20 Things to Know before 49ers-Vikings

20 things Vikings 49ers
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings (5-5) hit the road versus the San Francisco 49ers (5-5) in Week 12.

Here are 20 stats, facts, and things to know leading into the NFC showdown between the Vikings and 49ers..


  1. The Vikings are 23-24-1 all-time versus the 49ers.
  2. Although, it’s a homefield advantage-laden affair — the Vikings are 8-15-1 on the road at San Francisco since 1961.
  3. Minnesota is the NFL’s fifth-worst team in stopping the run (127 yards per game allowed), whereas San Francisco is the league’s eighth-best rushing offense (123.2 yards per game).
  4. The Vikings still lead the NFL in sacks.
  5. Kirk Cousins has never lost a regular season game to the 49ers but lost in the 2019 Divisional Round playoff game.
  6. The 49ers are the best team in the NFL in scoring inside the redzone. They score touchdowns 78% of the time inside the 20 yardline.
  7. Kirk Cousins has thrown a touchdown pass in 24 straight games, trailing Ben Roethlisberger for the longest active streak (25 games for Roethlisberger).
  8. The 49ers don’t force many turnovers. At 0.9 per game in 2021, they rank seventh-worst in the NFL for takeaways.
  9. On the other hand, the Vikings turn the ball over on offense and special teams to the tune of least in the league (0.6 per game).
  10. When the ball is kicked into the air on Sunday, Kirk Cousins will have started more games as a Viking than as a member of the Washington Football Team.
  11. Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Kirk Cousins, Patrick Mahomes, and Russell Wilson are the only quarterbacks in NFL history to toss more than 20 touchdowns and less than three interceptions through the first 10 games of a season.
  12. Per multiple probability metrics, the Vikings have around a 60% chance to reach the playoffs through Week 11.
  13. The Vikings are the only team in the NFL not to have a single offensive snap in the 4th Quarter while trailing by 14+ points. Zero garbage time for the 2021 Vikings.
  14. Since losing to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6 of 2020 (a lowpoint of the Vikings season), Kirk Cousins has thrown 45 touchdowns to five interceptions.
  15. The Vikings have not won at San Francisco in 14 years. In that game, it was Tarvaris Jackson vs. Trent Dilfer. Shaun Hill came in to relieve Dilfer. The game was the final one as a pro for Dilfer.
  16. The entire Vikings starting defensive line is out against the 49ers.
  17. Since the start of 2020, Justin Jefferson has more 25+ yard receptions than Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen combined.
  18. Per passer rating, Kirk Cousins is the NFL’s best quarterback in the month of November of all-time (110.4).
  19. The Vikings rank 30th in NFL for penalty yards — the 49ers rank 27th.
  20. Minnesota still leads the NFL in offensive holding penalties.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).

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