After posting impressive opening victories, the San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings will face off in U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday. The visiting 49ers are favored in this clash of NFC counterparts.
San Francisco was the last team to get a Week 1 win and left no doubt in a 32-19 dispatching of the New York Jets on Monday night. The score is not representative of how dominant the 49ers were, even though they were without reigning Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey, who is out for at least four games.
McCaffrey’s absence just set the stage for Jordan Mason, who ran for 147 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries. The undrafted, third-year back out of Georgia Tech more than doubled the Jets’ entire rushing output (68 yards). Even without McCaffrey and limited chunk plays in the passing game, San Francisco generated 401 total yards, 24 first downs and scored on eight straight drives (Jake Moody had six field goals).
Sunday’s game is shaping up to be an intriguing matchup against a Minnesota defense that manhandled the Giants on their own turf. The Vikings limited New York to 3.5 yards per play and two field goals in a 28-6 walkover. They sacked Daniel Jones five times and picked him off twice, one of them resulting in a touchdown.
There’s certainly no comparison between the Giants and the defending NFC champions, but besides the defensive performance, the Vikings are typically tough to beat at home and also have to be encouraged by Sam Darnold’s first start.
Darnold (19-for-24, 208 yards, two touchdowns) looked extremely comfortable running head coach Kevin O’Connell’s system. He did throw an interception, but it didn’t matter. That won’t be the case, however, against a 49ers defense that made things extremely difficult for Aaron Rodgers and company on Monday night.
Besides playing in front of his new home fans for the first time, this game also gives Darnold a shot against his former team. Brock Purdy’s backup last season, Darnold can make quite the statement if he’s able to help the Vikings upset the 49ers on Sunday.