Vikings Vs. 49ers Pregame Thread

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Vikings Vs. 49ers Pregame Thread

Post by Cliff »

The regular season is finally here!
Early Look: Vikings vs. 49ers

EAGAN, Minn. — Welcome to the 2018 season.

The Vikings will begin their 58th season in the NFL on Sunday by hosting the San Francisco 49ers.

Minnesota’s 2018 season kicks off at noon (CT) at U.S. Bank Stadium as the Vikings begin their quest for the first Super Bowl win in franchise history.

The Vikings went 13-3 and won the NFC North in 2017 while advancing to the NFC title game.

The 49ers went 6-10 and finished last in the NFC West.

Here’s a look at Minnesota’s 2018 opener against San Francisco:

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Re: Early Look: Vikings vs. 49ers

Post by COViking »

I am really looking to see if we can get Rudolph going as well as Cook in this game. I may be mistaken but last I heard they are pretty depleted in the Linebacker core for this game.

I would also love to see this D-Line just go to town on them. Been waiting all summer to see what they can do.
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Re: Vikings Vs. 49ers Pregame Thread

Post by mansquatch »

McKinnon just went out for the season with a knee injury. This should be a win.
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Re: Vikings Vs. 49ers Pregame Thread

Post by Pondering Her Percy »

mansquatch wrote: Tue Sep 04, 2018 9:31 am McKinnon just went out for the season with a knee injury. This should be a win.
I would hope so. I also said that in 2015 and we got embarrassed. I'm not worried at all though. This team is just all around better than San Fran
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Re: Vikings Vs. 49ers Pregame Thread

Post by mansquatch »

Like I said "SHOULD BE" a win. LOL.

I think 49ers are amongst most over-hyped pre-season teams. They are benefiting from SEA and AZ falling off, but they still will have to prove it against LAR. Actually I think LAR are other over-hyped team. Goff has not proven himself to be a threat as a post season QB. They added a lot of big time names, but can they put it together? Both of their big name DT made their names in 4-3 schemes, not the 3-4 that Phillips will run. They need to prove it IMO.
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Re: Vikings Vs. 49ers Pregame Thread

Post by dead_poet »

Sounds like Isadora will start at center. :shock:

I don't hate it if it means Jones at LG but...that means a guy with extremely limited center experience starting his first game.
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Re: Vikings Vs. 49ers Pregame Thread

Post by halfgiz »

dead_poet wrote: Tue Sep 04, 2018 2:55 pm Sounds like Isadora will start at center. :shock:

I don't hate it if it means Jones at LG but...that means a guy with extremely limited center experience starting his first game.
Kind of a surprise he is starting center...
Will Jones be starting week 1? I'm assuming he will, But maybe Compton will get the start.
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Re: Vikings Vs. 49ers Pregame Thread

Post by VikingLord »

This will be a good opening test for the Vikings. The 49ers finished last season hot with the addition of Garoppolo at QB and what seemed like a "nothing-to-lose" attitude. While NFL defenses will now have plenty of tape on Garoppolo and the 49ers likely won't start this season with that same attitude, they will still pose a stiff test for the Vikings.

When the 49er offense in the on the field, I expect they will try to emphasize the run. This is a road game for them, so they will want to slow the pace down and churn out yardage on the ground and try to force the Vikings to match them physically up front. This will be a good test for the Vikings run defense, with or without Jerrick McKinnon on the opposite side of the ball. Garoppolo will then try to pick his spots in the passing game, looking to audible into favorable matchups if he sees something he likes based on tape, and I also expect the 49ers to go after the Vikings down the field if they can get the running game working.

However, I don't think it will be easy for the 49ers to get the running game going. If the Vikings front 7 stay disciplined, I think they can neutralize the 49ers rushing offense and should force them into a lot of 3rd-and-longs that will heavily favor the Vikings. If the defense breaks down or players start to freelance, the 49ers might find some success, but I think if the Vikings defense we expect to show up shows up, this is going to be a long day for the 49er offense.

When the Vikings offense is on the field, I expect the 49ers to aggressively test the Vikings offensive line and try to disrupt Cousins. This is a strategy I expect we will see from at least the first 2 or 3 opposing defenses this season as if the Vikings have chink in their offensive armor, the line is it. I expect the Vikings to go after the 49ers pretty evenly via the air and ground with the goal of sustaining and finishing drives, with a few deep attempts thrown in for good measure. If the 49ers are successful in getting pressure, it's going to be a long day for Cousins and the Vikings offense and a sign that at least the start of this season is likely to be a struggle. I think the line will step up and surprise people, however, and I'm especially intrigued to see how well the Vikings run the ball as I think the one-two punch of Cook and Murray is going to be a load for most defenses, especially with the QB and receivers the Vikings have.

