This is an 8* on MINNESOTA

It seems like the Vikings win over the Saints on Wild Card Weekend caught a lot of people by surprise. They did it with defense. Aside from the gimmickery of Taysom Hill, who threw a 50-yard pass and ran for another 50, New Orleans was held to just 224 yards and they got three points off an early Minnesota fumble. A similar defensive effort will be needed this week against the top seeded 49ers, who are rested coming off their bye. San Francisco was the best team in the NFC during the regular season. But if you look at their defensive numbers down the stretch, cracks did begin to show. Over the first seven games, SF never allowed more than 20 points and gave up an average of just 11 points/game (started 7-0). Ever since, they've allowed 20+ in eight of nine games and an average of 25.8 points/game. They've also lost three times. While some of the 49ers players have postseason experience, many don't and this is their first playoff game together as a group. We think it's pretty clear Minnesota is still being undervalued despite last week's win, which was the first time ever under Mike Zimmer they'd been getting seven or more points in a game. Say what you will about QB Kirk Cousins, but he played well last week. Play on MINNESOTA

AAA