49ers Vs Vikings: San Francisco Stumbles On The Road, 24-13

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49ers WR Randy Moss Praises Fallen Jets Cornerback Darrelle Revis

San Francisco 49ers veteran wide receiver and future Hall-of-Famer Randy Moss put aside his competitive differences when asked about New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, who suffered a torn ACL on Sunday and will miss the rest of the 2012 season. He gave the All-Pro defensive back nothing but praise when asked about his former AFC East adversary:

"I know that's a big blow to their organization. So hopefully he recovers well and comes back strong next year. Like I said, I've always been a fan of Darrelle Revis. I've always put him in the upper echelon of cornerbacks, if not the best cornerback in the league. Like I said, that's a big blow."

The two players go back to when Moss was a member of the New England Patriots and Revis was with the Jets. As No. 1 wideout and defensive back, the two became very familiar with one another. In eight matchups with Revis, Moss recorded 34 catches for 487 yards and five touchdowns.

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San Francisco 49ers Sign Wide Receiver Ricardo Lockette

The San Francisco 49ers have reportedly signed wide receiver Ricardo Lockette on Monday, according to the player's Twitter account:

I am the newest member of the 49ers

— Ricardo Lockette (@RicardoLockette) September 24, 2012

Lockette is filling the void left by rookie Nathan Palmer, who was signed by the Indianapolis Colts earlier today. Palmer joined the 49ers training camp as an undrafted player out of Northern Illinois University and impressed during the preseason with six catches for 93 yards and a touchdown.

The Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent signed Lockette in 2011. He was cut during the final roster cuts in 2012, but resigned with the team onto the practice squad after clearing waivers. Lockette saw limited time in 2011, but played against the 49ers, finishing against his new employers with one reception for 44 yards.

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Patrick Willis Injury: 49ers Don't Believe Linebacker's Ankle Sprain Is Serious

Though he was seen limping off the field late in Sunday's loss to Minnesota, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis' sprained ankle is reportedly not serious according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.

Willis chipped in 10 total tackles in the 24-13 loss to the Vikings, and then immediately forced every able bodied 49ers fan on the planet to hold their breath when he left the field. Aside from the fact that Willis was spotted walking just fine out of the locker room shortly after the game, there's still no denying the immense impact he has on San Francisco's elite defense.

The 27-year-old linebacker may still be limited in practice leading up to his team's Week 4 game against the Jets, but this looks to be wonderful news for the 49ers right now. Barring a setback or a conflicting report by the team, the best linebacker in the NFC doesn't look like he'll be forced to miss any game action.

This story originally appeared on SBNation.com.

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49ers Vs. Vikings: Random Notes From San Francisco Loss

The San Francisco 49ers put on a horrific showing on defense Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, losing XX-XX to fall to 2-1 on the season. While many thought Minnesota's opening 16-play drive would be the exception to the rule, it turned out to be the defining trait of the game. Minnesota dumped their way to first down after first down, with Percy Harvin and Adrian Peterson having their way with what is supposed to be the NFL's best defense.

We'll have plenty of in-depth stuff in the coming days, but for now, how about some random notes from the game. These are things that I wrote while the game was going, so they're a little rough, but they're worth checking out. The 49ers are in a dangerous place right now, given relatively strong play from the rest of the NFC West.

Here's the notes below.

• The replacement referees set a new standard for terrible in the fist five minutes of the game. The worst: calling an illegal block in the back on the kicking team, which is nowhere in the NFL rulebooks.
• San Francisco gave up a touchdown on the opening drive ... which was a bad feeling I had coming into this. I said it'd be a stupid game: well there you have it. Aldon Smith played poorly on the touchdown play, letting up prematurely because he thought Dashon Goldson had stopped the play.
• If the 49ers have the best defense in the league, on average over the course of the season, Sunday's game against Minnesota was the negative outlier. They were just horrible.
• Kendall Hunter's dance moves behind the line of scrimmage is getting very tiring. He needs to make a cut and go with it. There was a run in the first quarter in which he switched directions when the other side was wide open for a run of 15+yards.
• The 49ers were fine on defense when they were in the nickel. But Aldon Smith was getting abused in pass coverage.
• They haven't quite perfected it yet, but San Francisco can be one of the deadliest play action teams in the league, especially when you factor in the myriad of personnel sets the 49ers have.
• The referees continued their horrible officiating all throughout the game. Definitely one of the worst officiated games this season.