While the 49ers are definitely an improved football team from last year, I think the two biggest contributors to their late season flourish will not be large factors for them this Sunday. I think this iteration of the Vikings defense is going to be one of the better ones in recent memory in the NFL, and we'll see evidence of that this Sunday. While I think the Vikings offense is going to sputter at times as it finds a groove, both in this game and likely in the first few games, I think we'll also see evidence of the explosiveness of this group of players and reason to be hopeful that, as the season goes on, they'll be able to consistently put up a lot of points as well.

I'll call it 24-10 Vikings. The 49ers get their sole TD off a turnover or kick return, and get a fieldgoal off a short field after another turnover, but otherwise struggle to do anything on offense. Cousins and the Vikings offense experience some hiccups, but also string together 3 long scoring drives.
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Re: Vikings Vs. 49ers Pregame Thread

Post by 808vikingsfan »

I think the 49ers were much better than their record in 2017. They lost a lot of close games early on with Hoyer at QB. When they benched him and switched to Beathard, it took the team 3 games before the offense started gelling. Then when they inserted Garoppolo, they won 5 straight. I think if they had a competent QB from the start, they would've been a +.500 team.

Hard to predict this game until we see how good this Vikings offense will be. Defense is a given. Maybe they won't be #1 but they'll be top 5. I can see this game being a blowout or even a last possession win. Game one is always hard to predict.
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Re: Vikings Vs. 49ers Pregame Thread

Post by J. Kapp 11 »

I'm not much of a prognosticator, but here's what I believe.

Jimmy Garappolo had a great run at the end of last season. A lot is being made of the fact that he's 7-0 as a starter in the NFL (and that he dates porn stars). This may very well be his rude awakening.

When he went 5-0 last year at the end of the season, his team beat the Bears, the depleted Texans, the Titans, the Jaguars, and the Rams. Those last three are no joke. However, the Rams were resting their starters, the Titans were in the middle of a 3-game losing streak, and the Jaguars' putrid offense put up almost 500 yards but gave the game away thanks to 3 Blake Bortles interceptions.

Also, there's now 5 games of San Fran tape on Garappolo. Give Zimmer a chance to find a weakness, and he will. I'm not saying Garappolo is a bad quarterback, or that he's not a threat. But before we anoint him as the greatest quarterback in league history, it might be wise to see him shine in more than a handful of games. This Vikings defense is no joke. They're talented, fast and deep, with game-changers at every level. And they're playing at US Bank, one of the loudest venues in the league. Jimmy GQ will have his hands full, as will Kyle Shanahan.

As for our offense, who knows? Last year after preseason, we thought the offense was going to be horrible, and they opened by blowing out the Saints. There's just no way to tell what they'll do. But I can virtually guarantee you that we haven't scratched the surface of what John DeFilippo has in store this season. And San Fran's defense isn't exactly fearsome.

I think we'll win. But I'm a major homer, especially Week 1, so I pretty much think we'll win every game.
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Re: Vikings Vs. 49ers Pregame Thread

Post by Purple Domination »

Our defense was built to neutralize Rodgers and Stafford. This will be a good test for Garoppolo to see how good he really is.
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Re: Vikings Vs. 49ers Pregame Thread

Post by Vikings77 »

I cant wait. Most of people thinks that Viking will wins and can beat the 49ers too easy.. lol :rock: The 49ers is suck! :lol: Go Viking! :v):
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Re: Vikings Vs. 49ers Pregame Thread

Post by Pondering Her Percy »

dead_poet wrote: Tue Sep 04, 2018 2:55 pm Sounds like Isadora will start at center. :shock:

I don't hate it if it means Jones at LG but...that means a guy with extremely limited center experience starting his first game.
I saw this too. I'm sure he's been getting a ton of reps in practice. But our center in the preseason was Edison who was cut. I guess I'm surprised they dont just put Jones there since that is what he plays. It's not like Cousins has more experience with Isidora at center than Jones. I think Isidora was mostly playing guard until Edison was cut. I'm not too worried either way. We know for the most part what we have in Jones and I've always liked Isidora. I'm hoping we see some of these young guys really start to develop
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Re: Vikings Vs. 49ers Pregame Thread

Post by dead_poet »

Looks like Baldy didn't know what he was talking about. Per Cousins, Jones was starting center at walk through this morning.
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Re: Vikings Vs. 49ers Pregame Thread

Post by fiestavike »

Vikings need to be ready for all the stretch plays and bootlegs the Shanahans love to run. Hopefully our offense can get it going. Dream scenario would be to establish our running game and set the tone for the season while setting up play action as a major weapon.
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