Enemy Fan Forums: San Francisco 49ers

7.5 point favorites seem high even with 3 of it for home field?

The 49er's clearly have the advantage so no excuses. If we lose this game it'll have to be from multiple turnovers.

The Vikings are balanced and will try to establish Dalvin Cook.

If the Vikings are within 7 points it will be a huge upset. This is a game they should win by at least 11.

If Alexander returns to form the speed we have at LB with Warner, Alexander and Greenlaw will negate Cook. The only thing to worry about is whoever Witherspoon is covering. That receiver should have a big day.

Hopefully not a repeat of 1987....Vikes go into New Orleans and then SF....both times coming out winners before falling in the NFCCG.

Just pointed out an interesting historical fact. I think SF can win, but Minnesota will be no joke, especially if Cousins has turned the corner of the so-called 'big game' issues he's had.

I like our chances against any and all comers.

The 49ers are better than these other teams, not a lot but better. Then add the advantages of home field, one less play-off game, no traveling, and having more than 6 days rest.

We expect the Niners to win the game but 7 or even 6.5 points are too many to lay in what should be a tightly contested battle, as Minnesota is power ranked as the second best team, ahead of Seattle and Green Bay, remaining in the NFC. San Francisco has failed to cover the spread in each game when favored by six points or more at home this season and the Vikings present a tough match up and we would take the points if forced to pick a side.

Yeah, I had a dream they lost 23-20 after numerous blown opportunities.

They should win this game easily; if they don't they have themselves to blame. 31-20

The 49ers gave up 147 points their last 5 games.

The Vikings are without two CB's, you'd think if the pass protect holds up, we could get some good completions? Not implying we're going to throw it all over, but a few more downfield completions might be there?

We tend to use the RAC route which is fine by me, but if the pass protect holds up.......................why not throw a few further downfield to WR's?

I'm not guaranteeing a win nor disrespecting the Vikings, but do like the 49er's position going into this game.

i know anything can happen during the game, but in this point in time i like where we stand.

They want revenge for last season's opener.

I wanted Philly because that team is toothless now with all the injuries. The Niners will handle the Vikings though; no question in my mind. And if GB beats Seattle, then we have an excellent shot at going to The Bowl.

Vikings have a lot of momentum coming into this game, plus they have some good playoff experience on the roster. Everything else favors the niners though. Should be a great game! Will be interesting to see if Jimmy G can step up to the hype.

Don't be surprised if the 49er's start off with more running, cause they'll try to establish the run same as the Vikings. I'd bet the Under.

The Vikings did well to pressure Drew Brees and they'll game plan the same on Saturday. However, the 49er's like to execute outside zone runs, slowing down the DE's. If the outside runs are successful, then less passing and less opportunities to pressure JG.

Field goal game.

Both teams will play conservative. 49ers defense has struggled lately, Vikings running game was solid last week. I like the Vikings defense to get pressure on Jimmy GQ but I like the 49ers offense to keep them off balance.

20-17 49ers
20-17 Vikings

Flip a coin, will be a fun one to watch.

Minnesota will start the game leaning on the run, and i think more between the tackles? As in every game, yes our defense needs to 'stop' the run first. Not expecting to stop it cold, but slowing it down so Cook doesn't get near 100 yards.

I think the 49ers will start run too but not because they have to, but to make the DE's think twice. The 49ers will start off run but mix it up including jet sweeps (ie not a RB) and misdirection. The very short passes to Deebo are almost running plays too.

Thielen is injured and Diggs is sick. I like it.

Vikings had not beaten a good team all season but looked like the better team vs the Saints for majority of the game and went on the road and won in NO which is not easy at all. Their defense also contained the Saints offense, something no team has been able to do for damn near two months.

Saying that, I feel like we are the better team and have a fairly dominant performance.

SF 30 Minny 20

First thought is, our OL will need a B+/A type of performance.

Second thought is, we can not allow the giving up of every route underneath. Kirk will love taking that all day.

Third thought is, Cook is really good, but because Cousins is a statue (basically), we can contain him.

Minnesota definitely has some matchups in their favor, but I think we can potentially scorch them on the back end. Harrison Smith is elite and I think he’ll get his. But I don’t see how this offense doesn’t just start gashing them once softened.

saints are really bullish on offense and it’s consistently gotten them in trouble this year. I don’t see Shanny falling into that issue for a whole game.

