The Minnesota Vikings are going to be desperate for a win on Monday night when they take on the San Francisco 49ers. Sitting at 2-4, they are only a game out of a wild card spot and that isn’t too bad considering the circumstances.
The play of the Vikings so far this season has been quality. The underlying metrics believe that the Vikings are a good football team and their play has matched that. The biggest factor of the Vikings’ poor start? Turnovers.
The Vikings have turned the ball over 13 times with a negative seven turnover differential. If they want to figure out a way to win against the 49ers, these players will need to step up.
Managing editor Tyler Forness: TE T.J. Hockenson
When the Vikings gave T.J. Hockenson a massive extension worth up to $68.5 million in September, it was a culmination of the trade deadline move that has worked out really well for the Vikings. Hockenson has matched the production expected of him thus far but over the last few weeks, he has missed multiple catches away from his body. That’s why the Vikings paid him after all.
The perception is out there that Hockenson isn’t living up to his contract, but his performance outside of those five plays, four of which Pro Football Focus classified as drops, has been worthy of the contract. Making the big play will silence the doubters and make them feel better about his big contract.
Columnist Judd Zulgad: OLB Danielle Hunter
Danielle Hunter: It’s been a disappointing season for the Vikings but Hunter has been outstanding and the timing of his play couldn’t be better. Hunter’s eight sacks are tied for first in the NFL and he’s making a case to land a major payday this March when he is set to hit free agency. Hunter, who will turn 29 on Oct. 29, has been the subject of trade speculation with the deadline set for Oct. 31. If the Vikings aren’t going to bring him back it would make sense to try to move him and interested teams are sure to be watching No. 99 closely on Monday night.
Columnist Saivion Mixson: CB Byron Murphy Jr.
With the fate of this season hanging in the balance, all the cards will be thrown on the table. For this Minnesota defense, that means a ton of pressure on second-year quarterback Brock Purdy to try and force him to make a mistake.
That means that on the back-end of the defense, the pressure is on to play sound coverage against one of, if not the, most talented skill-position tandems in the NFL. That sound play starts with Byron Murphy Jr. who has had a disappointing start to the season thus far. But his play against D.J. Moore and the Bears receivers last week (Nine targets, four completions, 28 yards, 1 INT) was an encouraging sign that maybe he has turned the corner to becoming that reliable CB1 that this team desperately needs.
Columnist Chris Spooner: RBs Alexander Mattison and Cam Akers
When the Minnesota Vikings traded for Cam Akers, it looked like he provided a spark for a Vikings run game that had been anemic up to that point in the season. His first game with the team saw Akers get limited action, but the team as a whole had their best-rushing performance of the season – before or since. Mattison had nearly 100 yards, a figure he hasn’t sniffed in the two games since, and as a team the Vikings had nearly 6 yards per carry.
Mattison and Akers are going to have to find that spark again if the Vikings are going to have any hope of pulling off the upset over the San Francisco 49ers. Brock Purdy is surrounded by an All-Star cast, and they’ve consistently been one of the best teams in the league the last four years. After a stunning upset at the hands of the Cleveland Browns, the 49ers are going to be looking for revenge. The best way the Vikings can prevent that is to shorten the game and hold onto the ball. How do they do that? With an effective run game. The offensive line has done its part, with the best run-blocking grade in the league according to PFF. The running back tandem needs to step up.
