Mark Craig: Vikings compare favorably to NFC champ 49ers

[Mothman]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... ml?refer=y

Give or take a few leap-year mathematical errors, it has been 12,795 days since the Vikings played in the Super Bowl.

"Vikings fans," groaned a recent e-mailer, "just can't bear to watch the Super Bowl."

They should watch this one, though, because the current template for NFC supremacy looks exactly like the one being used at Winter Park.

The San Francisco 49ers are a balled-up fist in a spread-'em-out era. They are a riches-to-rags- to-riches-again story that's grounded in astute drafting, not the misguided belief that the Lombardi Trophy can be bought by the most fidgety billionaire during the first week of March. And their idea of a free-agency splash is creating one-line footnotes as they hang on to core youth such as NaVorro Bowman (signed through 2018), Ahmad Brooks (2017), Patrick Willis (2016) and Aldon Smith (2015).

For the Vikings, it's tough to beat a Week 17, playoff-clinching victory over the Packers as the highlight of a surprising 2012 season. But no game was more encouraging for the franchise than the 24-13 victory over the 49ers in Week 3.

[ViciousBritishVike]

I agree about the significance of our win over SF. Like I said (and was hoping) at that time, that game showed what this Vikings squad can do. At the time the 49ers were seen as the #1 team in the NFL solid from top to bottom. Ironically a week from their SB appearance they aren't seen as invulnerable as they once were, but an easy argument can be made they are still the best in the NFL. Like the Vikings displayed at the Pro Bowl and in Week 3, our Vikings can definitely hang with the big boys (unlike Matt Schaub ), but its all going to come down to Christian Ponder who looks to be our starter next season. I'm not sure we can win an entire 2013 season based on Adrian and our defense next season like we did the past month or so. CP needs to watch that Week 3 again and remember what he's capable of.

Couldn't agree more, I was reading an article on the NFL site earlier and stumbled across the fact that the '9ers were facing a tough Seahawks opponent at home a good few seasons back, absolutely dominated for 25 minutes yet were leading just 6-0. The final score saw Seattle win 31-6. Similarly to here, the majority of pieces were in place, just look at the leaps San Fran took when Alex Smith finally came to play and the sensational Kaepernick has since taken them to even further heights.

If Ponder can play to his potential, make a few more critical plays, think that could be good for at least a few more wins during what is a tough schedule next season.

[losperros]

If Ponder can play to his potential, make a few more critical plays, think that could be good for at least a few more wins during what is a tough schedule next season.

I agree. The passing game needs more horsepower all the way around, including better play from both Ponder and the receivers. If that happens, then I think the Vikings have a far more balanced offense. Not that the D doesn't need some additional help as well, because it does.

I like the similarity between the way the Niners built and the Vikings are building. That said, I believe good is good. A spread offense run smartly with good talent is as formidable as a 2TE offense that is run with equal efficiently. I still believe it comes back to balance being a big factor, as in having no weak links in the chain.

[chicagopurple]

"....Viking compare well to 49ers.....", except they are still playing and we arent......they have 2 NFL quality QB and we may have NONE.

[Just Me]

"....Viking compare well to 49ers.....", except they are still playing and we arent......they have 2 NFL quality QB and we may have NONE.

Or we may already have ONE (and after the off-season maybe THREE). Jury is out. I'll admit I would have liked *more* improvement this year from the QB, but he is improving. I'm hoping he "turns the corner" next year. And whether he does or not, the Vikings need to be developing a new QB now. Even if Ponder turns into Peyton Manning next year, he won't be playing forever. Given our stance is a "3-year-plan" it would be nice to be considering who the next QB will be. QB depth is a great thing!

Aside from QB play, I also think their defense is 3 notches above ours. That LB core of San Fran is so talented it's not even funny. I don't want to bash our defense, but we still have plenty of holes to patch up in order to be an elite defense.

And yet despite these perceived disadvantages, we still managed one of the most convincing wins of our season against this team. I like the direction we're heading.

[Demi]

Qb and Coach being the biggest differences.

No way our coaching staff would ever make a ballsy QB change like that.

Smith would be game managing the remote right now with the rest of the 49ers if they hadn't given the job to Kaepernick...

[sdranger]

Qb and Coach being the biggest differences.

No way our coaching staff would ever make a ballsy QB change like that.

Smith would be game managing the remote right now with the rest of the 49ers if they hadn't given the job to Kaepernick...

