The 49ers at Vikings: One Stat, Quote, and Matchup to Know Ahead of Week 7
K. Joudry
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Like teenagers going into a party organized by Freddy Krueger, the Vikings are about to be in rough shape at the hands of the 49ers. Let’s hope Kirk Cousins is feeling extra tough. The expected outcome will involve the QB getting walloped early and often.
Giving fans a better understanding of what’s to come for the 49ers at Vikings involves PurplePTSD offering up a single statistic, quotation, and matchup to keep in mind. The hope, valued reader, is that the information contained in this piece can function as a bit of a primer for what’s to come in Monday night’s matchup. Enjoy.
The 49ers at Vikings: Week 7
Stat: +97 vs. -6
The 49ers are the gold standard in the NFL in terms of point differential.
After a half dozen games, SF has scored 184 points while allowing just 87. Do the simple math and you’ll find that they have a +97 point differential. The next closest team is the Buffalo Bills, a team that similarly boasts a strong offense and defense. Sean McDermott’s team sits at a very healthy +84, a point differential that suggests the Bills will once again be a Super Bowl contender going into January.
Rather infamously, the Vikings finished last season with a -3 point differential. The slightly below average point total suggested that Minnesota was a humdrum team dressed in an elite team’s clothing. Or, put differently, that they weren’t anywhere close to being as good as their 13 wins would suggest.
At 2-4, the Vikings certainly look like a bad team, but their -6 point differential suggests they’re closer to average. The issue, of course, is that putting together an average performance on Monday Night Football won’t result in a victory over San Francisco. SF averages 30.7 points per game (2nd overall) while allowing 14.5 points per game (1st overall).
Anything less than a top-tier effort from Kevin O’Connell’s crew will mean Loss #5 is going to hit the final tally.
Quote: Kevin O’Connell on Blocking Out the Trade Talk
Playing so poorly means the Vikings need to seriously consider whether to trade away some of their best players. And while a lot of the enthusiasm has been dampened due to the litany of insiders saying Kirk Cousins won’t be waiving his no-trade clause, the Vikings still do have several players who could be moved.
On Monday, Kevin O’Connell was asked about blocking out that speculation. Take a look at what the coach had to say:
My job is to continue to get the team to focus on the things we can control which is our performance, our response to some adverse situations that a lot of times we’ve caused ourselves through some of the early turnover issues, some of the critical plays here against our defense on some longer yardage plays. You know, all three phases is what my challenge to those guys continues to be and I thought they did a great job with that yesterday. Regardless of what happens, either against us in that phase or another phase that you’ve got to then come in and try to overcome, look at it as an opportunity to respond and do it for the betterment of the team.
Again, it’s worth reiterating the point: the Vikings are only in all of the speculation because of the poor win/loss record. Seeing a team at 4-2 would mean the conversation is very different, with the focus resting on adding rather than subtracting talent.
And, to be sure, the antidote to overcoming the current speculation is to do precisely that: win. Start with a victory over SF and then go snag another win in Week 8 over GB. At .500 as the trade deadline arrives, the Vikings would likely decide to stick with the talent that’s present. And, maybe, there could even be an addition or two.
Matchup: Kyle Shanahan vs. Brian Flores
Blitzing a ton isn’t the answer. Blitzing effectively could be, though.
Indeed, the blitzes need to have a meaningful impact. Force Brock Purdy into unwise decisions. Or, perhaps, don’t let the QB get the ball out of his hands in the first place. The real prize would be wreaking enough havoc to once again win the turnover battle. Some more interceptions and strip/sacks are precisely what the purple doctor ordered.
A major issue, though, is that Marcus Davenport is no longer available. The talented pass rusher is hurt yet again, injuring his other ankle.
Flores thus needs to outsmart an offensive mastermind, someone who’s known for finding unique, innovative ways of getting his playmakers open. The hope is that, in time, O’Connell can develop into an offensive architect as formidable as Shanahan, but that’s a goal that’s still in the future. Right now, there aren’t too many offensive minds on par with San Francisco’s head coach (with coaches like Sean McVay and Andy Reid coming up as some of the notable equals).
Outsmarting Kyle Shanahan isn’t easy and yet the Vikings are facing a team with superior talent. Overcoming a better roster often involves brilliant coaching, so let’s see if Brian Flores has something special cooked up.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and as a co-host for Notes from the North, a humble Vikings podcast.