Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
49ers Call Their Latest Loss at Minnesota a 'Wake-up Call'
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 2 months ago on
September 17, 2024

The Niners' eighth straight loss to Minnesota is considered "a wake-up call" by defensive end Nick Bosa. (GV Wire File)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

SANTA CLARA — Minnesota has been a house of horrors for the San Francisco 49ers for decades.

The Niners’ eighth straight loss in the Twin Cities looked an awful out like the one a year ago. The Vikings flummoxed Brock Purdy with their pressure packages and burned the San Francisco defense with a big passing play.

It added up to a 23-17 victory for the Vikings on Sunday that left the 49ers still searching for their first win at Minnesota since 1992 and was a big letdown following a season-opening win against the New York Jets.

“It’s a wake-up call but we know why it happened,” defensive end Nick Bosa said. “There’s a lot to fix.”

What’s Next

San Francisco plays its first divisional game of the season on Sunday when the Niners visit the banged-up Los Angeles Rams.

Problems Across All Aspects of the Game

The problems for San Francisco (1-1) came in all aspects of the game. There was a special teams blunder in the first half; the defense gave up a 97-yard TD pass from Sam Darnold to Justin Jefferson and struggled to get off the field on third downs; and the offense managed just 17 points for the second straight year against coordinator Brian Flores’ defense.

Purdy looked uncomfortable for much of the day as he struggled with the heavy blitz package from the Vikings without his best outlet option in All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey, who is injured.

“That’s what the point of the scheme is,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “It’s to have six guys up on the line and come from everywhere. So it’s just a lot of pressure on a quarterback throughout a game. That’s what their scheme is. … It makes it really tough to get into a rhythm.”

What’s Working

The running game. With McCaffrey hurt, the Niners are thriving behind former undrafted free agent Jordan Mason. After rushing for 147 yards and a touchdown in the opener, Mason ran for 100 yards on 20 carries with a TD on Sunday. He joined Willie Parker (2005) as the only undrafted players since at least 1948 to rush for at least 100 yards and a TD in each of the first two games of a season.

What Needs Help

Third down. San Francisco struggled in both aspects of third-down play, converting 2 of 10 chances and allowing Minnesota to convert 7 of 12. This was the first time in nine years that San Francisco converted 20% or less on third down and allowed the opposition to convert at least 55%.

The Niners have allowed opponents to convert 59.1% on third down this season — second worst in the NFL and the worst for the 49ers through two games since at least 2000.

“Big part of the game, third down,” Bosa said. “That’s why we have a whole day based on third down. That’s how this league is. We failed.”

Stock Up

Fred Warner. The All-Pro linebacker is off to a strong start. He followed up his forced fumble in Week 1 with an all-around performance that kept the Niners in the game. He had an interception in the second quarter that prevented a scoring chance and forced a fumble at the 1 in the fourth quarter to keep the game within reach. He finished with nine tackles and added a sack for his second game in the past two seasons with at least one sack, one INT and one forced fumble.

Stock Down

Special teams. Mitch Wishnowsky had a punt blocked in the first quarter to set up a field goal for Minnesota. Rookie Jacob Cowing then muffed a punt in the third quarter, but teammate Isaac Yiadom recovered to avoid a turnover.

Injuries

WR Deebo Samuel strained a calf in the game and will miss a couple of weeks. … S Talanoa Hufanga could return this week for the first time since tearing his ACL last November.

Key Number

3.31 — Purdy and the Niners’ offense are struggling when teams bring extra rushers, averaging just 3.31 yards per drop-back so far this season against five of more pass rushers, according to Sportradar. San Francisco gained just 73 yards on 19 drop-backs against extra rushers on Sunday with four sacks and one INT. Purdy led the NFL with 9.18 yards per drop-back against five or more pass rushers last season for the fifth best mark since 2012.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Republicans Win 218 US House Seats, Giving Donald Trump and the Party Control of Government

DON'T MISS

Fresno State Alum Is New Dean of Health and Human Services College

DON'T MISS

Who Is Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida Congressman Donald Trump Picked to Serve as AG?