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49ers Vs. Vikings Score Update: San Francisco Trails Minnesota 17-13

The Minnesota Vikings lead the San Francisco 49ers after three quarters, 17-13.

The 49ers scored 10 unanswered points in the quarter, which ended with the Vikings in San Francisco territory.

San Francisco got the second half started with a long kick return by Kyle Williams, setting up a 29-yard field goal by David Akers.

Following a three-and-out by the Vikings, the 49ers drove the field again, this time converting on a one-yard touchdown catch by tight end Vernon Davis.

Through three quarters, quarterback Alex Smith is 19/25 for 158 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Frank Gore has 10 rushes for 54 yards, and Davis leads all San Francisco receivers with four receptions for 46 yards and a score.

San Francisco's usually stout defense has been unable to get pressure on quarterback Christian Ponder, however, as he has yet to be sacked in the game.

For more on the 49ers, make sure to check out Niners Nation. For the Vikings side of things, head over to The Daily Norseman.

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49ers Vs. Vikings Score Update: Niners Trail 7-0 After 1st Quarter

The San Francisco 49ers are looking to stay undefeated on the road as they take on the Minnesota Vikings at Mall of America Stadium on Sunday, though they find themselves in an early 7-0 hole after the first quarter of action.

The Vikings' offense opened the game with a 16-play, 82-yard drive that got them all the way down inside the 49ers' five-yard line before the defense forced a fourth and goal. Christian Ponder rolled out and found Kyle Rudolph for a one-yard touchdown pass to take the early 7-0 lead on that play.

via assets.sbnation.com

Alex Smith and the 49ers offense would get stopped on their first drive of the game after Smith got sacked on a third and six by Chad Greenway to force an Andy Lee punt. San Francisco would force Minnesota to punt on their next possession, finishing the quarter in Minnesota territory with a first down on the 30-yard line.

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49ers Vs. Vikings, NFL Inactives: San Francisco Missing Ted Ginn, Brandon Jacobs

The San Francisco 49ers will visit the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, and both teams will have seven players each on the inactive list for the game.

For the 49ers: WR Ted Ginn Jr., RB Brandon Jacobs, RB LaMichael James, WR A.J. Jenkins, G Joe Looney, QB Scott Tolzien, NT Ian Williams.

For the Vikings: G Mark Asper, QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson, CB Robert Blanton, DB Brandon Burton, OLB Erin Henderson, DE D'Aundre Reed and WR Jarius Wright.

The Niners will now have Andy Lee back as the holder for field goals. Tolzien was active for the first time last week so he could hold. Jenkins and James, the Niners' first two picks in the draft, are still yet to play this season even though Jenkins was active in Week 1. Ginn being out means that Kyle Williams will continue to field punts and Kendall Hunter will take care of the kickoffs for the Niners.

The big loss for the Vikings is Henderson. Henderson wreaked havoc in the first two games of the season, with 22 total tackles and two sacks for the Vikings. Missing him on the defensive side of the ball, especially with the Vikings having to deal with Vernon Davis, is a big loss.

For more on the 49ers, check out Niners Nation and to get the lowdown on the Vikings, check out Daily Norseman. For all of your football needs, head over to the SB Nation NFL Hub.

This post first appeared on SBNation.com.

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NFL Schedule 2012: Week 3 TV Coverage Maps For Bay Area

Week 3 of the 2012 NFL season is upon us, and there are plenty of intriguing games on the slate. In addition to the usual 49ers and Raiders games being broadcast across the Bay Area, football fans will also get a look at No. 1 pick Andrew Luck. Let's take a look at the full TV schedule for Sunday.

CBS Early Game: The Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars will be featured on CBS beginning at 10 a.m. PT in the Bay Area. Luck is 1-1 thus far in his rookie campaign and has looked just as good as he did during his days with the Stanford Cardinal. The Jaguars feature star tailback Maurice Jones-Drew and young QB Blaine Gabbert. Bill Macatee and Steve Tasker will handle the broadcasting duties.

