The San Francisco 49ers are in Minnesota to take on the Vikings. It's a place the 49ers have not won since 1992, when Steve Young was the quarterback, and Amp Lee was the running back, filling in for an injured Ricky Watters. That's 32 years since the 49ers won in Minnesota.
San Francisco might have won there last year if not for an untimely play in which CB Charvarius Ward let a would-be interception leave his hands and go into the hands of rookie WR Jordan Addison, who scored right before halftime to give the Vikings the momentum. The 49ers made plenty of mistakes in that game. Playing as clean as possible will be crucial to winning this game on the road on Sunday.
Here are five key questions the 49ers must answer to beat the Vikings on Sunday.
1. Can the 49ers stop Aaron Jones and the Vikings run game?
As a member of the Green Bay Packers, Aaron Jones played well against the 49ers. Last season, Jones had 108 yards rushing in the 2023 NFC Divisional playoff game against San Francisco. In 2021, Jones rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown in a week three matchup. Later that season, in a cold, snowy postseason game, he rushed for only 41 yards but had nine catches for 129 yards. So Jones has given the 49ers trouble in the run and passing games.
Last week, against the New York Giants, Jones rushed for 94 yards on 14 carries, scoring one touchdown for his new team. The Vikings have a good offensive line, and last season, the 49ers defense had trouble stopping the run, especially late in the season.
Fortunately, in week one, the new 49ers defensive front showed a lot of improvement. Will that continue? Can the 49ers stop Jones in the run game and through the air?
2. Can Jordan Mason and the offensive line dominate again?
Jordan Mason had his coming out party on Monday night, rushing for 147 yards against a good New York Jets defense. The offensive line was dominant in that game, as well, opening holes for Mason all night. Even right tackle Colton McKivitz, who I used to believe was the weak link on the 49ers offensive line, was good. (In case you're curious, I now believe center Jake Brendel is the weak link.)
It's going to be hard for the 49ers to dominate on the ground against the Vikings like they did against the Jets. As a team, the 49ers rushed for 180 yards. Doing that in Minnesota will be much more challenging. But can the 49ers offense effectively run the ball and control the clock again? In week one, the Vikings held the Giants to only 74 yards rushing. This will be an important matchup to watch.
3. Can the defense slow down Justin Jefferson?
Last season, the 49ers traveled to Minnesota and lost to the Vikings. And Justin Jefferson, the best wide receiver on the planet, didn't even play. Can the 49ers go into Minnesota and beat the Vikings with Jefferson? It won't be an easy task. But slowing down Jefferson will help.
In Jefferson's four NFL seasons, he has had over 1,000 yards receiving every year. Take a look at these numbers:
- 2020: 88 catches, 1400 yards, seven touchdowns. (His rookie season)
- 2021: 108 catches, 1,616 yards, 10 touchdowns.
- 2022: 128 catches, 1,809 yards, eight touchdowns. (First-team All-Pro)
- 2023: 68 catches, 1,074 yards, five touchdowns. (Jefferson appeared in only 10 games in 2023)
In week one, Jefferson had only four catches for 59 yards, but he did score a touchdown. Can the 49ers slow him down enough to win this game? The Vikings will be without Addison, their number two wide receiver.
4. Can the offensive line protect Brock Purdy?
Last week, the Vikings sacked Giants QB Daniel Jones five times. Minnesota loves to blitz, too. Can the 49ers offensive line protect QB Brock Purdy? In week one, Purdy got rid of the ball quickly, making it hard for a talented Jets defense to get to him, but Purdy was still sacked two times. Can the Vikings pressure Purdy like they did Jones?
Protecting Purdy in 2024 is even more important than it was a year ago. Purdy's backup quarterbacks aren't as talented as the one they had last season. Speaking of that quarterback...
5. Can the pass rush make Sam Darnold see ghosts?
Sam Darnold didn't light the world on fire last week against the Giants, but he was good, passing for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Darnold was sacked once but wasn't heavily pressured. He did, however, throw an interception, and if the 49ers can put pressure on him, they can force him to do that more.
Before Darnold came to San Francisco last year, the beleaguered QB had struggled and was considered a bust. In a 2019 game against the New England Patriots, Darnold was caught on the sidelines admitting he was "seeing ghosts." But his time with Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers may have helped him learn how to be a better quarterback. Darnold has the chance to become the QB he was expected to become when he was drafted number three overall.
But one thing that likely hasn't changed is that when Darnold is pressured, he tends to give up the football. If the 49ers defense can pressure him, they can force some turnovers. Can the San Francisco pass rush make Darnold see ghosts again? If they can, the 49ers could run away with this game.
Those are the five key questions the 49ers must answer on Sunday in Minnesota. Can they stop Jones and the Vikings run game? Can they establish the run themselves? Can they slow down Jefferson, protect Purdy, and pressure Darnold? The answers to those questions will be vital to the outcome of Sunday's game.