NFL power rankings, Week 12: Falcons soar, Texans tumble

Minnesota Vikings. 18. team. 60. You have to feel bad for Mike Zimmer when you examine how this season has gone for the Vikings. They enter the preseason as Super Bowl contenders, lose their starting quarterback, trade for a quarterback, win their first five games, then lose five of six games. There is not a spot on this depth chart not struggling to get through each week. Against Detroit lost offensive lineman Joe Berger, a critical piece to Sam Bradford’s early success. The typical check-down quality control Bradford threw a bad interception late, ending the Thanksgiving day game for Minnesota on the road. The road to the playoffs gets no easier for the Vikings, who have a short week to get as many guys healthy as they can. <p>Next Week: The league-best Dallas Cowboys arrive for Thursday Night Football. Bradford could pick apart this defense with his short passes, but ultimately there won’t be enough bodies to stop Ezekiel Elliott. With the Lions starting to emerge as the favorites in the NFC North, the Vikings may have to focus on the wild card.</p> <p>Playoff hopes: The schedule does favor Minnesota, but there are some trap games against division opponents that will determine their fate this season. If they can get players back at the end of the year, they could stumble into the playoffs.</p>. 6-5. Previous: