Last week Kyle Rudolph was on the call for the Minnesota Gophers game against Rhode Island. This week he is suggesting that the Minnesota Vikings will start 2-0. Rudolph joined the Up and Adams show and sees his former employer pulling off an upset on Sunday.
“I mean I called it last year on Monday Night Football when they beat the Niners in Minnesota. Yeah, I’m gunna call it. I’m going with the Vikings again. They’re gunna knock em off.”
Rudolph did mistakenly suggest that Christian McCaffrey was out for last year’s matchup. The running back did play and tallied 45 yards on 15 carries. He also added 51 yards receiving and found the end zone twice. It is likely that Rudolph was thinking of Deebo Samuel, who did miss the game last season.
There have been conflicting reports as to McCaffrey’s availability on Sunday. It seems as though Kyle Shanahan will have his superstar back in action. Either way, the outcome for Minnesota will be largely reliant on how Sam Darnold fares in a tougher test.
A 28-6 victory in Week 1 was an impressive start to the season for the Minnesota Vikings. That outcome taking place against the New York Giants waters down the impact just a bit. San Francisco is coming off a Super Bowl appearance last season, and they are primed to return again this year. Minnesota pulling the upset would be more than notable.
After beating the 49ers last season the Minnesota Vikings lost Kirk Cousins for the year against the Green Bay Packers. They won just three of their final nine games and found themselves in a position to turn the most important parts of their roster over.
Even if this season is seen as a transition year, the Vikings could rewrite their own narrative. Plenty of believers exist within the locker room. Their continued strong performance will create more of them outside of the organization as well.
San Francisco shouldn’t scare the Vikings as they knocked them off just a season ago. Kyle Rudolph was right the first time. He certainly could be right again.
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