Vikings Must Answer a Sterner Test in Week 2
Week 1 went almost perfectly to plan for the Minnesota Vikings, who swept aside the New York Giants for a comfortable first win of the season. Minnesota did what was required of them to get a vital first win, but more difficult propositions lay ahead. The Giants did not look like a good team, and the competition is about to increase. The Vikings must answer a sterner test in Week 2 when the San Francisco 49ers come to US Bank stadium.
Vikings Must Answer a Sterner Test in Week 2
Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers team has been one of the stronger outfits in the division for some years now. They have made at least the NFC championship games in four of the last five seasons and appeared in two Super Bowls — losing both. That doesn’t look set to change this year after a strong performance in Week 1, which saw them beat the New York Jets. The 49ers look a good bet for another deep playoff run this season.
The Vikings have the good memories of causing an upset win over the same opposition in the same building just last season. That was a game where star players were missing — Trent Williams, Deebo Samuel, and Justin Jefferson didn’t play — and Jordan Addison announced himself as a major player with 123 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the Vikings win. Addison may miss the game with an ankle injury this year, while McCaffrey’s status for this game is doubtful after he missed the Week 1 game with a calf/Achilles injury.
A Chance to Raise Some Eyebrows
Beating the Giants was good and showed enough that people shouldn’t expect this team to be bottom dwellers in the conversation for the number one draft pick when the season ends. However, the Giants were expected to be one of the worst teams this season, and that’s what they looked like when the Vikings dominated them on Sunday. The matchup against the 49ers gives the Vikings a chance to raise some eyebrows. A win this Sunday would make the rest of the league sit up and take notice.
It will be a tall order against a team that put up 32 points against a very good Jets defense, even with the absence of McCaffrey, much like they have proven with seventh-round pick Brock Purdy as their QB. Jordan Mason, who went undrafted in 2022, stepped in and rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown on Monday night. Once again, it showcases that Shanahan doesn’t need superstars to make his offense work. Coupled with their formidable defense led by Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and Charvarius Ward the 49ers are the team to beat this season in the NFC.
History of Vikings vs. 49ers
Other than last year’s win, playing the 49ers at home has been a good fixture for the Vikings. San Francisco hasn’t won in Minnesota since 1992, with the Vikings winning the last seven meetings at their home stadium. The 49ers have similarly dominated their home games against the Vikings with an 8-1 record in the same timeframe. The 49ers hold a slight advantage in the overall series leading 25-24-1, which allows the Vikings to level the series this Sunday.
A win would also give the Vikings back-to-back wins to start a season for the first time since the 2016 season.
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