This is a game where I really wish we shadowed. Sherm on Thielen and Moseley on DIggs would be my preferred coverages. But because we don't move, it's hard to gauge. I'd rather Moseley on Diggs, but probably Spoon on Thielen.

Defense better come ready to play. Their defense looked good, and that Saints offense at home isn't really a joke. Cook is probably going to get his no matter what, so it may come down to shutting down the passing game. Their offensive line has good games and some really bad ones, and it's going to be vitally important that we make Cousins uncomfortable. He also has a bad tendency to fumble, so we absolutely have to get home now and again and make that possible.

It's a damn good team.

Hopefully, the travel the Vikings have to do helps us. Short week, I haven't heard whether or not they are heading home first, but going from MN to NO to MN to SF is a lot in a short time. Hopefully we show up healthy and ready to go.

Man, the pass rush really needs to show up.

ot gonna lie this was the last matchup I wanted. Vikings are such a complete team, especially with their secondary looking like its sharp again.

I was bullish on the Vikings to start the year, thought they were under valued as the post hype team. Very good team.

But certainly not an overwhelming team. I feel like I'd still rather play them then Seattle.

Vikings are more talented than the Seahawks overall, but the Seahawks have seen us twice and we just can't take Wilson down.

Vikings essentially play like us though. Going to try to run it down our throats to set up the PA deep shots.

If we win this, it'll be impressive that we beat all the nfc teams with double digit wins.

I hope youre right, but on paper the Vikings are a much much better team than the seahawks are right now.

Dalvin Cook and Thielen are healthy, in a group with Diggs and Rudolph makes this the most talented offense the 49ers have faced outside of Lamar. The pass rushers group in Griffen, Hunter, and Odenigbo are wayyy better than the seahawks even when Clowney was fully healthy. Cousins is the wildcard but he's not a Josh Allen level doofus, his skill guys can makeup for his shortcomings. Lastly Zimmer is a really good coach and will not be clueless on how to attack the this niners offense.

Not concerned at all. 49ers should win this game comfortably.

The defense has been crap for 5 straight. Still, guys are slated to come by. It will have been two weeks. Just don't see the Vikings as a team that is some juggernaut force now that has some other fans spooked.

They aren't an overwhelming team. One capable of beating us? Absolutely. It'll be a good game.

I said it way earlier in the year that the Packers, Saints, Niners and Vikings could all beat way l each other on any given day. Still think that's true.

Come out, play well, handle our business and we should win.

Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth are going to call the game. Great.

I'm expecting a Niner win but just not sure by how much but should win.

I'm more worried about the NFC title game as I think the Packers beat the Seahawks and very scared of Aaron Rodgers as I know it won't be a repeat of the Niners SN beatdown earlier this year. If the Packers came to Levi and beat the Niners I will just has as angry as I was when Favre would always beat the Niners in the 90's.

Their defense is the problem. Our interior O-Line is suspect and our OTs have been hit or miss routinely. If our defense had kept up their level of play throughout the year, I would probably be right there with you. But they've been susceptible the past 6 weeks and so I think we need more from our offense. And that's going to be hard versus that defense.

In a close, defensive game, you worry about one little mistake or a costly turnover sending you home. Those scenarios tend to favor the underdog, who can play loose and with nothing to lose. Nobody expecting the Vikes to make it past the Saints. They're playing with house money. Just the kind of team that in a close game and things get tight and pressure mounts, that can force a great team to cave under the weight of the moment. We saw it somewhat with the Saints. Those kind of teams are dangerous. Everyone is expecting us to win. That narrative creates anxiety and pressure that some players may succumb to.

Are we the better team? I wholeheartedly believe we are. I dont fear the Vikes. But I do understand that they present a match-up problem for us. The last time we had this kind of match-up, we passed with flying colors versus the Panthers. That seems like ages ago though. Defense is not playing at that level and that's what concerns me. Its a concern but not fear.

One thing I hate about this matchup is that the Vikings may be able to cover Kittle with linebackers.

