Niner Noise
FanSided

Ranking the 49ers’ toughest 5 games of 2018

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates his touchdown against Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates his touchdown against Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 27: Jerick McKinnon #21 of the Minnesota Vikings avoids a tackle by Kendrick Bourne #6 of the San Francisco 49ers in the preseason game on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 32-31. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 27: Jerick McKinnon #21 of the Minnesota Vikings avoids a tackle by Kendrick Bourne #6 of the San Francisco 49ers in the preseason game on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 32-31. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Week 1 @ Minnesota Vikings

Well, what a way to start the season.

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It would be one thing if the 49ers opened up 2018 at home versus the Vikings, but that won’t be the case. Instead, head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co. get to travel to Minnesota and face the NFL’s best defense from a year ago in Week 1.

That Vikings defense is largely intact too. They haven’t gone through the slew of changes and cap casualties many defensive-first teams end up dealing with after a couple of seasons. Not yet, at least. And all that presents a challenge for Shanahan, Jimmy Garoppolo and San Francisco’s offensive cast.

If anything, the Vikings also improved under center by adding quarterback Kirk Cousins via free agency. Cousins is an upgrade over Minnesota’s starter last year, Case Keenum, so head coach Mike Zimmer’s squad appears to have an early edge over the 13-3 squad he fielded a year ago.

Week 1 games can always be weird, though, and one might recall how the 49ers tore up the Jacksonville Jaguars’ elite-ranked defense to the tune of 44 points last season.

Who knows if something like that replicates, but it doesn’t change the fact this will be the toughest game on San Francisco’s regular-season schedule.

Next: First-take predictions for the 49ers' 2018 regular-season schedule

Good to get it out of the way early.