The Vikings and 49ers have lived their lives in parallel universes since coming out of the 4 1/2-month lockout with new coaching staffs that inherited 6-10 teams.
Under Jim Harbaugh, the 49ers are 10-2 and back in the playoffs for the first time since 2002. Under Leslie Frazier, the Vikings are 2-10 and off to their worst start in franchise history.
Harbaugh took a one-year leap of faith on a struggling quarterback and resurrected the career of Alex Smith. Frazier took a one-year leap on a struggling quarterback and might have ended the career of Donovan McNabb.
Harbaugh, an offensive-minded guy, inherited a young defense that leads the league in fewest points allowed (161). Frazier, a former Vikings defensive coordinator and interim coach for the final six games last season, inherited an aging defense that's 31st out of 32 teams in points allowed (320).
A week ago, the 49ers conjured memories of Joe Montana and Ronnie Lott when Smith posted a career-high 142.3 passer rating and the defense held the Rams to 157 yards in a 26-0 shutout. Meanwhile, the Vikings conjured memories of Les Steckel and 1984 when they were shredded through the air by Tim Tebow, of all people, in a loss to Denver. Now, with only four weeks left, the Vikings have to finish 2-2 just to climb past the 3-13 mark of Steckel's team from 27 years ago.
And, finally, a week ago, the 49ers secured $850 million in funding for a new stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Meanwhile, the Vikings have no funding and no site heading into the final two games of their lease at the Metrodome.
The Gatorade shower that Harbaugh received near the end of last week's victory proved the lockout could be overcome, even by a coaching staff in its first full season. However, no two situations are the same in the NFL, especially when one team is in the NFC North (Vikings) and the other is in the NFC West (49ers).
So be careful when comparing Harbaugh and Frazier without adding some context. Their parallel universes include some opposite circumstances as well.
