NFL Power Rankings heading into 2018’s fourth quarter

#12 Minnesota Vikings (6-5-1)

Minnesota Vikings v New England Patriots

So the Vikings schedule looks like this – win, tie, loss, loss, win, win, win, loss, win, loss, win, loss. They once had three consecutive wins over the Eagles, Cardinals and Jets (who are a combined 12-24 right now), but other than that they have been really up and down. While I think Kirk Cousins has received some unfair criticism, I can’t deny that he has struggled in some of their biggest games. Yet, what I’m really getting sick of is Mike Zimmer telling me every week how they need to establish the run more. Well, why don’t you just run it more often?

Over the last three weeks, Minnesota has run the ball just 46 times – three less carries than the aforementioned Ravens had last Sunday alone. The worst part is that they were averaging 7.3 yards a carry in their most recent loss to the Patriots. I understand that some situations don’t allow you to hand the ball off and you need to put it in the air, but you have a special talent in Dalvin Cook at the running back position and an offensive line that has struggled mightily in pass protection for large stretches.

I know that you can’t simply say that the play-calling needs to revolve more around the ground game, but it’s almost like the Vikings feel forced to make Kirk Cousins the focal point of their offense because of all the money they gave him in the offseason, even though their backs were averaging just under 150 yards from scrimmage last season, despite having Cook for just four games. They need to commit more to sticking with the run game and find creative ways to put the ball in the hands of their most dynamic weapon, especially if those two fantastic receivers can’t get it going. Cousins should not throw the ball 41 times a game. Defensively, they have gotten back on track a little after early struggles.

They are first in third down percentage allowed, they are second in the red-zone, eight in sacks and the only teams they have allowed 30 points to were the Rams and Saints. I think Mike Zimmer’s scheme has shown some flaws due to simplicity, but even though the Pats took it to them, they without a doubt have the NFL’s best front-four, a physical group of cover-guys, the most complete safety in football and they are the most effective blitzing team in the league with how they don’t give anything away. The division is still in reach for them, as the Bears face the Rams this weekend and they host Chicago in the season finale.

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#13 Indianapolis Colts (6-6)

Indianapolis Colts v Jacksonville Jaguars

I love how aggressive Frank Reich has been on fourth downs, but the Colts didn’t understand the situation quite well enough on Sunday. They were facing an offense that had just fired their coordinator and benched their quarterback for Cody Kessler. When you can get points you take them, because they won’t put up that many themselves. Indianapolis was stopped once inside the one when both teams were scoreless early in the second quarter and then they went for it with about three minutes left in the game despite being well into field goal range. Had they made those two field goals, the game would have been tied at six and they would have put their fortunes in the hands of a backup QB.

With all that being said, I look at this game more like a pride win for Jacksonville than a really bad loss by the Colts. Of course getting shut out sucks, especially after I was praising the offense with that retooled O-line and Andrew Luck a week ago, but this is still a dangerous group. You can find more about that in my article from a week ago (LINK!!), but basically the Colts now have a generational signal-caller back, who know finally benefits from pocket integrity and a creative play-caller. They are a few weapons away from being really explosive.

Defensively, they have also taken a big step already, now ranking middle of the pack in Matt Eberflus’ first year as defensive coordinator. They have a multitude of bodies on the defensive line, I love their young linebackers – which at this point I should mention once again, include my Defensive Rookie of the Year in Darius Leonard – and a prototype free safety to run that single-high scheme in Malik Hooker. So while this team is pretty young and unexperienced, they have guys at the most crucial spots and excellent coaching.

Baltimore seems to be locked into that number six seed and Denver has been putting together a bit of a run here, but I’m not writing off the Colts quite yet. They will have to prevail in two divisional road games, with the Texans being on the schedule for this week, and beat two NFC East teams at their place, but I wouldn’t say that they don’t have a chance in any of those matchups.