Can the Vikings Run on the 49ers?
The Minnesota Vikings haven’t ever been known as a running team with Kevin O’Connell at the helm. They have never had a high-quality running back since he took over as the head coach. Aaron Jones looks to be that, but will he find success on the ground on Sunday?
Can the Vikings Run on the 49ers?
Aaron Jones was ripped off 94 yards against the New York Giants in his Vikings debut. Kevin O’Connell was trying to push his running back to the century mark, but they couldn’t quite get him there. Jones had plenty of rushing room on Sunday, but the Vikings also had a sizable lead and it made sense to milk the clock.
Against the San Francisco 49ers, things will be much tougher. Although Kyle Shanahan’s squad is coming in on a short week, they played well on Monday night. Facing a New York Jets team with Aaron Rodgers back under center, the matchup was expected to be a quality one. Unfortunately, the Jets didn’t hold up their end of the bargain, and San Francisco dominated.
Breece Hall is seen by many as a top-tier running back for 2024, and the 49ers held New York to just 68 yards on the ground. While the Jets did score a rushing touchdown, their yardage output was the second-lowest across the league in Week 1. Only the Saints held an opponent to fewer rushing yards.
If the 49ers are able to replicate that performance against the Vikings on Sunday, then Sam Darnold will be forced to shoulder more of the load. The former San Francisco quarterback showed well against the Giants, but the more weight put on his shoulders, the tougher it becomes for him to execute at a high level.
Minnesota will need plenty to go right for them if they are going to pull off an upset at U.S. Bank Stadium. Of course, the defense will be under the spotlight as well. Brian Flores saw his group play incredibly well against Daniel Jones and the Giants. They did so without drawing up hardly any pressure, and that shouldn’t be expected to remain the case this week.
If the Vikings can get the ground game to balance out the pass, their offense will be in an optimal situation to click. They should expect a tougher test than the Giants put up, but this could be a spot where Jones shows just how good he can be with a clean bill of health. It’s a game he clearly is looking forward to, and taking center stage would be fun to see.
Vikings Clear Even More Cap Space
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
You must be logged in to post a comment.