Vikings at 49ers: Preview and prediction

The Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers are squaring off to begin their 2015 seasons, and the directions of these two teams could not be any more different.

Next: Ranking The 32 NFL Offenses For 2015

Minnesota is coming off a 7-9 campaign but is looking to make the playoffs, with some even predicting a stealthy run toward a Super Bowl. The Vikings are led by second-year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who twice last December threw for over 300 yards. Bridgewater is now surrounded by a much-improved cast of weapons in Adrian Peterson and Mike Wallace. Peterson is coming back from a 15-game suspension while Wallace was acquired via trade from the Miami Dolphins.

On defense, Minnesota added a pair of high-profile rookies in corner Trae Waynes and inside linebacker Eric Kendricks. Waynes struggled throughout the preseason but looks to be an up-and-coming player in the secondary. He will have plenty of help from safety Harrison Smith, one of the most underrated safeties in the game.

The 49ers are a team in transition. San Francisco lost a bevy of stars to either retirement or free agency, including Justin Smith, Anthony Davis, Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree, Chris Culliver, Aldon Smith, Patrick Willis and Chris Borland. The franchise also parted ways with head coach Jim Harbaugh, promoting Jim Tomsula into the position. This will be the first time Tomsula has been a head coach at any level.

If San Francisco is going to do anything this year, it needs to get more out of Colin Kaepernick. The fifth-year quarterback out of the University of Nevada must improve his accuracy and find ways to stretch the field with Anquan Boldin and free-agent signing Torrey Smith. Smith is not a polished route-runner, but he can get vertical with the best of them.

Prediction: Vikings 24, 49ers 20