CBS Late Game: Beginning at 1:25 p.m. PT, the Oakland Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers will play on CBS. Oakland has struggled this season and enters with a record of 0-2, while the Steelers were impressive in a blowout win over the Jets last weekend. Defensive stalwarts James Harrison and Troy Polamalu are both out for the game with injuries. Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts will be in the booth for this one.

FOX: The undefeated San Francisco 49ers will meet the Minnesota Vikings at 10:00 p.m. PT on FOX. Alex Smith and Frank Gore will look to lead the Niners, while All-Pro tailback Adrian Peterson leads the Vikings in their quest for an upset. Kenny Albert and Daryl Johnston will serve as the announcers, while Tony Siragusa reports from the sidelines.

NBC: The New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens meet for Sunday Night Football. Despite entering the season with high expectations, both teams are coming off tough losses. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:20 p.m. PT, and it'll be Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth calling the action.

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Jim Harbaugh Says Vikings Defense Good At Forcing Mistakes

The 49ers are one of six undefeated teams left in the NFL and while they have already defeated two of the most prolific offenses in the league, they will face a different kind of test on Sunday.

San Francisco knocked off Green Bay in Week 1 and Detroit last week. Both teams are known for their high-powered offense. This week, San Francisco will face the Minnesota Vikings, a team better known for their strong defense. The Vikings are currently 12th in the NFL in yards per game allowed.

Asked what he saw from the Vikings defense of film, 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh offered some high praise.

"Good defense, good defense. They are an attacking, aggressive defense," Harbaugh said. "They are a blitzing defense, a multiple-coverage defense. Very aggressive up front. It's a defense that's trying to get you into bad plays, bad situations and they've got the talent and scheme to be able do that."

One of the Vikings' biggest threats on defense is defensive end Jared Allen. While Allen is yet to record his first sack of 2012, he remains one of the NFL's most dangerous pas rushers. Allen racked up 105 sacks during his first eight seasons, including 22 sacks last season. He finished with six tackles, a sack and a forced fumble the last time he faced San Francisco.

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49ers Vs. Vikings: Potentially Getting Ted Ginn Back Is Great, But Keep Him On Special Teams

On Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers might get kick/punt returner Ted Ginn Jr. back on the field. Ginn has been nursing a sprained right ankle since late August, and missed both of San Francisco's regular season games thus far. In his place, running back Kendall Hunter has been handling most of the kick return duties, while wide receiver Kyle Williams fills in on punt returns.

Ginn practiced in a limited capacity all this week and was listed as questionable on the official injury report, along with running back Brandon Jacobs. While the latter hasn't practiced at all and most likely will not play, Ginn certainly could be back there returning some kicks against the Minnesota Vikings.

But that's all he should be doing.

Truly, Ginn is one of the best in the league at what he does on special teams. He's a danger to take one back every time he's fielding a punt or kickoff, but more than that, he's been one of the most consistent return men in the NFL for years now. San Francisco won most of their games a season ago thanks to strong field position, and that's an area where they were bested by both the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions thus far.

Still, they managed to win those games, and they have a strong offense to thank for that. Nobody quite knows where guys like Randy Moss, Mario Manningham, Kyle Williams, A.J. Jenkins and LaMichael James fit into it yet, but we do know that it's been very productive under Alex Smith. And that's all that matters.

Ginn, for all his strengths, has been a poor wide receiver in the NFL. He was drafted early as a WR, disappointed, and then traded to San Francisco. Yet the 49ers have shown a dizzying trend of putting him out there for more plays than plenty of other receivers, and that's an issue in my opinion. Ginn does not need to be out there on offense, as he adds no new dynamic. For fear of throwing a wrench in the works, Ginn should remain on the sideline until special teams calls for him.