For the Vikings to win:

1. Get to Jimmy early and often. Force Shanny to have Kittle stay in and help block.

2. Take the middle of the field away as Jimmy loves attacking that part of the field.

3. Establish the run with Cooks and run some quick game as our defense is susceptible to that.

4. Give extra attention to Kittle and make the others beat you.

As for the 49ers, we will need to just make none of the things I listed happen 😁.

I'm going to watch last year's match up in the next few days but I do recall the Vikings keeping the safeties in the middle of the field and playing press coverage on our WRs. Granted, our receiving core is MUCH improved from that game, but they did have a lot of success. Jimmy was certainly flustered and a bit unsure of himself. I do remember that the Vikings LBs struggled mightily keeping up with Kittle. When we would run the PA rollouts, Kittle would be able to hit the corner every single time. He also got some passes down the field but then dropped what would have been possibly a 80 yard TD. The Vikings DL owned our OL and we couldn't get much going on the ground. Tough tough game for Jimmy and the offense. Of course this game is at home and he's more experienced with better weapons. But this defense really does have all pro caliber players at all levels.

I’m thinking a long the same lines. I think it would be foolish to let Kwon go out there play 70% or more of the snaps. I think they will ease him in a bit to prevent serious injury.

Also, the Vikings run the ball a ton and we know Kwon isn’t the best tackler, he’s probably even worse now with the injury. Greenlaw is a great tackler and very good in coverage. I think Greenlaw ends up playing more than Kwon because of the amount of run plays they will he facing.

I'll predict 27-17, niners.

I know a lot has changed since we played them two years ago but boy we left a lot of points on that board in that game. Morris fumbled at the one and Jimmy threw a pass a bit too high to a wide open Kittle. If you discount the pick six Jimmy threw, the Vikings only put up 17 on us and our dline at times got to Kirk(now we have Bosa, an all pro AA and possibly Ford) Now of course as our team has gotten better, they have too with a much healthier Cook now.

At the start of the year, I just wanted a playoff berth; a wild card appearance but now with saints out, the road got a little bit easier. Honestly it FEEL like we are destined to play Seattle for a 3rd time.

I agree with this. I have trouble using Week 1 of 2018 to try and glean any idea on how things might go this game because both teams have improved significantly in that time, and both teams are going to be able to watch a lot of film on the current teams to create much better gameplans than a week one game. Plus, the dynamics have changed by playing at home this time as well.

We have to be able to win this game. I see no reason that we shouldn't be able to do so with everyone who will be coming back. But...any given Sunday. They did just go into New Orleans and end the Saints season.

I was less stressed because I had lower expectations for those Harbaugh teams. The only stressful year was 2012, as I thought that was the year we had a real chance to win it all. Then we made the QB switch, Justin Smith injured his triceps, we slept through the first half of each the NFCCG and Super Bowl. That was stressful.

2011, I was merely happy to be relevant, and in 2013 I was crippled by the belief that the Seahawks were a team of destiny. So those two years were less stressful, at least until the games themselves were played.

This year I have high expectations and as such stressed out all weekend about the upcoming opponent. I didn't really want to face the Vikings necessarily, but I was happy that the opponent was set after the first game Sunday. I really didn't want to be invested in the Seahawks/Eagles game. Both those franchises can fold up and go away forever.

"In fact, there’s been eight 1 vs 6 contests in the NFL Divisional Round since 2013 and and all eight were won by the top-seeded squad. But those #1 seeds are just 3-4-1 against the spread."

"There were also two 1 vs 6 showdowns in 2010 and in each case, the six seed won. The New York Jets upset the New England Patriots 28-21, while the Green Bay Packers hammered the Atlanta Falcons 48-21.

The Packers are the most recent six seed to win the Super Bowl."

Seventy-five percent of the field has been eliminated, including the last three SB champions. You don't get here if you don't have some guys that can play ball. Trends and history mean nothing. It seems a sophisticated game with the coverages and schemes and whatnot, but I played the game. A lot of you did, too. I wasn't very good, but sometimes I won and that was because I put on the chinstrap and bashed the guy across the line harder than he bashed me; which did really hurt, sometimes, but winning was worth it.

It's a primal game. Our big sons of ******* against their big sons of *******. Analyze whatever you want, but the better set of sons of ******* tend to win. Get the nachos and beer and rock on, just remember it ain't life and death.