Week 12 of the 2021 NFL Season offers us a duel between Vikings (5-5) and 49ers (5-5) where both teams arrive urgently in need of a victory if they plan to continue starring in the search for a postseason ticket in the NFC. Minnesota and San Francisco, the sixth against the seventh seed in their conference, and this is all you need to know about it.
The hometown and Deebo Samuel: the best support of the 49ers
If the 49ers plan to get their sixth win of the season this Sunday, they will have to start by supporting themselves in their own stadium. History isn’t always a factor, but it’s inevitable not to point out that San Francisco, including the postseason, is overwhelmingly 10-1 against Minnesota when they play at Levi’s Stadium.
In fact, we should go all the way back to 2007 to find the last Vikings win playing at the home of the 49ers. And to find another? 1988. Hence. That’s how bad Minnesota is in San Francisco. However, the story is to be changed, but WR Deebo Samuel will try to make sure that it is not.
Samuel is having a splendid 2021. The third-year wide receiver is the second-best in the NFL in total receiving yards (994). However, their role is no longer limited to receiving, but also to running. The previous Sunday against the Jaguars he led the 49ers with 79 yards and 1 TD on 8 carries. Plus, two weekends ago he also had a running touchdown against the Rams.
Thus, if he landed another touchdown on the ground against Minnesota, Samuel would become the second player in the Super Bowl era who, listed as WR, to score at least one rushing touchdown in three consecutive games, joining Eric Metcalf, who in 1989 He did it with the Browns.
Another factor that smiles in favor of the 49ers is that, in the running attack – eighth best in the league with an average of 123.2 yards per game – they could win back RB Elijah Mitchell, who this week has been practicing under the status of “limited ”Due to a broken finger. However, last week he had not practiced at all, so it is a sign that his return is near.
This would make things easier for QB1 Jimmy Garoppolo, who in the last three games has brought out his precision by throwing 6 TDs against just 1 INT. And finally, we cannot overlook DE Nick Bosa, who last Sunday recorded 2 sacks and already reached 10 in total this season, being the fifth best in the league in that department. But the Vikings also offer good arguments.
The ideal time for the Vikings to be taken seriously
Currently at 5-5, the Vikings are a better team than their record indicates. The problem is that they are just learning to win close matches. Minnesota is the only NFL team that this season has had each of its games decided by 14 points or less, of which the last seven were by maximum one possession. So, very surely, this Sunday we will see another very close match.
Leading the offense is QB Kirk Cousins, who is having a highly underrated campaign. This 2021 he has launched 21 TD against only 2 INT, maintaining the safety of the ball as a strong one. Additionally, his passer rating of 106.3 is the second best he has recorded in his 10-year career. If Minnesota had a better record, there is no doubt that Cousins would be in talks to be awarded the NFL MVP.
Additionally, last week against the Packers, WR Justin Jefferson had 169 total receiving yards, having his 11th professional game with 100+ receiving yards. Minnesota is 8-3 when Jefferson surpasses the 100 barrier, however, they are just 4-11 when it does not accumulate triple digits in the statistics. Therefore, if the 49ers manage to nullify it, they will put those led by Mike Zimmer in serious trouble.
Additionally, Minnesota’s pass rush is currently the best in the league with 31 total sacks, so Garoppolo’s mobility will be put to the test. However, for this meeting, the Vikings will not have DE Danielle Hunter, DL Dalvin Tomlinson (COVID-19) and probably, after the controversial situation he is going through, DE Everson Griffen will not appear either.
Thus, Minnesota’s defense is severely depleted. However, if they win, they would be spinning their third consecutive victory of the season and, considering that the previous two were against the Chargers and Packers, the Vikings should begin to be considered as serious candidates to inconvenience the great powers of the NFC in the postseason. .
The other option is that the 49ers could claim their third straight win, and yes or yes, they would sleep in postseason spots when Week 12 draws to a close, which would be great news, bearing in mind that not long ago they had a record of 2-4 and they were away from any possible sign of Playoffs.
Can the 49ers get their third win in a row? Are the Vikings ready to start being considered NFC contenders? We read you in the comments below this article and on our social networks.
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