How Do the Minnesota Vikings Beat the San Francisco 49ers?

The Minnesota Vikings kicked off their season with a dominant 28-6 victory over the New York Giants , starting off 1-0. Now, their attention shifts to a tougher challenge, the defending NFC champions, the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers also looked strong in their Week 1 matchup, securing a win against the New York Jets.

Last season, the Minnesota Vikings squared off against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. Many of you might remember the Vikings pulling off a 22-17 win, which surprised many, a game that turned out to be a pivotal moment in their season.

This season feels a bit different. The Niners brought back their core players and playmakers. The Minnesota Vikings have a new QB, RB and a completely turned over defense.

With QB Sam Darnold and RB Aaron Jones now in the mix, the big question is whether this revamped Vikings team can replicate last year’s success and come out on top against one of the league’s best. Here are three key factors that could lead the Vikings to victory.

1. Stop The Run

For the Vikings to come out on top this Sunday, they need to focus on stopping the run, regardless of who’s in the backfield. Even if Christian McCaffrey isn’t fully healthy , after missing Week 1 with a calf injury, he’s still one of the league’s top running backs. He is dangerous at all times.

If McCaffrey is out again, backup running back Jordan Mason will take over for the 49ers. And don’t underestimate him, Mason made his first-ever start last week and put up some serious stats , racking up 28 carries for 147 yards. Those are video game numbers.

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Last season, the Vikings did an excellent job containing the run, especially when it came to McCaffrey, holding him to just 45 yards on 15 carries. That’s about as good as you can get against a player like him, and it paid off with a win over the 49ers. If the Vikings want to start the season 2-0, their run defense needs to show up strong again this Sunday.

2. Win The Turnover Battle

One key thing the Vikings must focus on this Sunday is winning the turnover battle. It may seem obvious, but it’s worth noting that Kevin O’Connell, now in his third year, holds an impressive 18-0 record in games where the Vikings either win or break even in the turnover count. That’s quite a stat.

Last season, the Minnesota Vikings dominated the turnover battle vs the San Francisco 49ers, 3-1. Brock Purdy threw two interceptions and Christian McCaffrey fumbled. To the Vikings credit, they capitalized on every opportunity. The Vikings and Giants tied the turnover battle, last week , 2-2. Breaking even against the 49ers won’t be enough.

3. Stay Patient in The Passing Game, Establish a Run Game

The third and final key to beating the 49ers on Sunday is being patient with the passing game while establishing a strong run game from the very start. Just like in his Vikings debut, when new RB Aaron Jones rushed for 94 yards on 14 carries (6.7 YPC) and a touchdown.

The Vikings need to set that same tone early vs SF. That means winning the battle in the trenches vs a very good Niners front-seven, so Jones has holes to run through. In a perfect world, Kevin O’Connell can avoid having to rely on Sam Darnold early.

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If Jones can replicate his performance from last week, the Minnesota Vikings have a good chance at shocking the football world on Sunday. Brock Purdy has a stellar 16-1 record against NFC teams . His only defeat came at the hands of Brian Flores and the Vikings defense.

The Vikings are aiming for a strong start this Sunday, with a chance to push their record to 2-0. They’ll be facing an uphill battle as 5.5-point underdogs in their home opener. It’ll be a true test of how good this Vikings team really is.

More must-reads:

• 4 Bold Predictions for Minnesota Vikings’ Week 2 Matchup vs 49ers
• What We Learned About the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1 Throttling of Giants
• 4 Bold Predictions for Minnesota Vikings’ Season Opener vs Giants