Vikings vs. 49ers
Saturday, 4:35 p.m. ET, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California TV: NBC
Danny Sheridan’s line: 49ers by 61⁄2
Vikings’ keys to victory: The Vikings used a heavy dose of RB Dalvin Cook against the Saints and ran it 40 times compared to just 33 dropbacks for QB Kirk Cousins. Getting Cook going early opens up play action against an aggressive 49ers defense. A heavy dose of play action with WRs Adam Theilen and Stefon Diggs would help Cousins and the offense get rolling. On the defensive side, S Harrison Smith should see plenty of action against 49ers TE George Kittle, and shutting Kittle down is the quickest way to slow San Francisco’s passing game. .
49ers’ keys to victory: QB Jimmy Garoppolo can operate under pressure, but he’s at his best when he has time to let windows open down the field. The arrival of WR Emmanuel Sanders, the emergence of rookie WR Deebo Samuel and the continued excellence of Kittle have allowed the 49ers to shed some of their early-season limitations in the passing game. On the other side, the 49ers’ defense lives and dies with its pass rush. Rookie DE Nick Bosa is the driver of a vicious defensive line, while LB Fred Warner helps shut down the middle of the field and CB Richard Sherman is as good as ever in the secondary.
Matchup to watch: Vikings’ Smith vs. 49ers’ Kittle. There aren’t many players in the league built to match up with Kittle, but Smith is one of them.
Who wins? These are two very evenly matched clubs. The 49ers having home-field advantage, and a more diverse group of playmakers on offense should allow them to survive.
49ers, 24-23