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Minnesota Vikings 2026 Team Rankings and Ratings

PFM Archetype Coach Has to Steal Games

78.9PFM Team Score

PFM Verdict

Why PFM Ranks the Vikings Here

Justin Jefferson gives Minnesota a true No. 1 target, and Kevin O’Connell knows how to create favorable throws from play action. The Vikings sit No. 19 because the quarterback transition and protection around Kyler Murray remain unsettled. Minnesota can compete when the offense stays on schedule, but crowded pockets still put too much pressure on the quarterback to create the answer himself.

NFL Rank#19Current PFM ranking

NFC Rank#9Among NFC teams

QB Stability#24Kyler Murray · QB Limbo

Season OutlookIn the Playoff Mix

Head coachKevin O'Connell

Offensive coordinatorWes Phillips

Defensive coordinatorBrian Flores

Offense76.6No. 24

Defense80.2No. 17

Coaching Direction82.2No. 13

PFM Team DNA

Minnesota Vikings Team DNA

View all NFL team rankings

PFM category scores · 0–100 scale

QB Stability76.4No. 24 in NFLConcern

Offense76.6No. 24 in NFLConcern

Explosiveness77.1No. 19 in NFLConcern

Roster Strength79.8No. 18 in NFLWatch

Franchise Direction77.0No. 14 in NFLConcern

Coaching Direction82.2No. 13 in NFLStrength

Defense80.2No. 17 in NFLWatch

Recent Performance79.9No. 12 in NFLWatch

Pressure Point

Coaching Direction

Kevin O'Connell can create the first opening for Kyler Murray and Justin Jefferson. Minnesota's line has to preserve it, because a crowded pocket turns the passing game into Murray escaping instead of Jefferson attacking coverage.

The Offense Cannot Waste Minnesota's Defense

Minnesota has a clear weekly priority: create stops and make the offense work with shorter fields. Byron Murphy Jr. and the secondary set the tone for the defense. The offense grades 3.6 points lower. The offense still has to finish more drives and protect the field position those stops create. Minnesota uses a play-action passing offense built around Justin Jefferson and a mobile quarterback stressing the edges.

Kyler Murray Can Open the Field for Minnesota

Murray’s mobility and Justin Jefferson’s gravity give the 24th-ranked quarterback situation a chance to attack every blade of grass. That advantage narrows when protection forces Murray to win repeatedly from a crowded pocket.

PFM ROAD AHEAD

2026 Minnesota Vikings Strength of Schedule

Minnesota sits near the middle of the league at No. 17 in schedule strength, with opponents averaging 80.5. Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers create the toughest stretch, but 5 games against current top-10 teams keep the schedule from belonging at either extreme.

Difficulty Rank#17No. 1 is toughest

Opponent PFM Avg.80.5Average across opponents

Next 3 Avg.82.0Upcoming opponents

Top-10 Matchups5Games vs. current top 10

Away games left7

Top-10 road opponents2

Week 1

vs. Green Bay Packers83.8 PFM · #13

Sep 13 · 4:25 pm

Home

Week 2

at Chicago Bears83.8 PFM · #12

Sep 20 · 1:00 pm

Away

Week 3

at Tampa Bay Buccaneers78.4 PFM · #20

Sep 27 · 4:05 pm

Away

Toughest remaining opponent: Detroit Lions at 86.7 PFM.

See all 32 NFL strength of schedule rankings View Minnesota Vikings’ full schedule breakdown

PFM Reporter

Jamal Adams Is Out for the 2026 Season

Reported

Jamal Adams will miss the entire 2026 season after the right knee injury he suffered in Minnesota's preseason opener.

That changes yesterday's watch into a real roster loss. Brian Flores had been using Adams at both linebacker and safety, giving the Vikings another pressure and coverage piece behind a defense that catered to Adams' strengths.

By Justin Fuhr

Analysis updatedAugust 17, 2026

Sources: NFL news roundup: Packers TE Tucker Kraft returns to team drills; Commanders QB Marcus Mariota expected to miss rest of preseason · Reports: Vikings defender Jamal Adams out for season with knee injury

Around the League

League Context

Closest Team DNA Match

Built Like Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh SteelersMatch distance: 2.73 rating points

Shared profile: Roster Strength and QB Stability.

Minnesota finds answers across the field through the offensive line, while Pittsburgh finds answers across the field through the offensive line. The connection in QB Stability and Roster Strength is the support that keeps one missed block, injury or covered first read from ending the down. Minnesota owns the big-play edge because the attack around the offensive line creates more pressure beyond ordinary gains.

Where they separate: Explosiveness. Vikings hold the stronger current rating.

View Steelers dashboard Compare the teams

Division Pressure