Niner Noise
FanSided

Vikings vs. 49ers: 5 X-factors for NFC divisional round of playoffs

By Peter Panacy

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 10: Brandon Jacobs #45 of the San Francisco 49ers gets pushed out of bounds after a twenty two yard gain by Jamarca Sanford #33 of the Minnesota Vikings in the first quarter during an NFL pre-season football game at Candlestick Park on August 10, 2012 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won the game 17-6. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 10: Brandon Jacobs #45 of the San Francisco 49ers gets pushed out of bounds after a twenty two yard gain by Jamarca Sanford #33 of the Minnesota Vikings in the first quarter during an NFL pre-season football game at Candlestick Park on August 10, 2012 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won the game 17-6. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Adam Thielen, Vikings
Adam Thielen #19 of the Minnesota Vikings (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Limiting Vikings Wide Receiver Adam Thielen

Stefon Diggs might be the best pure wide receiver the Vikings have. In the Wild Card round, though, they made it a point to feed fellow wideout Adam Thielen the ball much more.

Even if it came at the expense of Diggs’ frustrations, at times.

Thielen finished that game with seven catches for 129 yards. And despite an early fumble in the game, Thielen didn’t slow down. New Orleans also didn’t have much of an answer for him, either.

This could be especially problematic for the 49ers defense, which doesn’t line up its top cornerback, Richard Sherman, with an opponent’s top receiver. Instead, Sherman will occupy the left side of the defensive secondary, leaving the right side open to either cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon or Emmanuel Moseley, depending on who gets the start.

In Week 14 against the Saints, the Niners defense was torched by New Orleans wide receiver Michael Thomas for 134 yards and a touchdown. The following week against the Atlanta Falcons, the 49ers allowed wide receiver Julio Jones to record another 134 receiving yards and two touchdowns, including the late game winner.

How San Francisco’s defense elects to respond to Thielen will be a massive deciding factor in the game’s outcome.