Vikings vs. 49ers: Numbers & Stuff

  |  
Sep 7, 2018
Image courtesy of Vikings.com

On Sunday, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, the Vikings will embark on perhaps the most anticipated endeavor in team history. As always, the journey promises to be arduous. And at times, glorious.

Setting off on their maiden voyage will be the 2018 Vikings, who in two short days will battle the San Francisco 49ers in each team’s regular season opener.

Since taking over as general manager in January of 2017, former Buccaneer John Lynch has been rebuilding. Luckily for San Francisco, the future Hall-of-Fame safety is as diligent as an executive as he was as a player. Here are some moves he’s made to put his new team on the map:

  • Traded for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo
  • Acquired cornerback Richard Sherman
  • Signed fullback Kyle Juszczyk and running back Jerick McKinnon
  • Brought in wide receivers Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin
  • Drafted linebacker Reuben Foster and defensive end Solomon Thomas
  • Picked up kicker Robbie Gould and center Weston Richburg

Although things appear to be clicking in San Francisco, the 2018 ‘niners’ will face a daunting task right out of the gate. The 49ers, who were 1-3 in the preseason, will travel to the midwest to face the defending NFC North Champions.

Defensively, the Vikings will be seeking to slow the ascendence of 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo by attempting to hand the 26 year-old his first NFL defeat. Garoppolo will undoubtedly take the reigns of the offense after former Vikings running back and planned 49ers starter Jerick McKinnon suffered a season-ending ACL injury last Saturday.

Garoppolo, a 2nd-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2014, has a 7-0 record with a 67.3% completion rate and 12:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio in seven career starts. After being acquired by San Francisco last year, he led the 49ers to five consecutive victories to end the season.

Offensively, the Vikings will welcome back Dalvin Cook and be led for the first time in regular season action by prized free agent acquisition Kirk Cousins. The 30 year-old quarterback has a 26-30-1 career record with a 65.5% completion rate and a 99:55 touchdown-to-interception ratio. With wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen, tight ends Kyle Rudolph and David Morgan, running backs Cook and Latavius Murray and arguably the best defense in the NFL on the other side of the ball, conditions are primed for Cousins to help Minnesota reach its first Super Bowl since 1977.

The Vikings, who were 3-1 in the preseason, begin what could be their greatest conquest at mid day Sunday. Until then, let’s see how the two teams stack up by the numbers.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

  • The Vikings home record in 2017 was 8-1 including the playoffs.

2017 Pro Football Focus grades

  • QB Kirk Cousins: 70.0
  • WR Stefon Diggs: 82.6
  • WR Adam Thielen: 82.4
  • TE David Morgan: 85.5
  • DE Everson Griffen: 84.4
  • DT Linval Joseph: 90.4
  • S Harrison Smith: 91.8

2017 team offense

  • Total offense: 11th (356.9 YPG)
  • Passing: 11th (234.6 YPG)
  • Rushing: 7th (122.3 YPG)
  • Scoring: 10th (23.9 PPG)
  • Turnover ratio: 12th (+5)
  • Third down conversions: 3rd (44%)
  • Red zone percentage: 9th (57.9%)

2017 offensive leaders*

  • Passing: QB Kirk Cousins: 4,094 yards with 27 TD’s & 13 INT’s
  • Rushing yards: RB Latavius Murray: 842
  • Rushing TD’s: RB Latavius Murray: 8
  • Receiving yards: WR Adam Thielen: 1,276
  • Receiving TD’s: WR Stefon Diggs and TE Kyle Rudolph: 8

2017 team defense

  • Total defense: 1st (275.9 YPG)
  • Passing: 2nd (192.4 YPG)
  • Rushing: 2nd (83.6 YPG)
  • Scoring: 1st (15.8 PPG)
  • Third-down conversions: 1st (25%)
  • Red zone percentage: 3rd (40%)
  • Passing yards & TD’s allowed to opposing QB’s: 3,291 yards & 12 TD’s
  • Rushing yards & TD’s allowed to opposing RB’s: 1,095 yards & 7 TD’s
  • Receiving yards & TD’s allowed to opposing WR’s: 2,244 yards & 9 TD’s
  • Receiving yards & TD’s allowed to opposing TE’s: 591 yards & 3 TD’s

2017 defensive leaders*

  • Tackles: MLB Eric Kendricks: 113
  • Sacks: DE Everson Griffen: 13
  • Interceptions: S Harrison Smith: 5

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

  • The 49ers away record in 2017 was 3-5.

2017 Pro Football Focus grades

  • QB Jimmy Garoppolo: 86.6
  • WR Pierre Garcon: 77.5
  • WR Marquise Goodwin: 77.0
  • FB Kyle Juszczyk: 70.4
  • T Joe Staley: 89.6
  • CB Richard Sherman: 77.1
  • LB Reuben Foster: 81.2
  • DL DeForest Buckner: 82.2
  • DL Arik Armstead: 70.1

2017 team offense

  • Total offense: 12th (349.2 YPG)
  • Passing: 9th (245.3 YPG)
  • Rushing: 21st (103.9 YPG)
  • Scoring: 20th (20.7 PPG)
  • Turnover ratio: 20th (-3)
  • Third-down conversions: 16th (39%)
  • Red zone percentage: 27th (47.1%)

2017 offensive leaders*

  • Passing: QB Jimmy Garoppolo: 1,560 yards with 7 TD’s & 5 INT’s
  • Rushing yards: RB Alfred Morris: 547
  • Rushing TD’s: QB C.J. Beathard: 3
  • Receiving yards: WR Marquise Goodwin: 962
  • Receiving TD’s: TE Garrett Celek: 4

2017 team defense

  • Total defense: 24th (351.6 YPG)
  • Passing: 22nd (235.2 YPG)
  • Rushing: 22nd (116.3 YPG)
  • Scoring: 25th (23.9 PPG)
  • Third-down conversions: 30th (43%)
  • Red zone percentage: 26th (59.6%)
  • Passing yards & TD’s allowed to opposing QB’s: 3,943 yards & 27 TD’s
  • Rushing yards & TD’s allowed to opposing RB’s: 1,552 yards & 9 TD’s
  • Receiving yards & TD’s allowed to opposing WR’s: 2,582 yards & 15 TD’s
  • Receiving yards & TD’s allowed to opposing TE’s: 580 yards & 8 TD’s

2017 defensive leaders*

  • Tackles: LB Reuben Foster: 59
  • Sacks: DL DeForest Buckner/ DL Solomon Thomas: 3
  • Interceptions: CB Ahkello Witherspoon: 2
  • Sunday’s game is at noon (CST) and will be shown locally on FOX 9
  • Stats courtesy of NFL.com and Pro Football Reference
  • * Includes players that are on current roster
  • NEXT WEEK: Vikings at Packers
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