Minnesota Vikings: 5 keys against San Francisco 49ers

Dec 1, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) rushes against the Chicago Bears for 5 yards in the first quarter at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

1) Get the running game going with Adrian Peterson

The much-anticipated return of Adrian Peterson will finally come in Week 1.

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The San Francisco 49ers have been nothing short of excellent against the run in recent seasons. In 2014, despite notching just an 8-8 record, the Niners managed to finish in the top-10 against the run. They were top-five in 2012 and 2013 and were the top rushing defense in 2011.

Fortunately for the Minnesota Vikings, the 49ers are no longer the same team they were over the past four seasons.

That doesn’t mean the Vikings can simply dismiss the 49ers’ run stopping ability. This is going to be a tough unit to go up against, featuring a defensive line with Glenn Dorsey (who missed all of last season but was a strong starter in 2013), Ian Williams, (nine starts last season), and Quinton Dial (six starts in 2014).

Those three players are formidable and open the way for the San Francisco linebackers to make plays. With almost nobody on the injury report, the 49ers are entering healthy and will look to use that to their advantage.

The offensive line will have to open up holes, even for a runner as gifted as Peterson, in order to establish the run. Players like backup center Joe Berger, right tackle T.J. Clemmings and left tackle Matt Kalil must step up for an injured offensive line if the Vikes hope to establish the run.

At running back, the Vikings have one of the most gifted backfields. The aforementioned Peterson is going to try to get to 2000 yards once again and is always a threat as the best running back of the past decade. Matt Asiata is a gifted complementary back and Jerick McKinnon, despite a poor preseason, is a serious threat as well.

The Minnesota backfield finished the year 14th in yards without Peterson in 2014. They can only get better with his return.

The Minnesota Vikings offense flows through the running game and they will have their hands full against the 49ers. From the trenches to the backfield, the Vikings need to establish the running game to win this game.

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