No. 3 (up 5 spots): NFL Staff, Bleacher Report

The Sam Darnold-led Minnesota Vikings are the hottest team in the NFL.

That is an actual, truthful statement.

The Vikings have taken it to two Super Bowl contenders in back-to-back weeks, downing the San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans. The play of Darnold has been a major surprise in the Twin Cities, but per Yahoo Sports’ Frank Schwab, the even bigger surprise has been the dominant play of Minnesota’s defense.

“(Brian) Flores’ defense is a huge factor in the Vikings start,” Schwab said. “The 49ers had seven points through three quarters at Minnesota last week. The Texans were shut out in the first half. Houston finally got on the board with 3:56 left in the third quarter, after Minnesota had run out to a 21-0 lead. The Vikings probably don’t have top-five talent on defense but are playing like a top-five unit. That’s coaching. The Texans had trouble generating any running game or explosive plays in the passing game. The latter is usually not a problem for C.J. Stroud, who had one of his worst games as a pro. Minnesota plays fast and physical, with consistent pressure and disciplined coverage. The Vikings confused Stroud and made him look tentative, which has been tough to do.”

Minnesota’s schedule doesn’t get any easier moving forward — the team travels to Lambeau Field next week and then “hosts” Aaron Rodgers and the Jets in London in Week 5. But the way Minnesota has played this season, it shouldn’t fear taking on any team in the league.

“We’re now three weeks into the regular season,” [Bleacher Report NFL analyst Brent] Sobleski said. “Maybe everyone should start believing in Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings. According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, the Vikings are the first in nine seasons to start 3-0 without being favored by more than one point in those games. Minnesota currently [ranks third in the league] with a plus-55 point differential. How? Well, Darnold has fit seamlessly into Kevin O’Connell’s offense. He currently leads the NFL with eight touchdown passes. With back-to-back wins against the San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans, the Vikings are very real.”