The 49ers delivered a lackluster performance in their 23-17 defeat to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. Despite the numerous errors that marred their play across all three phases of the game, a few impressive individual performances shone through.
Having recently seen San Francisco’s defense dominate the New York Jets, the Vikings found success, amassing over 400 yards of offense on just 54 plays, averaging 7.5 yards per play. Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold concluded the game having completed 17 of his 26 attempts for 268 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception.
The Vikings excelled not only in the passing game but also on the ground, accumulating 146 rushing yards on 24 attempts. Darnold contributed to the ground game as well, scrambling for 32 yards on five carries. It was unusual for the 49ers’ defense to lose containment in this manner.
Meanwhile, the 49ers’ offense notably struggled without Christian McCaffrey, who has been placed on injured reserve and will be sidelined for a minimum of three games.
Jordan Mason stepped in effectively, carrying the ball 20 times for 100 yards and making one catch for four yards. However, he does not pose the same level of threat to opposing defenses as the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year does.
Brock Purdy went 28 for 36 in his passing attempts, totaling 319 yards, with one touchdown, one interception, and one fumble. Some of Purdy’s throws were highly precise, notably a fourth-down throw to Jauan Jennings along the sideline and another to Deebo Samuel later in the match.
Conversely, some of Purdy’s passes were less precise, such as the interception meant for Kyle Juszczyk and the fumble that occurred as he was making a throw.
On special teams, a blocked punt combined with a muffed punt return further compounded the team’s error-riddled outing, preventing them from securing a win in Minneapolis. Nonetheless, several standout performances emerged, with the top player boasting the highest grade among all defensive players over the season’s first two weeks.
Here are the 49ers’ PFF Grades for Week 2:
Defense
LB Fred Warner – 95.8
Warner excelled in this game and, after two weeks, stands as the highest-graded defensive player in the league, according to PFF. He participated in all 54 defensive snaps, recording nine tackles—seven solo—alongside one quarterback sack, five run stops, and two forced fumbles.
The standout linebacker was also exceptional in coverage, permitting only one catch on three targets for 16 yards, along with intercepting one pass and breaking up another.
Warner’s run defense score of 80.9 was the best on the team, and his coverage grade of 94.2 was also the highest.
CB Deommodore Lenoir – 81.8
Lenoir achieved the second-best coverage grade behind Warner with a score of 85.8, allowing just one completion on three targets for 16 yards. He also tallied six tackles—three of which were solo.
CB Charvarius Ward – 54.6
Ward permitted one reception for 10 yards on two targets; however, the catch was the result of a missed read, which allowed receiver Jalen Nailor to score a touchdown from Darnold easily.
S Ji’Ayir Brown — 40.2
The second-year safety recorded the lowest overall grade on the team, specifically due to his 37.8 coverage rating. He missed an opportunity to stop Justin Jefferson on the All-Pro’s 97-yard touchdown catch, which Brown addressed postgame.
“I’ve got to improve,” Brown acknowledged. “I left my safety in a tough spot. I need to do better. I had Jefferson on the inside, and he got past me with an up-and-out. Jefferson stemmed inside, slowed me down, and then broke free.”
DE Nick Bosa — 78.5
Bosa stood out as the team’s highest-graded lineman. He participated in 29 pass-rush plays, recording two quarterback sacks and one hurry. The All-Pro defensive end was also involved in coverage on one occasion, permitting a single catch for seven yards.
With a run defense grade of 73.2, Bosa secured the second-highest mark on the team.
Other Defensive Line Grades
Kevin Givens – 80.5; one sack, one hit
Javon Hargrave – 68.0; two hurries
Yetur Gross-Matos – 66.5; one hit, two hurries
Maliek Collins – 58.8; one hurry
Leonard Floyd – 47.6; no pressures
Offense
QB Brock Purdy – 61.2
The 49ers’ quarterback was responsible for three turnover-worthy plays — including one fumble, one interception, and one dropped interception on a deep throw intended for tight end George Kittle in the fourth quarter. This marks the highest total for Purdy since Week 8 of the 2023 NFL season during the 49ers’ defeat against the Cincinnati Bengals.
In a notable statistic, the 49ers used play action on a mere three of Purdy’s 45 dropbacks, equating to 6.7 percent, the lowest rate in his career. This figure mirrors the previous loss to the Vikings in 2023, where play action was only utilized three times out of 33 dropbacks.
Purdy successfully completed nine out of eleven pass attempts for 155 yards on intermediate throws, ranging from 10 to 19 yards downfield. In the first two weeks, his accuracy was impressive, completing 16 of 18 passes for 275 yards on similar throws.
WR Deebo Samuel - 81.6
Samuel caught eight passes from ten targets, accumulating 110 yards, with six receptions resulting in first downs. Out of his 110 receiving yards, 94 were gained in the air, while only 16 were after the catch.
Offensive Line Grades
Although the statistics indicate that Purdy was sacked six times, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan does not believe the offensive line should bear the full responsibility. PFF concurs, attributing two sacks to the offensive line — one to Trent Williams and the other to Aaron Banks.
