given Joshua Dobbs’ colossal struggles against the Bears in Week 12. At the very least, you can expect understudy Nick Mullens to be on ready-alert going into this game. Rookie Jaren Hall is back in the mix, too. This game — and the stretch that follows — not only will dictate whether the Vikings make the playoffs, but it likely will help determine the team’s offseason plan at QB. Another concern: Can the offensive line, which has been a team strength, hold up down the stretch? It did not against Chicago. 

Our last impression of the Vikings was that horrendous Monday nighter against Chicago. But Justin Jefferson should be back for the last month, so it’s far too soon to write them off.

They come off the bye and might make a quarterback change from Josh Dobbs to Nick Mullens or even Jaren Hall. They have to cut down on the turnovers, no matter who starts.

After four interceptions by quarterback Joshua Dobbs (whose magic might be wearing off) in a Monday Night Football loss to the Bears, the Vikings now lead the league in turnovers, with 24. Seven (!) of those have come in the past two games. The Vikings are still technically in the NFC’s playoff picture, but they won’t stay there for long if they keep playing mistake-prone football, like we’ve seen the past two weeks. —Lindsay Jones

Bad news regarding their belated playoff push. Minnesota (6-6) is 5-2 since WR Justin Jefferson’s hamstring injury … unfortunately, he’s set to rejoin the lineup. Rimshot.

Not that long ago, Joshua Dobbs was the toast of the Twin Cities—the quarterback who was going to save Minnesota’s season after Kirk Cousins got hurt.

Fast forward four interceptions in an ugly loss to a bad Bears team, and the shine is all the way off that penny—so much so that Dobbs’ days as a starter in Minnesota may already be over.

With veteran backup Nick Mullens and youngster Jaren Hall now available as options, head coach Kevin O’Connell admitted to reporters that Minnesota’s time off will be spent puzzle-solving.

“I think the quarterback position needs to be evaluated to figure out what we think gives us the best chance to win,” O’Connell said. “We’ll take a look at that from the standpoint of, ‘What’s the best fit right now for our team?'”

Mullens is a low-ceiling career backup. Hall is essentially a complete unknown. Dobbs is mobile but prone to turning the ball over. The reality is that there may not be a right answer to this question for the Vikings.

But at least whoever starts under center in Week 14 should have wide receiver Justin Jefferson back after a stint on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.

The Vikings are evaluating quarterback but are likely sticking with Josh Dobbs with Justin Jefferson coming back to spark the passing game. The defense and running game need to be a bigger part of the formula to close out another playoff berth.

The Vikings’ season was supposed to be over when Kirk Cousins ruptured his Achilles tendon, but the Fighting Kevin O’Connells can’t seem to underachieve, at least early in his tenure.

Brian Flores has a defense that makes things difficult for opposing quarterbacks because of the varied looks up front and in coverage. Although they blitz at an incredibly high rate, it’s not a gimmicky defense. And as long as Joshua Dobbs doesn’t momentarily lose his mind, he has played well enough to keep the offense rolling.