Minnesota Vikings fall in Week 1 power rankings despite win over Bears

The Minnesota Vikings had all the ingredients to one of the best teams in the league. They have a talented roster on both sides of the ball, playmakers, and one of the top coaching staffs in the league. That is why ESPN had them as a top ten team in their power rankings heading into the regular season opener against the Chicago Bears.

After Week 1's come-from-behind win that saw J.J. McCarthy play in a historic way, they actually dropped a bit.

They fell from 10th to 13th in the power rankings. The first three quarters of the Vikings game against the Bears is likely to be the reason for the fall, but some new faces impressed people. Not just McCarthy, but running back Jordan Mason. ESPN's Kevin Seifert writes, "Mason gave the Vikings exactly what they needed Monday night, and what they've needed for much of coach Kevin O'Connell's tenure: a running back who can bulldoze his way to yards. Mason rushed for 68 yards in the Vikings' win over the Bears, 54 of which came after halftime during the team's comeback. O'Connell said Mason's hard running helped open up the passing lanes for quarterback J.J. McCarthy and helped lead to three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Mason is technically the backup to starter Aaron Jones Sr., but he has already made a case for being their primary rusher."

The remainder of the NFC North came in ranked as the Green Bay Packers lead the division, being ranked fourth. Following the cheeseheads out of Wisconsin is the Detroit Lions in the eighth spot, then the Bears, bringing up the rear from the 24th-ranked spot.

This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Vikings fall in Week 1 power rankings despite win over Bears