Trevor Ripley· Oct 11, 2026
Grading Minnesota's position groups after a 23-13 win in New Orleans, Ripley argues the Vikings own the NFL's best defense and best special teams unit.
“The Vikings arguably have the best defense and the best special teams unit in the NFL.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.
Nothing to score yet: this grades once the result is in.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
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1 checkable claim in this take
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- Position Group FinishMinnesota VikingsOct 11, 2026
Minnesota Vikings defense to be the best in the league
“The Vikings arguably have the best defense and the best special teams unit in the NFL.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Adam CarlsonTrade and Signing Calls · Jordan AddisonMiss · 0Carlson names three Vikings he expects could be traded before the end of September: quarterback J.J. McCarthy, wide receiver Jordan Addison and linebacker Ivan Pace.
- Adam CarlsonGame Outcome Picks · Minnesota VikingsHit · 100Carlson argues Minnesota's pass rush, pass defense and T.J. Hockenson's matchup advantage will carry the Vikings to a road win over the Saints in Week 5, leaving them undefeated heading into the bye.
- Grant ChachereScore Predictions · Minnesota VikingsHit · 83Chachere expects Minnesota's defense to carry the Vikings past the Saints despite the Vikings' poor offense, predicting a 17-14 Minnesota win.
- Doug JoubertScore Predictions · Minnesota VikingsHit · 83Joubert picks the unbeaten Vikings to beat the Saints in New Orleans, predicting a 31-28 Minnesota win.
- Dan ParrScore Predictions · Minnesota VikingsHit · 83Parr picked every Week 5 game with scores, leaning on Chicago's ground game at Lambeau, Seattle's defense against the unbeaten 49ers, and the Rams handling Buffalo on Monday night.
- Brooke CersosimoScore Predictions · Minnesota VikingsHit · 81Cersosimo picked winners and scores across the Week 5 slate, including the Vikings moving to 5-0 in New Orleans, the Browns at the Jets, the Colts at Pittsburgh and the Falcons over a Lamar-less Baltimore.
More position group finish
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Jason La CanforaPosition Group Finish · Baltimore RavensPendingRecapping Baltimore's overtime win in Atlanta, La Canfora predicted the Ravens' late-game defense will keep ranking among the league's worst until the pass rush produces real closers, and said rookie center Vega Ioane will give way to trade acquisition Cam Jurgens at center next week once Jurgens clears concussion protocol.
- Nate TicePosition Group Finish · Seattle SeahawksPendingTice picked the Seahawks to beat the 49ers in Seattle in Week 5, citing Seattle's discipline, and said Seattle's defense is at worst the second-best in the league.
- Matt HarmonPosition Group Finish · Seattle SeahawksPendingHarmon also picked the Seahawks to win in Week 5 and said Seattle's defense is at worst the second-best in the league.
- Bill BarnwellPosition Group Finish · Detroit LionsPendingIn his quarter-season awards column, Barnwell makes clear his selections reflect who has played best through four weeks rather than who will win the awards; his few forward-looking claims are that Josh Simmons will reclaim the Chiefs' left tackle job once healthy and that the secondaries of the Bears, Falcons, Browns and Lions will look like four of the league's weakest by season's end.
- Matt BroganPosition Group Finish · Kansas City ChiefsPendingBrogan expects the Chiefs to finish around 13-4, with Patrick Mahomes throwing for at least 4,500 yards and 35 touchdowns, Kenneth Walker rushing for 1,600-1,700 yards if he stays healthy, and the pass rush climbing to roughly middle of the pack in sacks. He also ranked all 32 quarterbacks for the show's "Cousins/Darnold line" segment.
- Julian CouncilPosition Group Finish · Carolina PanthersPendingAfter reviewing the Panthers' first four games, Council predicts Carolina finishes the season as a top-10 offense, driven by Bryce Young finishing top 10 in passing yards. He also forecasts offensive line depth chart outcomes: Taylor Moten reclaiming right tackle when healthy, Ikem Ekwonu eventually returning as the starting left tackle, and rookie Monroe Freeling settling in as the third tackle.