BLUE 1,026 Posted September 11, 2015 By KEVIN MASSOTH STATS Writer (AP) -- Most believe Adrian Peterson will return to form after a year away from football. Many think Teddy Bridgewater will only get better from a solid rookie season. The question lingers, what can they do together? It's happening a year late, but the Minnesota Vikings will finally see their all-league running back and young quarterback side by side in a game in Monday night's opener against the San Francisco 49ers. Peterson and Bridgewater are at opposite ends of their careers but figure to overlap the middle portion enough to make Minnesota relevant in the NFC North. Last year's 7-9 record doesn't do much to shower postseason predictions on the Vikings, but the addition of Peterson in the backfield is a huge boost. Minnesota ranked 14th in the NFL last year with 112.8 rushing yards per game and tied for 14th with 12 rushing touchdowns. Peterson, who didn't play in the preseason, finished with less than 1,200 rushing yards once in his career and never posted less than 10 rushing touchdowns - not including the single game he played last season before the child abuse case surfaced that placed him on the commissioner's exempt list. Still, Peterson says, "Teddy, I feel like he's the key." '"There's not too many guys that come into the league that have that talent, especially at the quarterback position," he added. "He's just so poised. He has a great arm. He's mature. And he's a competitor." Bridgewater was thrust into the starting role last year with an injury to Matt Cassel, and he impressed in 13 games - 12 starts. He ranked 11th in the NFL with a 64.4 completion percentage, though he was 22nd with an 85.2 passer rating. Bridgewater threw for 2,919 yards and had 14 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. He added 209 yards and a touchdown on the ground. The bigger running threat at the quarterback position Monday night will be Colin Kaepernick. San Francisco's signal-caller totaled 639 rushing yards last season, second behind Russell Wilson's 849. "All quarterbacks, they put an extra dimension in when they can run the football," Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer said. "They can create space with their legs, so you have to be careful with your rush lanes, and we anticipate they're going to get out of the pocket with some bootlegs and things like that." The 49ers will look far different around Kaepernick after a disappointing 8-8 record last year left them out of the playoffs for the first time since 2010. The changes start at the top with new coach Jim Tomsula, who replaces Jim Harbaugh. Tomsula hasn't had an easy go of it so far as San Francisco's offseason was plagued by unlikely retirements and legal issues. The 49ers lost Patrick Willis, Anthony Davis, Chris Borland and Justin Smith to retirement and were forced to release Aldon Smith after he was arrested for hit and run, drunken driving and vandalism in August. Franchise rushing leader Frank Gore and former first-round pick Mike Iupati also left in free agency. San Francisco still has veteran offensive threats for Kaepernick to utilize in wideouts Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith and tight end Vernon Davis. Carlos Hyde and Reggie Bush fill the gap left by Gore in the backfield. "The way that you prepare gives you an opportunity," Boldin said. "The guys that we have in the locker room, I know what kind of guys we have in here. Those are guys that are going to bust their butt, try to do things the right way as much as possible. Nobody's perfect. We're going to try to go out and try for perfection each day." San Francisco's defense also gets a much-needed boost with the return of linebacker NaVorro Bowman, who hasn't played since suffering a brutal knee injury during the NFC championship game at Seattle in January 2014. The 49ers hope a strong preseason is a sign that Bowman will return to his 2013 numbers: 118 tackles, five sacks and two interceptions. Bowman made three tackles in three snaps in his return during San Francisco's second preseason game, and he sacked Peyton Manning twice in the third. "I'm satisfied with how much work I've put in, how far I've come, how fast I'm able to recover coverage-wise," Bowman said. Minnesota has won three straight and five of the last six meetings. Source: Hosted.Stats.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge+ 3,436 Posted September 11, 2015 Smells like an upset. 23 20 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Turry 755 Posted September 11, 2015 49ers are going to destroy the vikings. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted September 12, 2015 We're gonna see just how far young Teddy has come in his second year. The 49ers have lost a lot of pieces on defense, but you can't sleep on the talent they still have there. I think Teddy knows how to get the most from his guys, and he should carve them apart. He looked way better as a passer his rookie year than Kaepernick has... ever. 27 19 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ATL_Predator+ 1,196 Posted September 12, 2015 Peterson has something to say... and it's going to lead to Teddy Bridgewater having a field day in the bay. 27 14 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seanbrock 1,684 Posted September 12, 2015 As some have pointed out, this game has upset potential. The Vikings are a young team, but they're also a very well coached team. Vikings SHOULD pull this one out with ease. 24-10 Vikings Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted September 15, 2015 Vikings declared WR Stefon Diggs, QB Taylor Heinicke, LB Edmond Robinson, T Jeremiah Sirles, TE Chase Ford, and DE Justin Trattou inactive for Week 1 against the 49ers. Diggs is a healthy scratch. The rookie put together a strong preseason but evidently coach Mike Zimmer doesn't feel he's ready for regular season action. The Vikes will go with Mike Wallace, Charles Johnson, Cordarrelle Patterson, Jarius Wright, and Adam Thielen at receiver against a soft 49ers secondary. Source: Minnesota Vikings on Twitter 49ers declared RB Mike Davis, WR DeAndrew White, CB Shareece Wright, G Brandon Thomas, NT Mike Purcell, C Nick Easton and LB Corey Lemonier inactive for Week 1 against the Vikings. The Niners are going with only three backs Monday night, leaving Davis as the odd man out. Davis didn't stand out during the preseason and won't see much playing time as a rookie. Source: San Francisco 49ers on Twitter Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted September 15, 2015 Not expecting much offensively. 30 16 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241 Posted September 15, 2015 Bowman looking gooood. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241 Posted September 15, 2015 Vikings' Dline is getting worked. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge+ 3,436 Posted September 15, 2015 AP looks like one big bag of steaming, stinking, Grade A monkey crap. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted September 15, 2015 Teddy what is going on, why do you do this... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted September 15, 2015 Vikings' OLine is getting worked. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted September 15, 2015 JIM TOMSULA IS THE GREATEST COACH IN 49ers HISTORY. 2-0 as a head coach. 1 win in 2010 as interrim. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ATL_Predator+ 1,196 Posted September 15, 2015 I think it's safe to say the vast majority of us doubted SF's defense and totally forgot about how their offensive line is still one of the best run blocking lines in the game and how good Hyde is... That recipe will make them competitive in most games to say the least. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Turry 755 Posted September 15, 2015 49ers are going to destroy the vikings. Bware got all butt hurt on Saturday when I said this. But I told you guys nothing special with the vikings. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
56AceInDaPlace 110 Posted September 15, 2015 This is why I was mad when the espn fantasy draft gave me AP. He's rusty. Been out a year.. damn it espn.. Hyde looked good though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge+ 3,436 Posted September 15, 2015 Smells like an upset. 23 20 Got the score wrong but I'm glad one of my upsets went through this week. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OSUViking 505 Posted September 15, 2015 Teddy looked scared and I cant tell if it was cause of the line or if he's still maturing. Was throwing off his back foot and sailing on receivers... That's what I thought the INT was but maybe it was a miscommunication or something. Bottom line, OL and DL are gonna be concerns all year long. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted September 15, 2015 I don't understand what's wrong with the DL at all. They have good starters and good depth. Does not compute. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted September 15, 2015 I don't understand what's wrong with the DL at all. They have good starters and good depth. Does not compute. 49ers OL still had Joe Staley AND Alex Boone on it. No need to worry. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted September 15, 2015 49ers OL still had Joe Staley AND Alex Boone on it. No need to worry. Anthony Davis and Mike Ieupati who? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
