EAGAN, Minn. — Welcome to the 2018 NFL season.
The Vikings open Sunday with a home game against the San Francisco 49ers. Kickoff is at noon (CT) from U.S. Bank Stadium.
The Vikings went 13-3 and won the NFC North in 2017 before advancing to the NFC title game.
The 49ers lost their first nine games of 2017 before winning six of seven to close the season hot. San Francisco finished last in the NFC West.
Here's a look at 10 numbers of note heading into Sunday's matchup:
2 — The Vikings are 2-0 in home openers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Minnesota defeated New Orleans in 2017 and Green Bay in 2016. The Vikings topped the Lions at the University of Minnesota in 2015.
99 — Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has thrown 99 career touchdown passes. His first in Purple will be the 100th of his career.
21 — The 49ers defense tied for 21st in rushing yards allowed per game in 2017 with 116.3. Minnesota's offense ranked seventh with 122.3 yards per game.
20 — Kyle Rudolph has 20 touchdown catches over the past three seasons. That stat ranks second among all tight ends, trailing only New England's Rob Gronkowski.
7 — 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is a perfect 7-0 in his first seven career starts. That is tied with former Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper and Dieter Brock for the third-longest streak to begin a career.
4 — The Vikings have four wins over the 49ers in season openers for both teams (1963, 1975, 1979 and 1985). The 49ers won in Week 1 in 1967 and 2015, and the teams tied in the 1966 season opener.
3 — Minnesota's defense had three players earn All-Pro selections in 2017. Safety Harrison Smith and cornerback Xavier Rhodes earned First-Team All-Pro honors, while defensive end Everson Griffen was a Second-Team All-Pro. Rhodes was also a Second-Team honoree as a defensive back.
91 — Vikings All-Pro wide receiver Adam Thielen set a career high with 91 catches in 2017. He also had a career-high 1,276 receiving yards to go along with four touchdowns.
1 — Minnesota's defense finished first in the NFL in yards allowed per game (275.9), points allowed per game (15.8) and opponents' third-down percentage (25.2) in 2017.
1,918 — 49ers [and former Vikings] running back Jerick McKinnon had 1,918 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns in his four-year career with Minnesota. McKinnon was placed on Injured Reserve over the weekend with a torn ACL.
