The Vikings Have Daunting Marching Orders
Dustin Baker
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The San Francisco 49ers eviscerated the Seattle Seahawks 41-23 on Saturday afternoon, turning on the jets in the second half after a rather competitive game in the first half.
The Seahawks actually came to play in Santa Clara, California — for a half. When the 49ers appeared to have a “hey, guys, let’s be serious about this” moment in the 3rd Quarter, Seattle was abused, and San Francisco commandingly advanced to the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
The Vikings Have Daunting Marching Orders
And now, if the Minnesota Vikings defeat the hungry New York Giants on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium, they are guaranteed to travel westerly for a road playoff date with the 49ers next weekend. There is no reversing it.
The Vikings gripped the NFC’s No. 2 seed for most of the 2022 regular season, but a lifeless effort at the Green Bay Packers in Week 17 all but canceled the fancy dreams of hosting two postseason games. The 49ers seized the moment, Minnesota caved at the primary foe’s house — and boom — a few weeks later, the Vikings could head to Levi’s Stadium accordingly. That’s how important that Packers-Vikings game was then and now.
First, of course, the Vikings must take care of business in Minneapolis against the Giants. It won’t be an easy task, as the teams met on Christmas Eve. The Vikings started somewhat hot, the Giants roared back, so did the Vikings, and kicker Greg Joseph sealed the deal in walkoff fashion with a game-winning field from 61 yards. It was one of many jubilant Vikings memories from 2022.
The Giants now have gametape of the Vikings and vice versa. Both teams love close games. The Vikings have won 11 games by score, the most in NFL history. New York has won seven such games, the second-most in the industry.
Moreover, if Minnesota does achieve victory Sunday, they’d play the hottest team in the league — beyond the shadow of a doubt — that hasn’t lost a game since October 23rd. San Francisco traded for Christian McCaffrey about three months ago, and after a one-game feeling-out period against the Kansas City Chiefs, the 49ers rattled off a monstrous 11 straight wins. In that vein, the Vikings trekking westward versus an almighty foe would mimic the team’s Week 10 game at the Buffalo Bills, which they eeked out in a thriller.
It could be up to the Vikings — on the road — to end the 49ers streak.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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