The underdog Vikings are alive and well in the playoffs … and are now headed to San Francisco. Minnesota pulled off a dramatic 26-20 overtime win over New Orleans on Sunday, as the Vikings secured their first overtime playoff win in franchise history. The Vikings also secured their first road playoff win since Jan. 9, 2005. Minnesota will now play at top-seeded San Francisco on Saturday. Kickoff is at 3:35 p.m. (CT). The 49ers went 13-3 in the regular season and won the NFC West. San Francisco had a first-round bye, and has homefield advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs. Here’s a look at the Vikings Divisional playoff matchup against the 49ers: Passing: 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will make his first-career postseason start on Saturday. He appeared in a 2014 playoff game with the Patriots, but played just two snaps. Garoppolo completed 329 of 476 passes (69.1 percent) for 3,978 yards with 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions as he started all 16 games for the first time in his career. His passer rating of 102.0 was a career high and ranked eighth in the NFL. Rushing: Dalvin Cook showed he is healthy while shining in his postseason debut. Cook had 28 carries for 94 yards on the day, and added two rushing touchdowns. While most of his yards were tough-sledding against a defense that ranked fourth against the run in the regular season, he was able to pop free a few times. The 2017 second-round pick’s longest run was a 22-yard scamper, but he also added a pair of 11-yard runs and five others that went for five or more yards. Cook’s effort helped the Vikings run for 136 total yards on the ground on 40 carries. Rookie Alexander Mattison ran for 20 yards on five attempts, and Ameer Abdullah gained nine yards on his lone attempt. Saturday’s game features two of the NFL’s top rushing attacks. Minnesota ranked sixth in the league with 133.3 rushing yards per game, while San Francisco was second at 144.1 yards per game. The 49ers feature a trio of running backs who each had at least 123 carries in 2019. Raheem Mostert tied for the team lead with 137 carries and had a team-high 772 yards and eight rushing touchdowns. Tevin Coleman had 544 yards and six scores on 137 carries, and Matt Breida had 623 yards and a score on 123 attempts. San Francisco rushed for 100 or more yards in 12 of its 16 games, with the 49ers surpassing 230 yards in three of those games. Receiving: Minnesota’s focus will surely be on All-Pro tight end George Kittle, who had 85 receptions for 1,053 yards and five scores in 2019. San Francisco’s aerial attack features explosive rookie wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who had 57 catches for 802 yards and three scores. The 49ers also traded for Emmanuel Sanders midway through the season, as the wide receiver had 36 catches for 502 yards and three scores in 10 games with San Francisco. Kendrick Bourne tied with Kittle for the team lead with five touchdown catches. San Francisco featured nine other players who caught a score, including three players with two touchdown catches. The 49ers boast an elite defense of their own, as they ranked second with 281.8 yards allowed in the regular season, and were eighth with 19.4 points allowed per game. San Francisco’s defensive line features multiple first-round picks in Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner, Dee Ford and rookie Nick Bosa — a group that combined for 33.0 sacks. Armstead led the 49ers with 10 sacks, while Bosa had 9.0, Buckner had 7.5 and Ford got to the quarterback 6.5 times. San Francisco’s secondary is led by All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman, who had a team-high three interceptions in his second season with the 49ers. K’Waun Williams had two picks; seven others had one interception. The 49ers also had 15 fumble recoveries. Their 27 total takeaways ranked sixth in the NFL in the regular season. Minnesota was fourth with 31 takeaways. 49ers kicker Robbie Gould made 23 of 31 field goals (74.2 percent) in 13 regular-season games, and was good on 41 of 42 extra points. Punter Mitch Wishnowsky, who handles kickoffs, averaged 44.9 yards per punt. Richie James handles return duties for the 49ers. He averaged 21.4 yards per kickoff return and 8.0 yards per punt return in 2019. source; Vikings.com
Yeah on paper the 49ers look really tough isn't this Jimmy G first playoff game the Vikings are no pushover didn't he get hurt at US Bank Stadium and Vikings won but the 49ers are no joke this will be a very rough game for the Vikings
How about a Vikings, Ravens Super Bowl. Oh wait, im getting ahead of myself. Gotta beat a couple more NFC teams.
