Grading the 49ers’ 27-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in an NFC divisional round playoff game on Saturday at Levi’s Stadium:
Offense
You know the offense is in power-ball mode when the quarterback knocks a 255-pound linebacker on his rear end. Jimmy Garoppolo did that. And he didn’t have too much else to do — throwing six of his career-low 19 passes in the second half. Garoppolo kept handing off because the run game, led by Tevin Coleman (105 yards, 2 TDs), bulldozed a well-respected defense. The totals: 47 carries for 186 yards. WR Deebo Samuel helped set the physical tone by running over defenders. WR Kendrick Bourne had the first TD before making two difficult catches, justifying Kyle Shanahan’s belief in his sometimes shaky hands.
Defense
Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins directed an offense that managed seven first downs, and Vikings running back Dalvin Cook had just 26 yards on 15 touches. With three injured starters back in the lineup, the 49ers overwhelmed the Vikings, who had four first downs and 81 yards with 4:32 left. Richard Sherman’s third-quarter INT turned a tight game into a fourth-quarter breeze, and Nick Bosa’s two late-game takedowns of Cousins served as the finishing touches on the six-sack performance.
Special teams
Raheem Mostert — who else? — was the first player downfield to pick up the ball at Minnesota’s 10-yard line when returner Marcus Sherels muffed a punt in the third quarter. Richie James gave Levi’s Stadium a collective stroke when he fielded a bouncing punt inside the 10-yard line with defenders nearby in the second quarter, but disaster was averted. Punter Mitch Wishnowsky had a 41.5 net average and didn’t allow a punt-return yard, dropping one kick at the 12-yard line. Robbie Gould made field goals of 35 and 21 yards. They did allow a 39-yard kickoff return.
Coaching
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh got smarter with Dee Ford, Kwon Alexander and Jaquiski Tartt back in the lineup. And the decision to place Ford and Bosa on the same side in certain passing situations led to two sacks. Kyle Shanahan’s opening script was a beauty: The Vikings were befuddled by play action as the 49ers cruised on their opening touchdown drive led by Garoppolo’s passing. Shanahan, realizing the Vikings couldn’t move the ball, wisely took the air out of the ball in the second half to shorten the game and get to the NFC Championship Game.
Overall
That looked like what the 49ers did to opponents early in the season, when their defensive players were openly talking of being ranked among the best units in NFL history. Two more performances like that and the 49ers will be crowned the best team in the league this season.
— Eric Branch
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January 12, 2020 at 09:36AM
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49ers vs. Vikings game grades: Two more like that, and SF wins Super Bowl - San Francisco Chronicle
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