Talk about a jump... Smith was 6-2-1 when he got injured and lost his job. That means good ol Kappy boy was 5-2 before the playoffs. Let's just leap because we hate our QB. SF is a solid team, solid teams are what win, just ask the Seahawks, Falcons, Patriots, Colts et al. Not saying Ponder is the answer, not saying he isn't the problem. Mr. all world Rogers sat for 3 years before getting his shot and went 6-10 his first year. Give the dude a break (Ponder).

[Mothman]

Qb and Coach being the biggest differences.

No way our coaching staff would ever make a ballsy QB change like that. .

As if there is any way you could possibly know that... it's just another flimsy reason for axe-grinding.

Smith would be game managing the remote right now with the rest of the 49ers if they hadn't given the job to Kaepernick...

They were at the brink of the Super Bowl last year with Smith at QB and they lost the game after a fumble on special teams in OT gave the Giants an opportunity to kick the winning field goal. If I'm not mistaken, Smith had the best passer rating in the league this season when he was injured and Kaepernick took over. The 49ers were 6-2 at that point. There's no reason to believe Kaepernick is THE difference between the 49ers reaching the Super Bowl this season after narrowly missing out on a SB appearance last season. It's quite possible they would be in this same position with Smith at QB.

[saint33]

Ballsy QB change? What ballsy QB change?

The older, more expensive, stop gap QB got hurt, and the younger, cheaper, future of the franchise QB came in and played at higher level. Not exactly rocket science. The offensive coordinator of San Fran even said this week that Alex Smith would still be the starter had he not gotten hurt.

[Mothman]

Ballsy QB change? What ballsy QB change?

The older, more expensive, stop gap QB got hurt, and the younger, cheaper, future of the franchise QB came in and played at higher level. Not exactly rocket science. The offensive coordinator of San Fran even said this week that Alex Smith would still be the starter had he not gotten hurt.

BALLSY!

[HardcoreVikesFan]

Ballsy QB change? What ballsy QB change?

The older, more expensive, stop gap QB got hurt, and the younger, cheaper, future of the franchise QB came in and played at higher level. Not exactly rocket science. The offensive coordinator of San Fran even said this week that Alex Smith would still be the starter had he not gotten hurt.

If I am right in interpreting what you are saying, I agree. However, I think the decision to keep playing Kaepnerick after a few games was what was the ballsy part of what Harbaugh did. Before Smith got hurt, he was leading the NFL in passer rating. Hell, he had just come off a game where he almost broke the NFL record for completion percent.

No one could have predicted how Kaepernick would fare the rest of the season. As easy as it is to sit here and say, "oh wow, that was a smart decision by Harbaugh," the plan to bench Alex could have easily back fired.

Needless to say, it is impossible to know whether or not San Francisco would be in the Super Bowl if Alex Smith was the starter still. I have a very good feeling that they would still make the Super Bowl. That being said, Kaepernick is showing that he is a force to be reckoned with, and his abilities have the 49ers in the Super Bowl.

[saint33]

I guess I just don't see it as very ballsy to stay with the hot hand, especially when that hot hand is being groomed as the future of the franchise. Kaepernick had yet to have a dropoff from his excellent play, so why go back to Alex Smith? Kaepernick clearly brought something to the 9ers offense that Smith simply could not.

IMO to me it was a no brainer, a decision most coaches would make in the same situation, it makes no sense not to.

[Delaqure]

Qb and Coach being the biggest differences.

No way our coaching staff would ever make a ballsy QB change like that.

Smith would be game managing the remote right now with the rest of the 49ers if they hadn't given the job to Kaepernick...

I'm not sure just what kind of ballsy move our coaches could have done here at QB. Put Webb in for Ponder? Really? Kapernick came in because the starter was injured and played well. Kapernick was the possible started of the future for the 49ers. Webb came in for the injured starter and stunk the place up. He was never the possible future for our club. I am sorry, but I am just not seeing an equal comparison here.

[Demi]

And if Webb had played well in place of Ponder with the injury? Or if TJoke goes down and Gus does well enough to win some games? "Can't lose your job because of injury" that's the kind of garbage our by the book old school coaches of recent history would use.

Much less replacing an offensive coordinator during the season like the other Harbaugh!

[Eli]

So, let me see if I have this right.... The entire premise of this article is that the Vikings, like the 49ers, are a team built through the draft?

And ?????????

There's some rambling filler about the QBs and LBs and running backs, but in fact, position by position, and even at the head coaching spot, the two teams have very little in common.

Good headline, though.