5 best non-divisional matchups on the Vikings 2021 schedule

Vikings at 49ers – Week 12

Coming off of a wild overtime win against the New Orleans Saints in the wild card round of the 2019 playoffs, Vikings fans were hoping their team would be able to carry over that momentum to their next opponent, the San Francisco 49ers.

However, Minnesota was undermanned on the offensive line, and all of that momentum came to a dead stop by halftime. The Vikings lost the game 27-10, and the 49ers went on to the Super Bowl where they were ultimately defeated by the Kansas City Chiefs.

This time around, a re-tooled Minnesota offense and the bolstered defense will look to emerge from this matchup with another tally in the win column, and make a statement to other NFL teams in the second half of the schedule.

San Francisco is still a very well-run team with high-caliber talents all over the roster. Nick Bosa is returning from a leg injury that sidelined him for most of last season, along with teammates Jimmy Garoppolo, Dee Ford, George Kittle, and potentially Richard Sherman.

This bout could be a strong indicator of where the Vikings measure up against other playoff-contending teams in the NFC while providing a preview of a possible postseason matchup.

This contest could also gauge how much Minnesota’s offensive line has improved with the additions of rookies Wyatt Davis and Christian Darrisaw.