The Minnesota Vikings are hoping to pull the upset this weekend in San Francisco against the 49ers. Shared history says it’s far from impossible.
Anthony Bleeping Carter.
Any San Francisco 49ers fan over the age of 35 likely has the same response if asked about the 1987 NFC Divisional game against the Minnesota Vikings.
San Francisco was installed as an 11-point favorite. The 49ers we re the NFC’s top seed, 13-2 (strike year) and coming off a bye. They had the league’s top-ranked offense and defense.
The Vikings? They finished the regular season 8-7 and crept into the playoffs as a fifth-seeded (lowest in the format those days) wild card. In its first game, Minnesota went to the Superdome and upset the New Orleans Saints.
Sound familiar?
Then the Vikings invaded Candlestick Park. They were expected to be a speedbump in the Niners march towards a third Super Bowl. Instead, Minnesota dominated in a 36-24 win which saw Joe Montana benched and future Hall of Fame head coach Bill Walsh almost gone in its aftermath.
Minnesota won with quarterback Wade Wilson throwing for 298 yards, despite only one of his receivers eclipsing 40 yards. Doesn’t matter when Anthony Carter goes for 10 receptions and 227 yards.
Flash forward to 2019. San Francisco isn’t quite as large a favorite, but is laying a touchdown in most books. The Vikings entered the NFC playoffs as the lowest seed before knocking off the Saints. Now it’s onto the 49ers, who are the conference’s top seed after winning 13 games.
Nobody is picking Minnesota to win and understandably so. The Vikings are good but not great, lacking in the secondary and, depending on your viewpoint, under center. Kirk Cousins authored his signature moment on Sunday in overtime, hitting Adam Thielen with a gorgeous deep ball before finding tight end Kyle Rudolph on the game-winning fade route.
Does he have more magic conjured up in his satchel?
Cousins and his team may need it. The 49ers will be healthy on defense for the first time in months, expected to get linebackers Dee Ford and Kwon Alexander back from extended absences. The secondary is finally at full strength with Jaquiski Tartt and Richard Sherman once again in tow. The lineup we see Saturday afternoon will be much closer to the dominant group of the season’s first half than the middling defense of the second half.
Still, Minnesota has the firepower to be a problem. Few teams have the weaponry of Stefon Diggs and Thielen on the outside, with Rudolph inside and Dalvin Cook behind Cousins. 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh will be stressed trying to contain all those options. This is especially true if his formidable front with Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead can’t overwhelm a suspect Vikings line.
When the 49ers have the ball, the matchup to watch is inside the numbers.
San Francisco’s receivers are going to win against Minnesota’s corners — specifically Deebo Samuel and Emmanuel Sanders — but can the Niners run wild against a solid Vikings front seven. Additionally, will Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer match All-Pro safety Harrison Smith against All-Pro tight end George Kittle in an effort to nullify his pass-catching prowess? It’s a great chess match.
On paper, the 49ers should win. They’re the better team, have been all season. Minnesota should be getting its offseason started when this game concludes.
The paragraph above is true in 2019. It was also true in 1987.