Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

What about the 1985 week 1 contest? The Vikings (with the return of Coach Bud Grant) beat the Super Bowl defendíng champions 49ers 28-21 in the Metrodome.

How about one which we didn't see...a SF@Min NFCCG in '98? SF was just two points shy vs those 'Dirty Birds' in that divisional round. I think Vikings win, and not as close a game as the actual NFCCG was, but SF gives Vikes a good enough game just the same in a hypothetical. Would have been interesting to see how that last Niners playoff team under Steve Young would have stacked up to the Vikes. Rice/TO vs Carter/Moss! Definitely bet the over!

The 1971 rematch at the Met was supposed to be the Vikes' revenge, but the Niners managed to win 13-9. The two teams COMBINED for 389 yards and SF turned the ball over five times, yet won because they held the Vikes to three field goals for the five times they were inside the Niner red zone.

74_75_78_79_ wrote:How about one which we didn't see...a SF@Min NFCCG in '98? SF was just two points shy vs those 'Dirty Birds' in that divisional round. I think Vikings win, and not as close a game as the actual NFCCG was, but SF gives Vikes a good enough game just the same in a hypothetical. Would have been interesting to see how that last Niners playoff team under Steve Young would have stacked up to the Vikes. Rice/TO vs Carter/Moss! Definitely bet the over!

Vikes would have trounced that 49er team. San Fran wasn't as good as their record from 1996-98, and then it all came crashing down when Young was hurt.

Teo wrote:What about the 1985 week 1 contest? The Vikings (with the return of Coach Bud Grant) beat the Super Bowl defendíng champions 49ers 28-21 in the Metrodome.

That’s probably my favourite. Bud’s return to a 3-13 team and beating the 15-1 SB champions in Game 1 was a monumental accomplishment.

Next would be the 1987 playoff upset. That game was very similar to the Titans upset tonight.

I kind of liked this year's version...

1997 - 49ers faced the Vikings in week 15 and in the divisional playoffs. Minnesota essentially got their asses kicked twice at Candlestick in the span of a month.

Also 1995: Steve Young and Warren Moon had a shootout combining for 649 passing yards and 6 passing touchdowns. Jerry Rice also had 289 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. Final score 37-30 49ers.