NY Times · Sep 14, 2015
Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers Matchup
10:20 p.m. Eastern, ESPN
The list of players who are no longer with the 49ers is as distinguished as it is long. Patrick Willis and Justin Smith, the stalwarts of the team’s defense, both retired. Chris Borland, who was expected to fill the void Willis left, retired as well, at 24. Aldon Smith and Ray McDonald were let go; Frank Gore and Michael Crabtree signed elsewhere.
On top of all of that, Coach Jim Harbaugh was seemingly run out of town.
The new coach, Jim Tomsula, is popular with players, and Eric Mangini, the new defensive coordinator, had limited success with the Jets, but the personnel has been so depleted that it would be shocking if the team remained relevant.