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49ers' Jim Harbaugh Is Never Satisfied When It Comes To Football

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49ers Vs. Vikings Injury Report: Erin Henderson, D'Aundre Reed Ruled Out For Minnesota

While the San Francisco 49ers might be getting one of their best threats back in action on Sunday in kick/punt returner Ted Ginn Jr., the Minnesota Vikings are ruling players out. Linebacker Erin Henderson was ruled out of Sunday's game with a concussion, which wasn't known about until Wednesday. Henderson didn't feel right and has missed practice since that point, and definitely will not be in action on Sunday.

On top of that, defensive end D'Aundre Reed was ruled out for the game with a calf injury. Reed was inactive all of last season, but managed to play in Minnesota's first two games. Minnesota also had five players listed as probable for the game, the most notable of which is defensive end Brian Robinson. They're already running low on defensive players, so his absence would definitely be missed.

In good news, center John Sullivan and cornerback Chris Cooke were full participants in Friday's practice and have been removed from the injury report. Below, we've got the official report:

Out: LB Erin Henderson (concussion), DE D'Aundre Reed (calf)

Probable: TE Rhett Ellison (ankle), LB Marvin Mitchell (ankle), DE Brian Robinson (elbow), S Andrew Sendejo (ankle), WR Jarius Wright (ankle)

Full Practice/Removed From Injury Report: C John Sullivan (ankle), CB Chris Cooke (biceps)

For more on the Minnesota Vikings, head on over to The Daily Norseman, and check out SB Nation's main NFL hub for all news and analysis from around the league.

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49ers Vs. Vikings Injury Report: Ted Ginn May Be Active For San Francisco

The San Francisco 49ers have been doing just fine, as evidenced by their 2-0 record, but they've regressed in one area in comparison to last year: the field position battle. That's likely due to Ted Ginn Jr., the team's primary kick returner, being injured for both games. Ginn hadn't seen the practice field until this week, and practiced in a limited fashion all three days. On Friday, the 49ers officially listed him as questionable.

If Ginn returns, he'd likely take over either punt or kickoff returns, if the 49ers are trying to limit his snaps to take things easy on his right ankle, which he sprained on Aug. 26. Or, he could be good to go and he takes over both roles (putting Kyle Williams and Kendall Hunter on the sidelines). Either way, given that there's a chance he could play, it likely means he's really good to go for next week.

Along with Ginn, running back Brandon Jacobs was listed as questionable. It's much more unlikely he plays on Sunday though, as he has not practiced at all this week since sustaining a left knee sprain on Aug. 18. Jacobs was touted as the team's short yardage running back, but Frank Gore is doing fine on his own, so his absence isn't as big as Ginn's.

Punter Andy Lee was listed as probable with a hand injury. He handled punts in Week 2 despite the injury, but third string quarterback Scott Tolzien was activated to handle holding duties on field goal attempts, and that could be the case again in Week 3.

Questionable: WR Ted Ginn (ankle), RB Brandon Jacobs (knee)

Probable: P Andy Lee (hand)

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49ers To Spend Layover In Youngstown, Again

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49ers Vs. Vikings: How Much Ass Will 49ers Kick?

As the game between the 49ers and Vikings approaches, the final question that crosses my mind is this: Just how much ass will the 49ers kick in this game?

I think it's clear that they're expected to kick said ass, but how can one measure how much ass has actually been kicked? Is it a matter of points that determines such a feat? Or rather, is it yards gained, allowed, etc? A good metric must be determined prior to this contest if we're ever going to be able to answer this ever-important question.

I would say that the Tampa Bay game in Candlestick Park last year was a good example of "ass kicked". I've long been hoping for a repeat, and actually felt it last week during the early stages of the Detroit game. While it may be more difficult on the road, in the loud environment of the dome, I think it's a real possibility.

Here are some ideas for the team to employ in order to kick as much ass as I'm talking about here:

1. Move down the field at will. Make the defense look foolish for even showing up.
2. Score lots of points. There's nothing like quickly handing the ball back to the opposition because you just effortlessly scored on them.
3. Stifle any attempts by the opposition to move the ball. Loss of yardage, sacks, turnovers, etc. These are all good ways to demoralize the other team and crush their spirit.
4. Even when you make mistakes, turn them into positives. The other team will throw their hands up as if to say, "#^%@ me! Can ANYTHING go our way?!!"
5. Show swagger. After a sack, perhaps do a special dance, maybe the same dance the opposing QB does when throwing for a touchdown.

