Regardless of any perceived issues, Vikings should beat the 49ers

@"StickyBun" said: No excuses. Everyone has injuries to deal with. Minnesota has the pieces in place, the solid coaching staff, the athletes, the scheme, the depth, playing at home, etc. they need to get the W on Sunday. If they are truly an elite NFC team, this should be a victory....that's the bottom line. They've got a tough schedule, wins need to come at home and as many as possible. 

On any given Sunday, I get that. Teams have started slow out of the gate to have fantastic seasons. Wouldn't be the end of the world with a loss, but.....it would shake the confidence a bit I think. Scrutiny and doubt would start to germinate, especially for the fanbase. So just go smack these NoCal b$%#hes in the mouth and send their asses home with a L. 

I can live with that...

I think being at home and the 49ers still not established as a dominant defense we should be ok here. It doesn't get easier after. Losing this one would be bad...real bad. Nothing is over after week on though.

A loss in this game,  or honestly any home loss could easily cost the team home field for the playoffs, which imo is going to be crucial for a SB appearance.

Like every year.  Let's take it one game at a time.  Focus is on the Niners.  First beat them and then move onto the next one.

@"ArizonaViking" said: Like every year.  Let's take it one game at a time.  Focus is on the Niners.  First beat them and then move onto the next one.

Yep, putting the cart before the horse and not taking these games one at a time just crushes the enjoyment. There are expectations but I think the NFC power teams are going to beat each other up and we'll have some highly entertaining games this year. 

First step: beat San Francisco.

@"ArizonaViking" said: Like every year.  Let's take it one game at a time.  Focus is on the Niners.  First beat them and then move onto the next one.

Oh please...stop with this logic and practicality. You know damn well if we lose it's all over.  ;) 

@"suncoastvike" said:

@"ArizonaViking" said: Like every year.  Let's take it one game at a time.  Focus is on the Niners.  First beat them and then move onto the next one.

Oh please...stop with this logic and practicality. You know damn well if we lose it's all over.  ;) 

We will do great,

and im an eternal pessimist

@"Vanguard83" said: We will do great,

and im an eternal pessimist

An eternally pessimistic Viking fan. What's next Big Foot?

@"suncoastvike" said:

@"Vanguard83" said: We will do great,

and im an eternal pessimist

An eternally pessimistic Viking fan. What's next Big Foot?

I just want us to play well. If we're prepared and play well, but somehow lose, I'm OK. Likewise, if we're outcoached and play poorly and somehow win, I'm not OK. It's a long season and there isn't a single team on our schedule we can't beat. In 2015, we went in to San Francisco on opening weekend and got our asses kicked by a lesser team. We were clearly outcoached in that game and it still haunts me. 

@"MaroonBells" said: I just want us to play well. If we're prepared and play well, but somehow lose, I'm OK. Likewise, if we're outcoached and play poorly and somehow win, I'm not OK. It's a long season and there isn't a single team on our schedule we can't beat. In 2015, we went in to San Francisco on opening weekend and got our asses kicked by a lesser team. We were clearly outcoached in that game and it still haunts me. 

This might help your mindset:

Andrew Krammer‏ @Andrew_Krammer 2m2 minutes ago

#Vikings kept 49ers prep to just one extra day, opposed to extending Week 1 planning like they had previous years, Zimmer said: "A few years ago, we started prepping earlier than what we did this week. It didn't turn out well and I felt we didn't play very good."

@"StickyBun" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: I just want us to play well. If we're prepared and play well, but somehow lose, I'm OK. Likewise, if we're outcoached and play poorly and somehow win, I'm not OK. It's a long season and there isn't a single team on our schedule we can't beat. In 2015, we went in to San Francisco on opening weekend and got our asses kicked by a lesser team. We were clearly outcoached in that game and it still haunts me. 

This might help your mindset:

Andrew Krammer‏ @Andrew_Krammer 2m2 minutes ago

More

#Vikings kept 49ers prep to just one extra day, opposed to extending Week 1 planning like they had previous years, Zimmer said: "A few years ago, we started prepping earlier than what we did this week. It didn't turn out well and I felt we didn't play very good."

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"StickyBun" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: I just want us to play well. If we're prepared and play well, but somehow lose, I'm OK. Likewise, if we're outcoached and play poorly and somehow win, I'm not OK. It's a long season and there isn't a single team on our schedule we can't beat. In 2015, we went in to San Francisco on opening weekend and got our asses kicked by a lesser team. We were clearly outcoached in that game and it still haunts me. 

This might help your mindset:

Andrew Krammer‏ @Andrew_Krammer 2m2 minutes ago

More

#Vikings kept 49ers prep to just one extra day, opposed to extending Week 1 planning like they had previous years, Zimmer said: "A few years ago, we started prepping earlier than what we did this week. It didn't turn out well and I felt we didn't play very good."

Who am I to question Zimmer, but I'm not sure I get his reasoning. Sounds like one I used a lot in college. Hey, I studied hard for that exam and bombed. This time, I'll go drink beer instead and hope for the best. 

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"StickyBun" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: I just want us to play well. If we're prepared and play well, but somehow lose, I'm OK. Likewise, if we're outcoached and play poorly and somehow win, I'm not OK. It's a long season and there isn't a single team on our schedule we can't beat. In 2015, we went in to San Francisco on opening weekend and got our asses kicked by a lesser team. We were clearly outcoached in that game and it still haunts me. 

This might help your mindset:

Andrew Krammer‏ @Andrew_Krammer 2m2 minutes ago

More

#Vikings kept 49ers prep to just one extra day, opposed to extending Week 1 planning like they had previous years, Zimmer said: "A few years ago, we started prepping earlier than what we did this week. It didn't turn out well and I felt we didn't play very good."

Who am I to question Zimmer, but I'm not sure I get his reasoning. Sounds like one I used a lot in college. Hey, I studied hard for that exam and bombed. This time, I'll go drink beer instead and hope for the best. 

SF will be a slugfest.  They will be hungry but are limited on offense, not particularly worried about Pierre Garcon or Jerick’s backup.  I think the defense dominates the day and the O does enough to keep this one out of reach.

Vikings 24
49ers 13

• Vikings (-6) vs. 49ersThis is one of my best bets, and it's been that way since May. All due respect to the 49ers, but the Vikings are a vastly superior team in the pantheon of NFC contenders. Jimmy Garoppolo will probably be great, but the Vikings have a sick defense with pass rushers galore and Harrison Smith lurking on the back end. Minnesota is going to cut Dalvin Cook loose and show off Kirk Cousins on a big-time homefield stage.  - Will Brinson, CBS Sports