The Minnesota Vikings are going to be desperate for a win on Monday night when they take on the San Francisco 49ers. Sitting at 2-4, they are only a game out of a wild card spot and that isn’t too bad considering the circumstances.
The play of the Vikings so far this season has been quality. The underlying metrics believe that the Vikings are a good football team and their play has matched that. The biggest factor of the Vikings’ poor start? Turnovers.
The Vikings have turned the ball over 13 times with a negative seven turnover differential. Going into Monday’s game, our staff teamed up with 49ers Wire to give our predictions for the game.
Managing editor Tyler Forness
Record: 4-2
Columnist Judd Zulgad
Record: 4-2
The Vikings’ two victories have come against the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears, who are a combined 1-11 this season. San Francisco (5-1) is one of the NFL’s top teams and is coming off its first loss of the season. No matter how much of an optimist you might be, it’s hard to believe the 49ers aren’t going to be ready for this one in prime time.
49ers 28, Vikings 14
Columnist Saivion Mixson
Record: 4-2
San Francisco has an impressive assortment of talent at their disposal on both sides of the football. Players that are near the top of their position all across the roster. From Nick Bosa and Fred Warner to Christian McCaffery and Deebo Samuel. Even the young quarterback Purdy was playing at an efficient rate that warranted possible MVP conversation. Now, after dropping their first game against Cleveland last week, they’re looking at Minnesota as a chance to flex their muscles as a top-tier team in the NFL.
The question is if Minnesota will allow them to. Even without Jefferson, they still have a veteran quarterback who is able to make every throw on the field and an above-average assortment of weapons for him to throw to. They still have a defensive coordinator who is adept at making life hell on a quarterback. Not to mention a head coach/play-caller who is deemed one of the better minds in the league.
All that being said, this has all the makings of a disappointing outing for Minnesota and could get out of hand pretty quickly.
49ers 31, Vikings 20
Columnist Chris Spooner
Record: 2-0
Minnesota is a better team than their record indicates. They haven’t been able to get out of their own way for most of the season, and it has cost them dearly. Pulling off an upset against the 49ers is a tall task, but if the Cleveland Browns can do it, so can the Vikings. It’s going to take a clean game, an effective running game, and a little bit of luck, but where there’s a will there’s a way. It’s hard to fathom the 49ers dropping two games in a row, but stranger things have happened. I’ve got the Vikings shocking the world with an upset.
Vikings 27, 49ers 23
49ers Wire managing editor Kyle Madson
Record: 2-3
I don’t think any of Williams, Samuel or McCaffrey are going to play and I think the 49ers offense is going to feel it when the avalanche of blitzes gets rolling. Minnesota’s offensive line is good enough to neutralize the 49ers’ pass rush (which hasn’t been very consistently good this year), and I think it’s going to turn into more of a track meet than the 49ers are capable of participating in without that trio of offensive stars.
Vikings 27, 49ers 24