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[PHOTO] Bruce Bochy's Got Alex Smith's Back

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NFL Picks, Week 3: Taking 49ers Over Vikings, Of Course

In Week 1 and Week 2, I went with the San Francisco 49ers in my picks. Week 1 was the toughest, but the reasoning was simply that an elite defense can beat an elite offense. Which is exactly what happened. The same reasoning was used against the Detroit Lions, and now we come to the first team that bucks the trend: the Minnesota Vikings.

While the Vikings have been known for their defense for much of the last decade, it's been consistently held back by a weak offense, and now the window is closing for them. Their defense is aging, and aside from sack master Jared Allen, it's on the decline. All of this is happening while the offense is being rebuilt and, actually, it's starting to look pretty good.

It's unclear if Christian Ponder is the answer in Minnesota, but he's had a great start to 2012 after a pedestrian rookie season (in which he did not start its entirety). He's also got limited weapons, and while Percy Harvin is fantastic with the ball in his hands, he's hardly got the makeup of a true No. 1 receiver. Ponder is relying on his tight ends more and more, and San Francisco has the defense to stop then.

Then we come to running back Adrian Peterson, generally the player that tips the skills in Minnesota's favor. That's not going to happen against the 49ers, as they have the league's best run defense and have for years now. Peterson won't sway the fact that the 49ers have just bested two of the better teams in the league. I'm sticking with the 49ers on this one. Expect them to be 3-0 headed into Week 4.

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Week 3 NFL Picks And Predictions: 49ers Unanimous Over Vikings

The San Francisco 49ers are 2-0 going through Week 2, and they are significant favorites to beat the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3. The 49ers have looked like the most complete team in football through two weeks, dominating two former playoff teams in the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions. The Vikings have gone down to the wire against two of the teams coming out of the lottery in the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Indianapolis Colts.

Naturally, the Vikings aren't being picked by anyone to beat the 49ers, despite being at home and having one of the better homefield advantages in football. 12 ESPN experts, nine CBS experts (including the Prediction Machine), and four Yahoo Sports experts are all rocking San Francisco this weekend. The 49ers are looking like a potential Super Bowl favorite, and they seem to be a popular pick the rest of the year over any foe they face, particularly one that might look as overmatched as Minnesota.

Talk about the picks with 49ers fans at Niners Nation, and with Vikings fans at Daily Norseman.

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49ers Vs. Vikings Betting Lines & Odds

The San Francisco 49ers are seven-point favorites going into Sunday's contest against the Minnesota Vikings, according to OddsShark.

The 2-0 Niners head into the contest after convincing wins against two of the NFC's most talented teams in the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions. After dealing with issues moving the ball downfield and scoring touchdowns via the vertical passing game in 2011, Alex Smith and his new crop of receivers have become more prolific, scoring an average of 28.5 points through two games.

The Vikings are 1-1 and will rely heavily on the legs of running back Adrian Peterson, who has made a fast recovery after suffering an ACL tear last season. He figures to have a tough time of penetrating the 49ers' stingy run defense. Minnesota will also be without wide receiver Jerome Simpson, who is serving the final game of a three-game suspension he received during the offseason for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.

The betting lines for Sunday's tilt at The Metrodome are as follows:

San Francisco: -7

Minnesota: +7

O/U: 43

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49ers Vs. Vikings: Adrian Peterson A Cut Above Green Bay, Detroit Running Backs

If you take away the fact that the San Francisco 49ers won 13 games last season and put them in the same place they were in 2010, Sunday's matchup against the Minnesota Vikings might be a little more intimidating. Questions would rise about the offense and its (in)ability to deal with the Minnesota defense, while Christian Ponder might be considered a quarterback that could actually do some damage against the weak secondary.

But one thing would still be true: they're not scared of running back Adrian Peterson.

In recent years, the 49ers have been one of the best teams in the league at stopping the run. A good running back hasn't been a good worry for San Francisco in what seems like a decade. That isn't to say that they're being overlooked, it's just just that, when you simplify this game down to strength versus strength, the only outcome is a 49ers victory.

