NFL Power Rankings Week 14: Initial Standings Post-Thursday Night Football

December 11, 2015   ·   Andrew Gould   ·   Jump to comments

Even in defeat on Thursday night, the Minnesota Vikings made a strong case for deserving an NFL postseason spot.
The Arizona Cardinals checked off all the boxes to handily beating them. They contained Adrian Peterson to 69 yards on 23 carries and moved the ball well through the air and on the ground against a short-handed defense. 
Yet it nearly wasn't enough, as Teddy Bridgewater threw for a career-high 335 passing yards. Often this season, Minnesota has looked lost when the opposition stymies Peterson, but it traded punches with a prominent Super Bowl contender to open Week 14.
The Vikings have lost three of their last four games, all to top NFC playoff contenders. Unlike the previous two defeats to the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks, however, they weren't in over their heads. As a result, they won't drop too far down the week's preliminary power rankings. 
 
Fading Away
It's late enough to cut the politeness regarding everyon...

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