No. 17 (down 2 spots): Eric Edholm, NFL.com
It’s getting worrisome to think what might happen if the offensive line doesn’t quickly get right. Carson Wentz was Croked on Sunday in Ireland, taking six sacks and 14 hits. He deserves a ton of credit for rallying the Vikings against the Steelers, throwing two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to make it a game, but that pace is unsustainable in the face of such pass-rush pressure. Now, Minnesota must island hop over to England and face a Browns defense that hasn’t allowed more than 277 yards (while piling up 11 total sacks) in the first four contests. The Vikings’ beaten-up offensive line will have its hands full all game, with the hope being that they can return stateside in relatively good shape. That feels far from certain now.
No. 18 (down 3 spots): Gary Davenport, Bleacher Report
Don’t pay attention to the final score of this game – it was 24-6 at one point before the Vikings made it interesting late. Wentz’s 350 passing yards and two scores are also misleading, as much of that production came with the game all but decided.
Wentz threw a pair of interceptions and was dropped six times in Dublin behind a patchwork Vikings line that has been a problem much of the season.
Add in a Minnesota ground game that averaged 3.5 yards a carry, and these Vikings look less like last year’s 14-3 squad by the week.