Now, it's not quite as simple as that in reality, but that's simply one key to the game. If the San Francisco defense stops Peterson, they'll force the game into Ponder's hands. It seems like Ponder is getting better and better these days, but he's still got limited weapons and the 49ers have a more-than well-equipped secondary to deal with what he's got to offer. This isn't Aaron Rodgers and this isn't Matthrew Stafford.

But again, if the 49ers are not totally prepared for Peterson, then they could pay for it. He's no Kevin Smith or [insert Green Bay running back here]. Peterson will make you pay as well as any running back in the NFL. Fortunately, if you can call Jim Harbaugh's team anything, you can call them disciplined. This should be a fun one for 49ers fans.

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49ers Vs. Vikings Injury Report: Tedd Ginn Returns On Limited Basis Wednesday

San Francisco 49ers wideout Ted Ginn Jr. returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday, signaling a possible return to face the Minnesota Vikings this weekend.

According to the San Jose Mercury News' Cam Inman, Ginn caught a few passes in warmups and removed himself from the other receivers, speaking with coach Jim Harbaugh soon thereafter and heading to a side field to work out on his own. Ginn hasn't seen action since he suffered the injury on Aug. 26 in their preseason game with Denver.

As for running back Brandon Jacobs, he suited up as well, but warmed up on a side field and did some light conditioning under the supervision of training staff during the media access portion of practice.

Punter Andy Lee was a full participant in practice, dealing with a thumb injury.

Below is the official injury report for Wednesday:

49ers:

Did not practice: Jacobs (left knee)

Limited practice: Ginn (right ankle)

Full participation: Lee (thumb)

Vikings:

Did not practice: LB Erin Henderson (concussion)

Limited practice: C John Sullivan (ankle)

Full participation: CB Chris Cook (biceps), TE Rhett Ellison (ankle), LB Marvin Mitchell (ankle), DE Brian Robison (elbow), S Andrew Sendejo (ankle), WR Jarius Wright (ankle)

For more on the 49ers, head over to Niners Nation.

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49ers Vs. Vikings: Staying Healthy is Key

As the 49ers head to the Twin Cities to face the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday they will actually be embarking on a two-week journey, capped-off with their second of two road games against the New York Jets. The team plans to stay in Youngstown Ohio for the week in between the two contests, just as they did last year when on a similar two-game, east-coast road-stretch.

Being away from the facility, the team's preferred medical campus, etc. could pose some challenges. While the team has traveled with their entire practice-squad in the past, an injury to a key role-player would still be unwelcome news on such a road trip.

The second-half of San Francisco's schedule features what could be tough opponents in the New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks (twice), and the New England Patriots in Foxboro. Staying healthy will be key if the 49ers want to continue what looks like a potential Super Bowl run in 2012.

Minnesota plays indoors on an artificial surface, which can be particularly hard on players' bodies. In the past the 49ers have suffered some injuries while playing in the Vikings house, such as Frank Gore's ankle injury in 2010. Gore hurt himself on his one and only carry of the game, missing an additional two games thereafter.

While I don't expect the 49ers to have a particularly tough time with the Vikings, it is key that they make it out relatively unscathed. Sometimes injuries are more of a "luck" thing, so perhaps 49ers fans should be rubbing their lucky rabbit's foot, saying a prayer, or doing a magic dance.

If for some reason the game begins to get out of hand, lopsided in the 49ers favor, I would hope that some of the key players are given time to rest. While this conjures up memories of Joshua Morgan's injury in a blowout of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, that situation is actually a good example of my point.

Morgan was a starting WR at that point (or at least a key member of the rotation, depending on how you read Jim Harbaugh's tea-leaves). Had he been on the bench when Colin Kaepernick entered the game in mop-up duty, he probably wouldn't have sustained the season ending leg fracture that he did...unless he was being a real buffoon on the sideline or one of the larger players fell on him in celebrating the victory.

Either way, while winning the game is the number one priority, this guy hopes that Sunday, as well as the rest of the NFL season, sees the 49ers end up with just minor nicks and bruises at most.

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