Things change quickly in the NFL.Last week was about the Vikings proving themselves as a legitimate Super Bowl contender. To come back the way they did, on the road, against an elite Bills team, was incredibly impre sive. Even with their seven straight wins all coming by one score, it was much harder for people to question if the 8-1 Vikings were "for Domingo Santana Jersey real" after that win in Orchard Park.Those questions are back and louder than ever this week. The Vikings returned to Minnesota and saw their winning streak ripped to shreds in a 40-3 lo s to the Cowboys the franchise's largest margin of defeat at home in 59 years. In what e sentially amounted to a national TV game, they were dominated in every phase by another of the NFC's top contenders. That validated things for a lot of the people who were skeptical about the Vikings' status as a true contender this year."We're an 8-2 football team," Kevin O'Connell said after the game. "There's going to be a lot of narratives about our team that we really can't control, we know that. We've just got to look inward to our locker room. I felt all along we've got the right kind of guys, we've got the right coaching staff. I do believe that we will respond to this the right way, but at this point in the season, November comes, and sometimes you can get hit in the mouth."This league has a way of humbling any football team at any point in time if you don't play good football. We did not tonight, and we've got to learn from Mike Moustakas Jersey this and make sure we move forward in the right direction and really trust that we're going to handle this response the right way. "After rising as high as No. 1 in some power rankings last week, the Vikings are obviously going to take a pretty major tumble this time. Let's see how far they fall and what various national analysts have to say about their disastrous performance.Conor Orr, : No. 10 (Down 9 spots)While this may seem like a punishment for the Vikings, whom I had , I think there was always going to be some regre sion here. I understand the frustration from fans who felt that perhaps they didnt get their earned respect until late in the seasonand that its already getting taken awaybut the lo s to the Cowboys exposed some of Minnesotas more fatal flaws. This team isnt tackling well, didnt run the ball especially well and, in situations where Justin Jefferson cant get a steady diet of targets, its system can be hampered.Bo Wulf, : No. 32 (Down 28 spots)Thankful for: This bulletin board material from a know-nothing nitwitSorry, but rules are rules. When you suffer the most lopsided lo s of the NFL season to date, you have to spend a week in the ceremonial back of the line. Paul Molitor Jersey Dan Hanzus, : No. 9 (Down 6 spots)An afternoon that began with deafening Skol! chants and sky-high confidence ended with a half-empty stadium and a that makes you wonder how good these Vikings really are despite their stellar win-lo s record. There was no one culprit in the stunning blowout to the Cowboys: was under constant dure s, was largely neutralized, and the defense had no answers for Dallas pa sing or run game. "This league has a way of humbling any football team at any point in time if you don't play good football," Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said after the carnage. Yep, a game if ever there was one. Staff: No. 6 (Down 3 spots)What/who is underachieving? Pa s defenseSome well-timed interceptions and sacks have minimized the damage of what has been one of the NFL's most porous pa s defenses. Opponents are completing 69% of their pa ses, the second-worst defensive mark in the league. It's not as if those throws are particularly short. At an average of 7.8 air yards, they are higher than the league average. The Vikings' soft coverage leaves them vulnerable, unle s one of their playmakers can compensate. Scroll to ContinueAustin Gayle, : No. 8 (Down 4 spots)Losing to the Cowboys by 37 points at home was a shock even for the loudest Vikings doubters. The offensive line couldnt pa s protect, the early-down offense was abysmal, and the defense had no answers for Pollard and Prescott. Minnesota is now tied with the Chiefs for the second-best record in the NFL, but sport a negative-two point differential; 15 other teams have a better mark. Theyre now 19th in offensive EPA per drive and 30th in yards per play allowed. Both sides of the ball have to improve significantly if the Vikings are going to win in the postseason.Frank Schwab, : No. 8 (Down 5 spots)I don't want to penalize the Vikings too much for one lo s Alex Claudio Jersey , but 40-3 was bad. The Vikings were never as good as their 8-1 record last week they were too high in these power rankings last week, mostly because of a good win at Buffalo and the lack of quality contenders this season but they're also not Keston Hiura Jersey bad. That 37-point lo s just means that anyone who thought the Vikings might be Super Bowl contenders needs to re-evaluate. Staff: No. 5 (Down 2 spots)Pete Prisco, : No. 7 (Down 4 spots)The bubble burst in a big way against the Cowboys. They better hope that's an aberration, rather than closer to the norm.Vinnie Iyer, : No. 6 (Down 3 spots)What was that? The Vikings' defensive i sues finally caught up to them against a well-oiled Dallas attack and they couldn't run or pa s their way out of it with another improbable comeback. Their march toward an easy NFC North title will need to be put on hold a little ahead of facing the Patriots at home.Mike Florio, : No. 8 (Down 7 spots)When the bubble bursts, it takes out an entire city block.Nate Davis, : No. 8 (Down 6 spots)Are they the worst 8-2 team in history? Maybe that's going too far, but Minnesota is the first to start that well while being outscored overall. The Vikes' league-high streak of 92 games with a TD also ended while they were being pillaged 40-3 by Dallas. And QB Kirk Cousins came up small in another big game.