MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Rarely has so much receiving talent been on the same field with so little to show for it.

The San Francisco 49ers (3-3) and Minnesota Vikings (2-4) meet at the Metrodome on Sunday with both teams trying to end slumps behind backup quarterbacks and second-string running backs.

The real feature is the chance to compare the two best trios of wide receivers in the NFL.

Jerry Rice, J.J. Stokes and Terrell Owens -- if his sprained ankle allows -- will try to help the 49ers avoid their first three-game losing streak since 1980. They'll catch passes from Jeff Garcia, who will make his fourth straight start in place of Steve Young, out indefinitely with another concussion.

Cris Carter, Randy Moss and Jake Reed counter for Minnesota, trying to turn around its season behind Jeff George, who signed for the minimum $400,000 plus incentives, but more importantly, a chance to salvage his checkered career.

"It's a quarterback's dream to throw to these guys," said George, who supplanted the ineffective Randall Cunningham at halftime last week and produced 23 points, more than Cunningham had in any full game this year.

With this much receiving talent on the field and frontline runners Garrison Hearst and Robert Smith out with injuries, expect a plethora of passes Sunday. "It will be an exciting game," Vikings coach Dennis Green said. "Jerry Rice and Cris Carter are heading to the Hall of Fame. You have young stars in Terrell Owens and Randy Moss. And Jake Reed and J.J. Stokes are as athletic as the other guys.

"All six guys can eat up yardage."

Especially against these secondaries.

Ramos McDonald, who took over at left cornerback for the Vikings when free agent Corey Fuller left, has been benched in favor of two small-school rookies, starter Kenny Wright from Northwestern State and twice-waived nickel back Chris Rogers of Howard.

Unwilling to watch any more touchdown passes sail over Mark McMillian's head, the 49ers released the diminutive cornerback on Monday.

The NFL's smallest player at 5-foot-7, McMillian was waived in the aftermath of San Francisco's 31-29 loss to Carolina in which Panthers receivers caught three scores over him.

San Francisco's secondary, which has given up an NFL-high 15 TD passes, has been beset by size mismatches all season. The 49ers' other top two cornerbacks, Darnell Walker and R.W. McQuarters, are 5-8 and 5-9, respectively.

Possible replacements for McMillian include Craig Newsome, San Francisco's tallest cornerback at 6-0, and Walker, who returned an interception for a touchdown Sunday as a nickel back. He had been demoted from the starting lineup last week for ineffectiveness.

McMillian started all six games at right cornerback and almost certainly would have been a target again Sunday with Moss, Carter and Reed all 6-3 or taller.

"We didn't make the change because Randy Moss is going to line up against us," 49ers coach Steve Mariucci said. "It happened because we felt we needed to make a decision on it."

Just as the Vikings felt a need to switch quarterbacks after four losses in five weeks left them in the NFC Central cellar.

"We can make all the excuses in the world," Carter said. "But as a team we just didn't get it done. The receivers didn't get open enough for him and the line didn't block well enough, running backs didn't run well enough and then he played his part it in, also."

The Vikings had a spirited week of practice, confident that George can lead them out of their doldrums.

The 49ers appear in greater trouble of losing their star status after two decades of NFL dominance. Following years of gradual erosion in the 49ers' mystique, the toll seems to be accelerating from age, injuries, and cap constraints.

San Francisco dumped veterans due to money limitations, and then was hit by a rash of injuries.

Unlike the Vikings' switch in quarterbacks, there is no prospect of a quick fix for the 49ers.

"We've got to play better, try to calm the media down, calm the fans down," McQuarters said. "Facing Minnesota this week, I think if we go out and shut those guys down and contain Jeff George and Randy Moss, Jake Reed, Cris Carter, I think we'll send out a statement to everybody."

Minnesota defensive end Chris Doleman, who played in San Francisco last year, said the Vikings are relishing the role of underdog again.

"It's kind of a relief because we're not the top dog," he said. "We're in a pretty deep hole, but if there's a team that can do it and have the personnel to come out of it, it's this one."

SAN FRANCISCO Season schedule and results

MINNESOTA Season schedule and results

September 12 @Jacksonville L 3-41 September 19 New Orleans W 28-21 September 27 @Arizona W 24-10 October 3 Tennessee W 24-22 October 10 @St. Louis L 20-42 October 17 Carolina L 29-31 October 24 @Minnesota 1:00pm ET November 7 Pittsburgh 4:15pm ET November 14 @New Orleans 1:00pm ET November 21 St. Louis 4:15pm ET November 29 Green Bay 9:00pm ET December 5 @Cincinnati 1:00pm ET December 12 Atlanta 4:15pm ET December 18 @Carolina 4:15pm ET December 26 Washington 8:20pm ET January 3 @Atlanta 9:00pm ET

September 12 @Atlanta W 17-14 September 19 Oakland L 17-22 September 26 @Green Bay L 20-23 October 3 Tampa Bay W 21-14 October 10 Chicago L 22-24 October 17 @Detroit L 23-25 October 24 San Francisco 1:00pm ET October 31 @Denver 4:15pm ET November 8 Dallas 9:00pm ET November 14 @Chicago 1:00pm ET November 28 San Diego 1:00pm ET December 6 @Tampa Bay 9:00pm ET December 12 @Kansas City 8:20pm ET December 20 Green Bay 9:00pm ET December 26 @NY Giants 1:00pm ET January 2 Detroit 1:00pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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