How about a Vikings, Ravens Super Bowl. Oh wait, im getting ahead of myself. Gotta beat a couple more NFC teams. I'm playing Sports Action this weekend for Divisional Games........I'm picking ALL 4 Road teams win and games are a TIE......(3 pts or less) If I win I can go to Miami and watch my Titans win the Super Bowl........\+/........who knows maybe they will play the Vikings.
Maybe they might meet but the Vikings got to get pass the 49ers i'm so afraid of an emotional let down Titans got Derrick Henry man that is one bad player he would give the Vikings fits trying to stop him
Kirk Cousins shrugs off Wild Card win, “you get right back to work” Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer acknowledged what many people were thinking when he explained why quarterback Kirk Cousins got a game ball after last Sunday’s win over the Saints. Zimmer said the choice was “about him solidifying himself with all of the bad rhetoric” surrounding the way he’s played in big games over the course of his career. Cousins had less interest in making Sunday’s win about anything more than advancing to the next round of the playoffs. Cousins said he’s “just glad we won the game” and that he’s already fully turned the page to the 49ers. “You get right back to work,” Cousins said, via the Pioneer Press. “We were in [Monday], watching tape, talking about the plan, and [Tuesday] again. . . . Playing on the road all year long, handling noise, it’s going to be the same this week. You go back to the same things you’ve leaned on for this season, last week, my whole career, of what you’ve got to do to handle the noise and handle an adverse environment.” Cousins did those things well in New Orleans last weekend and the Vikings will need more of the same to keep their playoff run going at least one more week.
At times Zimmer can be kinda scary in his coaching it leaves me saying WTF why does Riley Reiff and Pat Elflien continue to start they keep on getting blown up or run over hoping for the best here against the 49ers GO VIKINGS
Stefon Diggs didn’t practice on Wednesday and he wasn’t the only Vikings wide receiver on the injury report. Adam Thielen was listed as a limited participant due to an ankle injury in Wednesday’s practice. He was not on the injury report at all on Tuesday. Thielen missed time with a hamstring injury during the second half of the season, but returned in Week 15 and had a big game with seven catches for 129 yards in last weekend’s win over the Saints. The only other change from Tuesday was defensive tackle Linval Joseph (knee) moving from out of practice to limited participation. Diggs (illness), cornerback Mackensie Alexander (knee) and safety Jayron Kearse (toe, knee) were out of practice.
In the upcoming draft they better draft some wideouts cause it seems like Diggs is turning into a diva and the Vikings got to find a back-up for Adam Thielen it's time reload,i hope Capt Kirk stays calm it's up to the O-line to do there job so it's important easier said than done
The Vikings need Dalvin Cook to have a big day Capt Kirk needs Dalvin Cook to have a big day he's a different QB without him!
After suffering a freak ankle injury on Wednesday, Vikings WR Adam Thielen should be able to play in the Divisional Round vs. the 49ers, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports.
With a rash of cornerback injuries and few viable options on the open market, the Vikings almost brought back a former Minnesota defensive back for Saturday’s game. Via ESPN.com, the Vikings worked out Terence Newman. And the team considered signing the 41-year-old before opting instead to promote Nate Meadors from the practice squad. The fifth overall pick in the 2003 draft, Newman spent nine seasons with the Cowboys, three with the Bengals, and three with the Vikings. He retired just before the start of the 2018 season, and he then joined the team’s coaching staff. (He currently is not employed by the Vikings.) The Vikings have six cornerbacks on the 53-man roster for Saturday’s game, but if punt returner Marcus Sherels actually ends up playing cornerback on Saturday, the Vikings will be in big trouble.
Oh man i hope not Marcus Sherels he can't play cb and Terrance Newman really it's starting to look like the Defense is in need of a rebuilt and they need to get some stud O-linemen,l just luv it all the Vikings haters and doubters beat the 49ers SB here we come GO VIKINGS got to keep the faith
Well according to Rodney Harrison and other talking heads the Vikings don't have a shot i just love the disrespect!!!!
