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The San Francisco 49ers went to Minnesota as the favorite playoff sleeper with the new NFL quarterback. They left Minnesota as the last victim of the Super Vikings' defense with a quarter that could have an interception problem.
On Sunday, the Vikings dominated the 49ers' playoffs with a 24-16 win. New Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins made his appearance with two touchdowns, then the defense did the rest, slowing Garoppolo's thumping with three interceptions, including a six.
The beginning of the game was all about cousins. After both teams opened the game by exchanging punts, the Vikings started scoring points. In their next series, the Vikings extended their lead to 10-0 when Cousins dropped a penny for Stefon Diggs deep in the left sideline.
The 49ers finally got a goal on the pitch. Then, after forcing a fumble from Dalvin Cook, they led the field towards the goal line, but just as they seemed to equalize, the Vikings' defense was huge.
However, at half-time, the Vikings led only 10-3. For a time, the 49ers resisted one of the pioneers of the Super Bowl.
Things happened in the third quarter. After 49ers tight winger George Kittle missed an 80-yard touchdown, Garoppolo gave the Vikings a free touch in the next game.
It's the first-round pick of the Vikings, Mike Hughes, who makes his first career choice.
The 49ers were content with a field goal in their next round in the red zone, narrowing the gap to 11 points.
The cousins did not settle down. He responded with his second touchdown, this one just as perfect shot to Kyle Rudolph.
The 49ers responded with a touchdown when Garoppolo made a spectacular throw to Dante Pettis. When their defense forced a kick, hope persisted. It did not last long. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Garoppolo made another choice, this time to Xavier Rhodes, who made an incredible decision to secure the wandering pass.
It was a theme of the day. The 49ers sometimes could move the ball. But their failure to find great games has condemned them. After the second interception of Garoppolo, the 49ers forced a kick and Garoppolo brought them back to the red zone. But on the third goal, he pitched a throw to Kittle and the 49ers had to settle for another goal on the pitch.
The 49ers recovered the ball two more times with a chance to tie the match, but their return ended with Garoppolo's third and final interception.
This was the kind of game for the 49ers. A game that was there to steal, because the Vikings let them hang out, but a game that says they have problems to settle before they can be considered competitors in the NFC.
On the other hand, losing to a team like the Vikings in Minnesota is not a big deal. Is not that what should happen? The 49ers are not suddenly a bad team because they lost to the Vikings – a legitimate Super Bowl contender – by eight points in Minnesota. Sunday's game was just a reminder that the 49ers are probably not quite there yet. It's a reminder that Jimmy Garoppolo is not reincarnated by Tom Brady. The 49ers have flaws. Garoppolo was one of them on Sunday.
From the point of view of the Vikings, they have their own problems to solve, namely their offensive line. But as long as their defense remains as dominant as it was, they can beat anyone. And now, the Cousins are in the center, which allows them to put points quickly if the situation requires it.
Speaking of cousins …
Cousins passes the first test behind a fragile offensive line
Cousins, the biggest free agent quarterback since the Broncos landed Peyton Manning, took part in his debut in the Vikings.
Behind a fragile offensive line that will likely remain the team's biggest problem (three sacks), he completed 20 of his 36 passes for 244 yards, two touchdowns, no choice and a score of 95.1. He made two spectacular shots for two touchdowns, but beyond that, he never forced anyone.
But it is okay. Because what Cousins has done is to avoid grueling mistakes – like the ones that hit Garoppolo. He probably plays with the best defense of the game. What he must do is avoid turnovers and play football regularly and regularly, as he did Sunday.
Cousins will never be Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady, but as long as he will take care of the ball, will perform some large-scale throws and will remain out of reach of his defense, he will be fine. This version of Cousins makes the Vikings one of the best teams of the NFC.
Garoppolo turnovers kill 49ers
The winning streak is over. Jimmy Garoppolo was beaten.
