The Minnesota Vikings will try to reverse the outcome of a bad Week 1 memory when they kick off the regular season Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. It was three years ago when the Vikings went to San Francisco on a Monday night as favorites and lost 20-3 in an underwhelming debut performance.
But the Vikings get the home field advantage in this game, and the 49ers will have to combat the age-old body-clock battle, considering they’ll be starting the game at 10 a.m. Pacific Time.
Let’s do a quick rundown of some of the game’s key matchups and, hopefully, arrive at a potential final score.
MINNESOTA OFFENSE vs SAN FRANCISCO DEFENSE
The Vikings have had very little continuity on the offensive line this preseason, to the point where the center position has been in flux all week, and it frankly wouldn’t be shocking if Minnesota made a surprise move to play one of its younger players at left guard or right tackle in lieu of either Tom Compton or Rashod Hill (starters should be announced at about 10:30 a.m.).
Keep in mind, though, that offensive line musical chairs was the name of the game last preseason, as well, yet the Vikings amassed 29 points in Week 1 against the Saints.
San Francisco’s defense finished 22nd against the run and the pass last season and added former Seahawks Pro Bowler Richard Sherman to the mix, though Sherman dropped to the 44th-ranked coverage corner last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
The 49ers have a young, all-Pac 12 defensive line anchored by DeForest Buckner and Solomon Thomas. It’s a relatively unproven group but has high-end talent, size and speed, giving them plenty of upside. “A lot of size,” said offensive coordinator John DeFilippo. “Not only size, but speed up front as well. We’re going to have to do a great job of staying square on those guys and getting some penetration, and I think we’ll do that.”
While logic may tell the Vikings to keep the gameplan conservative and not expose the offensive line, it would be foolhardy not to test some of the more unproven members of the 49ers secondary down the field (i.e., CB Ahkello Witherspoon, S Adrian Colbert, S Jaquiski Tartt, etc). Besides Sherman, none of them have ever started more than 10 games in a season.
San Francisco’s salvation largely rests on their Jimmy Garoppolo-led offense, but the defense is counting on an uptick primarily on the basis of added experience and coaching. The Vikings receiving corps could have a big day if Cousins is well-protected.
MINNESOTA DEFENSE vs SAN FRANCISCO OFFENSE
Garoppolo has never lost a game he started, including five straight at the end of the season a year ago. Despite being armed with receivers Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin, he lost the multi-faceted Jerick McKinnon last weekend — a hit to all the work San Francisco put in throughout the summer.
“He was a target for us,” head coach Kyle Shanahan told Minnesota reporters. “That’s who we wanted right away, and knew we were going to go a little different direction with some things in our offense that we’ve worked on for a while. For that to happen on Saturday, really two days before your final game plans, it definitely changes stuff.”
Expect Alfred Morris, Matt Breida and even fullback Kyle Juszczyk to get extra work in the run game.
Similar to the other side of the ball, the 49ers’ offensive line may have to deal with a unit that could expose them in the Vikings defensive line, which is fully healthy and coming off a phenomenal season. Rookie right tackle Mike McGlinchey will be getting his feet wet quickly in his first regular season game.
No longer, though, do the Vikings have trusty standby Terence Newman, who retired and took up a coaching post last Saturday. Mackensie Alexander was listed as doubtful for the game, perhaps opening the door for Mike Hughes to start at nickel — a huge spot for the rookie first-round pick. With strength at virtually every other defensive position, Garoppolo should be compelled to test Hughes if possible.
BOTTOM LINE
The Vikings faced an improving Saints team in Week 1 last year and beat them handily, but the Saints bounced back sharply, made the playoffs and nearly beat the Vikings on their home field in the Divisional Round. Sunday feels like this could be a similar case.
The 49ers have promise, but they may not be ready to realize it. Give them half a season and things will likely be running more smoothly for Shanahan and Co.
For now, the Vikings will prevail for their sixth straight regular season home win.
Vikings 21, San Francisco 13
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