“You need to assess all the sacks,” Shanahan remarked. “I think one resulted from a hit where we didn’t release the ball; we got hit from behind on that play. We need to eliminate that. I believe three of the sacks came when Purdy scrambled — one resulted in a zero-yard run, and another in a negative one-yard run. He made a decision to go to the opposite side when one side was closed. There were definitely a couple of sacks, particularly on third downs.”
LT Trent Williams – one sack, one hit, two hurries
LG Aaron Banks – one sack, one hurry
C Jake Brendel – one hit, one hurry
RG Dominick Puni – three hurries
RT Colton McKivitz – one hit, five hurries
“I thought they did well in run blocking,” Shanahan stated. “When you observe six sacks, it’s easy to assume the O-line had a dreadful day, but I attribute that more to the entire offensive effort. Some are certainly on them, but they’re not responsible for all six. Improvement is needed from everyone; however, labeling it just as a six-sack issue feels a bit harsh.”
Odds and ends:
The Vikings blitzed Purdy on 23 of his 45 dropbacks, totaling 51.1 percent. Four of the six sacks and Purdy’s interception occurred during these blitzes from the Vikings’ defense.
In contrast, the 49ers blitzed on only four of Darnold’s 33 dropbacks, where he completed all four of his attempts for 133 yards.
and a touchdown when facing a blitz, notably the 97-yard touchdown pass to Jefferson.
Darnold experienced pressure on only nine of his 33 dropbacks.
49ers Struggle with Sloppy Play in Narrow Week 2 Loss to Vikings
Overview of the Game
In a closely contested battle during Week 2 of the NFL season, the San Francisco 49ers faced off against the Minnesota Vikings. Despite a promising start, the 49ers struggled with sloppy play, which ultimately contributed to their narrow defeat. The game was filled with critical errors and missed opportunities that left fans and analysts questioning the team’s performance.
Key Moments from the Game
- Turnovers: The 49ers committed two crucial turnovers, both of which could have been pivotal in changing the game’s outcome.
- Poor Offensive Line Play: The offensive line failed to protect quarterback Brock Purdy effectively, leading to several hurried throws and sacks.
- Missed Field Goals: Kicker Jake Moody missed two field goals, which proved costly in a game that was decided by just a few points.
- Defensive Lapses: The 49ers’ defense, known for its staunch play, allowed several big plays, failing to contain Vikings’ star player, Justin Jefferson.
Statistical Breakdown
Analyzing the statistics from the game provides further insight into the 49ers’ struggles:
| Stat Category | 49ers | Vikings |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 350 | 380 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Passing Yards | 250 | 270 |
| Rushing Yards | 100 | 110 |
| Time of Possession | 28:00 | 32:00 |
Players to Watch
While the team faced challenges, several individual players still made notable contributions:
- Brock Purdy: Despite facing pressure, Purdy showed resilience with 250 passing yards and one touchdown.
- Christian McCaffrey: The star running back rushed for over 80 yards and added a receiving touchdown to his tally.
- Deebo Samuel: Samuel was a key target for Purdy, making several crucial catches to keep drives alive.
Critical Errors That Cost the Game
The 49ers’ defeat can largely be attributed to several critical errors:
- Turnovers: Turnovers are a killer in close games. The 49ers must improve their ball security, as each turnover directly contributed to the Vikings’ scoring opportunities.
- Offensive Line Breakdown: The pressure on Purdy led to rushed throws and a lack of offensive rhythm. The offensive line’s poor performance needs to be addressed to protect their franchise quarterback.
- Field Goal Challenges: With a better kicking performance, the outcome could have been different. Moody’s missed opportunities highlighted the importance of special teams in close games.
Coaching Decisions Under Scrutiny
Head coach Kyle Shanahan’s decisions during the game are currently under scrutiny:
- Fourth Down Decisions: The decision to go for it on fourth down in certain situations raised eyebrows, especially when field goals were missed.
- Defensive Adjustments: The defensive schemes lacked adjustments to contain the Vikings’ offensive threats, particularly in the second half.
What’s Next for the 49ers?
Looking ahead, the 49ers must regroup and refocus. Here are a few practical tips for the team:
- Ball Security: Prioritize drills that focus on protecting the football and reducing turnovers.
- Offensive Line Improvement: Evaluate the offensive line’s performance and consider adjustments in personnel or schemes to improve protection.
- Kicking Practice: Consistent practice under pressure for the kicking unit can help build confidence and reduce missed opportunities.
Fan Reactions and Insights
Fans were understandably frustrated after the game. Social media was abuzz with opinions, highlighting both disappointment and hope:
“Sloppy play cost us the game! We need to tighten up our execution if we want to compete this season.” – @49ersFan
“Despite the loss, I believe in Purdy. He showed flashes of brilliance even under pressure.” – @FootballGuru
The Road Ahead
The 49ers need to learn from this loss. By addressing their mistakes and focusing on fundamentals, they can emerge stronger in the coming weeks. Upcoming matchups will be crucial for building momentum and regaining the confidence of fans and players alike.
Final Thoughts
This Week 2 loss against the Vikings should serve as a wake-up call for the San Francisco 49ers. With proper adjustments and a focus on execution, they have the talent to turn things around. Fans will be watching closely to see how the team responds in the coming games.
