Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
49ers favored by more than a touchdown vs. Vikings
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
Oddsmakers aren't ready to bank too much on the Minnesota Vikings just yet, even after the team went into the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and knocked off the NFC South champion New Orleans Saints.
A quarterback Kirk Cousins touchdown pass to tight end Kyle Rudolph in overtime sent the Vikings to Santa Clara for the Divisional round and ended the Saints' Super Bowl hopes.
San Francisco opened as 7.5-point favorites in Saturday's matchup,
according to OddsShark.com. It's not unfamiliar territory for the road-team Vikings, who entered Sunday's Wildcard matchup against the Saints as 7.5-point underdogs.
49ers players felt well-prepared for the possibility of facing the Vikings for the first time this season.
"We've had a lot of cross games, actually, with the Vikings, so we've seen them on tape quite a bit this year," tackle Joe Staley explained this past week. "We'll try to [advance scout] what we can, but also, it's about us getting these bonus practices, and taking advantage of the time to get your body right and get healthy, and all that stuff."
Minnesota could be facing a relatively healthy 49ers squad with veteran pass rusher Dee Ford and maybe even linebacker Kwon Alexander back in the lineup on defense.
The Vikings and 49ers will kick off on Saturday at 1:35 p.m. from Levi's Stadium with a trip to the NFC Championship Game on the line.
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
Former NFL exec on 49ers' Brock Purdy: "I think he needs to find more fire"
Brock Purdy isn't one to seek the spotlight. He exudes politeness, respect, and an even-keeled demeanor when speaking to reporters during interviews. Nothing we've seen from the San Francisco 49ers quarterback's time off the field would indicate that it's a facade.
However, on the field, Purdy can show some fire, particularly after a big play or in an effort to ensure his teammates are on the same page as him. While praising the third-year quarterback, one unnamed former NFL executive expressed a desire to see more of that fire from Purdy in the future, believing it is crucial to his development.
"Brock Purdy is one of the most talented arms that I've seen," the former executive recently
49ers sign WR Trent Taylor, reuniting with former draft pick
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
Draft Watch: Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley visiting 49ers on Wednesday
The San Francisco 49ers are hosting several draft prospects this week as the deadline for pre-draft visits draws near. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the team will host former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on Wednesday.
Corley is expected to be a Day 2 pick. San Francisco owns two selections on Day 2—the No. 63 overall pick in the second round and the No. 94 overall pick in the third round. Currently, the receiver is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Kentucky @WKUFootball receiver Malachi Worley
Rapoport: 49ers send clear message to teams inquiring about Brandon Aiyuk
Ian Rapoport didn't offer much of an update on the ongoing contract negotiations between the San Francisco 49ers and their standout wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk. However, the NFL insider emphasized one thing: The team is not entertaining trade discussions at this juncture.
Reacting to Aiyuk's decision to unfollow the 49ers on Instagram, Rapoport couldn't help but chuckle at the latest development. This practice has become commonplace among players who are unhappy with their contract situations. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel similarly took this action in 2022 before requesting to be traded just before the draft.
Things have yet to escalate that far with Aiyuk, but Rapoport sees his