It was a strange day for Garoppolo. He finished 15th out of 33 for 261 yards, one touchdown, three choices and a score of 45.1. Sometimes he looked like the superstar of last season. His touchdown pass to Pettis was magical. These are the throws that most quarterbacks – like cousins - do not do often.
But he has made too many mistakes against a defense that knows how to punish mistakes. These are the blows that the cousins have avoided.
An overreaction to the performance of the first week is just as serious as an overreaction to a run of five wins against a lower competition, but Garoppolo's interceptions could be a problem. He made five choices in six games last season. According to Football Outsiders, Garoppolo also had "three interceptions dropped for a total of eight interceptions adjusted, a rate of 4.3% that would be ranked just behind Siemian, Palmer and Gabbert among the highest in this category" last season. The Vikings did not let them go on Sunday.
It should be noted that Garoppolo put his receivers in position to attack three touchdowns, but they could not settle for the expected catch of the NFL players. To blame him alone for the loss would be an overreaction. But there is room for Garoppolo and the 49ers, especially in the red zone where the 49ers were 1 in 4.
About this Vikings defense
The match changed in the second quarter when the 49ers saw a 14-yard 69-yard run with a breakaway at the goal line. If the 49ers managed to hit the ball, they would tie the game at 10-10. Instead, the two Vikings safeties combined to take the ball.
By the way, Harrison Smith finished with eight tackles, two tackles for a loss, a sack, a fumble and an interception. As a team, the Vikings' defense has won three caps, four takeaways and three sacks.
It's going to work.
DeForest Buckner breaks out
Buckner, the seventh overall pick in 2016, was an underrated player at this stage of his career due to his low overall bag (nine in two years), but he broke out Sunday. Taking advantage of a bad offensive line, Buckner has accumulated 2.5 sacks.
The 49ers may have lost, but they have a smuggler who seems ready to explode.
Dalvin Cook seems explosive
Before a tear from the ACL ruined his rookie season, Dalvin Cook drew a lot of potential, giving the Vikings the hope that they had found a worthy successor to Adrian Peterson. During the off season, The Vikings talked about Cook's recovery as if it would not even be a factor in the upcoming season.
Well, Sunday, the season has come and Cook too.
Cook looked as explosive as it was a year ago. They started the game by giving him four consecutive hits. There was a quick pass that was nine yards. Then he picked up a short film first. In the next game, he bounced out for another first run.
It was not great. His fumble in the second quarter, when he was caught from behind after an impressive race, almost put the 49ers on the line before the Vikings' defense came back with a fumble. He was really not very efficient as a runner, averaging 2.5 yards per run. But he passed the eye test. He had explosive air.
And perhaps most importantly, he has been a factor in the passing game. This is important because Cousins likes to launch fast and short, and the Vikings' offensive line is not good enough to allow Cousins to sit and wait for them. roads in slow development. He finished with 55 yards on six catches.
In all, he has accumulated 95 yards of scrum.
The 49ers in the timeshare race
As a result of Jerick McKinnon's injury, the fantastic stocks of Matt Breida and Alfred Morris exploded. But if Sunday's game is an indication, the two will separate.
Morris carried the ball 12 times for 38 yards. Breida carried the ball 11 times for 46 yards. Neither one nor the other was particularly effective, but it is not surprising, considering the person with whom they were facing the ball.
49ers could have two fantastic breakouts
Yes, Kittle has dropped a huge game, but he's ready for a big season. Kittle was Garoppolo's first target, capturing five of his nine targets for 90 yards. In addition to his touchdown touch, Garoppolo also missed him in the end zone for what would have been an easy score. Do not expect them to continue to miss each other. And do not expect his goals to go down.
Meanwhile, second-round pick Dante Pettis had a group match. It was he who had this huge touch. He finished with two catches for 61 yards. It might not have a ton of targets, but it has so much gambling potential that it's probably worth an exemption request in Fantasy.
And after?
The Vikings go to Green Bay for an extremely important game against the Packers as the 49ers return home to welcome the Lions.
Live-blog
You will find our blog live from the game below.
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