2018 NFL Power Rankings: Wild Card edition

3. Minnesota Vikings

13-3 (NFC North champions)

No. 2 Seed in NFC

There are more than a few people out there who feel that the Minnesota Vikings are getting ready to become the first franchise to play a Super Bowl in their own stadium. And it’s becoming increasingly difficult to argue against the logic. Mike Zimmer’s club has certainly progressed from a season ago on both sides of the football.

This season, the team totaled 382 points and the offense scored 40 touchdowns. Those numbers are certainly up from last season (scored 327 points and 29 offensive TD in ’16). A year ago, seven players gained more yards rushing (1,205) than Zimmer’s gang. This season, even with talented rookie running back Dalvin Cook going down after a few weeks, only six teams in the league outgained the Vikings on the ground.

Quarterback Case Keenum seized the moment since inheriting the starting job for the rest of the season in Week 5. He finished the year with 22 touchdown passes and only eight turnovers while completing 67.6 percent of his passes. Wideouts Adam Thielen (91) and Stefon Diggs (64), tight end Kyle Rudolph (57) and unsung running back Jerick McKinnon (51) all caught at least 50 passes.

Now take all that offensive improvement and pair it with the NFL’s top-ranked defense. The Vikings gave up the second-fewest yards per game both on the ground and through the air and also allowed the fewest points in the league (252). Led by Pro Bowl omission Harrison Smith, Minnesota defenders gave up just 23 offensive touchdowns in 16 contests.

It’s safe to say Zimmer’s team is going to be a very tough out.

Next: No. 2