DON'T MISS

The Key Races to Watch: Nov. 13 Update

DON'T MISS

Feds Agree to Raise San Luis Reservoir: More Water for Farmers, Communities, Wetlands

DON'T MISS

Wired Wednesday: What Impact Does Deportation Have on the Central Valley?

DON'T MISS

How Will Election Winners Bredefeld and Chavez Fit in as Supervisors?

DON'T MISS

California Senate Leader Calls Union ‘Morally Bankrupt’ for Opposing a Vulnerable Democrat

DON'T MISS

R&B Concerts, Comedy, & Worship Take Center Stage This Weekend

DON'T MISS

Speaker Mike Johnson Wins GOP Nomination to Remain in Job, Faces Full House Vote in New Year

UP NEXT

Fresno State Alum Is New Dean of Health and Human Services College

UP NEXT

Who Is Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida Congressman Donald Trump Picked to Serve as AG?

UP NEXT

The Key Races to Watch: Nov. 13 Update

UP NEXT

Feds Agree to Raise San Luis Reservoir: More Water for Farmers, Communities, Wetlands

UP NEXT

Wired Wednesday: What Impact Does Deportation Have on the Central Valley?

UP NEXT

California Senate Leader Calls Union ‘Morally Bankrupt’ for Opposing a Vulnerable Democrat

UP NEXT

R&B Concerts, Comedy, & Worship Take Center Stage This Weekend

UP NEXT

Speaker Mike Johnson Wins GOP Nomination to Remain in Job, Faces Full House Vote in New Year

UP NEXT

ICE Immediately Moves to Bolster Surveillance of Illegal Immigrants After Trump Win

UP NEXT

You Can Win a Lexus in This Fresno Telethon Drawing. Get Tickets Now.

The Key Races to Watch: Nov. 13 Update

5 hours ago

Feds Agree to Raise San Luis Reservoir: More Water for Farmers, Communities, Wetlands

5 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: What Impact Does Deportation Have on the Central Valley?

5 hours ago

How Will Election Winners Bredefeld and Chavez Fit in as Supervisors?

6 hours ago

California Senate Leader Calls Union ‘Morally Bankrupt’ for Opposing a Vulnerable Democrat

6 hours ago

R&B Concerts, Comedy, & Worship Take Center Stage This Weekend

7 hours ago

Speaker Mike Johnson Wins GOP Nomination to Remain in Job, Faces Full House Vote in New Year

7 hours ago

ICE Immediately Moves to Bolster Surveillance of Illegal Immigrants After Trump Win

7 hours ago

You Can Win a Lexus in This Fresno Telethon Drawing. Get Tickets Now.

8 hours ago

Trump Says He Will Nominate Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to Be Attorney General

8 hours ago

Republicans Win 218 US House Seats, Giving Donald Trump and the Party Control of Government

WASHINGTON — Republicans have won enough seats to control the U.S. House, completing the party’s sweep into power and securing their hold on...

46 minutes ago

46 minutes ago

Republicans Win 218 US House Seats, Giving Donald Trump and the Party Control of Government

5 hours ago

Fresno State Alum Is New Dean of Health and Human Services College

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., speaks at the Republican Party of Florida Freedom Summit, Nov. 4, 2023, in Kissimmee, Fla. (AP File)
5 hours ago

Who Is Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida Congressman Donald Trump Picked to Serve as AG?

5 hours ago

The Key Races to Watch: Nov. 13 Update

5 hours ago

Feds Agree to Raise San Luis Reservoir: More Water for Farmers, Communities, Wetlands

Wired Wednesday Cover, 11/13/24, KMPH Screengrab
5 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: What Impact Does Deportation Have on the Central Valley?

6 hours ago

How Will Election Winners Bredefeld and Chavez Fit in as Supervisors?

6 hours ago

California Senate Leader Calls Union ‘Morally Bankrupt’ for Opposing a Vulnerable Democrat

Search

Send this to a friend