**No. 23 (down 2 spots): Eric Edholm, [NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-power-rankings-week-13-2025-nfl-season)**
_The Vikings have cornered themselves into a tough situation with J.J. McCarthy, who hasn't grown as expected and is now dealing with his third worrisome injury – he was placed in the concussion protocol after Sunday's loss to the Packers – in two seasons. … Justin Jefferson is averaging 35 fewer receiving yards per game than he did in the 2023 season, when Nick Mullens, Joshua Dobbs and Jaren Hall started more than half of Minnesota's games. It's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The more interesting question to ponder might be how the Vikings plan to handle the QB position in the offseason. McCarthy can't just be handed the starting job without some competition, right? Perhaps Max Brosmer – slated to start if McCarthy can't go this week at Seattle – will show he's that guy._
**No. 22 (down 2 spots): Gary Davenport, [Bleacher Report](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25304632-br-experts-week-13-nfl-power-rankings)**
_The decision to make McCarthy the future of the franchise under center looks to have been a debacle of epic proportions. McCarthy's bad throw percentage and on-target percentage are both the worst in the NFL. In Sunday's loss to the Packers, McCarthy threw two interceptions and passed for 87 yards – total._
_In the second half, Minnesota had four net yards of offense. Four._
_After winning 14 games last year with Sam Darnold, the Vikings need to go .500 the rest of the way in 2025 to win that half that many games._