Where should Vikings rank?

Detroit -

If the NFL season ended today...we'd all be really bored the rest of the fall. Also, the Vikings would be in the playoffs.

There are six playoff spots in the NFC. There are six winning teams in the NFC. The Vikings are two games behind the Packers in the North division, and a half-game ahead of the New York Giants in the wild-card race.

Here are my current NFC power rankings:

1. Green Bay Packers, 6-0

Tony Dungy used to tell me the most important aspect of NFL personnel was having at least one dominant player on each side of the ball. One dominant player can elevate the play of those around him, and can make the opponents' game plans predictable. The Packers have this luxury because of Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews. They hardly look invincible without Jordy Nelson, and with Eddie Lacy apparently opening a Five Guys franchise on the sideline, but they are the best in the conference until proven otherwise.

2. Carolina Panthers, 6-0

3. Arizona Cardinals, 4-2

The Cardinals have the largest point differential margin in the conference, at plus-88, and the most points scored, with 203. If Carson Palmer stays healthy, Bruce Arians will continue to prove he's one of the game's best coaches.

4. Minnesota Vikings, 4-2

Their opening-night loss to the 49ers remains a blight on their record, and their record isn't as good as the Falcons', but they've won four of their last five, are capable of winning close, and are just learning how to win on the road with a young team.

5. Atlanta Falcons, 6-1

6. Seattle Seahawks, 3-4

I think this team has a run in it. Incorporating Jimmy Graham into the offense has proved more difficult than expected, but this is still a talented team with a dramatic home-field advantage.

7. New York Giants, 4-3

Other than Odell Beckham, this is a highly unimpressive team taking advantage of a highly unimpressive dvision.

8. Philadelphia Eagles, 3-4

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I tried to write about Flip Saunders in the Monday paper. I'm not sure I'm the right person to try to put his life into perspective. Because I didn't cover the Wolves much until the year he got fired, I didn't get to know him very well until he returned.

I highly recommend reading pieces done on Flip by, in no particular order, Jerry Zgoda, Patrick Reusse, Jon Krawczynski, Dan Barreiro and Steve Aschburner. They knew Flip better than I did and wrote beautiful odes to the man.

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You can find my podcasts with local sports stars, the nation's best writers, Michael Russo, Jon Krawczynski, Tim Yotter and Roy Smalley at MalePatternPodcasts.com. Should have a new episode with Roy shortly.