It was not a great day in Minneapolis for the San Francisco 49ers and Jimmy Garoppolo, as they fell to the Vikings 24-16. Garoppolo is no longer undefeated as an NFL quarterback and the 49ers start the season 0-1.
The Vikings are a Super Bowl-caliber team and the 49ers made a lot of mistakes, so although there are no moral victories in the NFL, it’s still encouraging that Niners were in the game up until the end.
“We knew it was going to be a tough challenge with the environment, going against a good team,” Garoppolo said. “…[T]hey stood up to everything we thought they would. With all the things that went bad, we still had a shot at the end there. It’s a tough way to end it.”
Let’s take a look.
Offensive Woes
On a day where Vikings’ QB Kirk Cousins was pretty much lights out, Garoppolo, like the rest of the offense, was inconsistent. He finished the day 15-of-33 with 261 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions. He was also sacked three times.
“We went against a very good defense and we didn’t play as good as we could,” said head coach Kyle Shanahan. “Jimmy did some good things, but by no means was he perfect. Defense holds that team to 17, and if I didn’t think we could get more than that, I wouldn’t be as upset, but I really think we should have.”
On one of the interceptions, wide receiver Kendrick Bourne ran the wrong route, allowing Mike Hughes to come up with the pick-6. Bourne took responsibility after the game but football is a team sport.
“It is what it is,” Garoppolo said. “You never want those things to happen. It’s unfortunate. We just have to bounce back from it…It was both our faults. Whenever you throw an interception, it’s always on the quarterback.”
The 49ers were 1-of-4 in the red zone, which continues to a problem, with the receivers dropping touchdown passes and RB Alfred Morris fumbling the ball at the one yard line.
“…I know we’re playing a real good team, but I also think we’re a good team,” Shanahan said. “When you’re 1-4 in the red zone and you lost the turnover battle 3-1…it’s very hard to beat a good team. We were definitely capable of doing it today and that’s why is was so frustrating and disappointing. ”
Injuries
It was a tough injury day for the red and gold, with WR Marquise Goodwin, G Joshua Garnett and G Mike Person all leaving the game. LB Brock Coyle left the game with a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion.
Goodwin suffered a quad contusion, returning to game briefly, but ultimately sitting out most the game. Both Person and Garnett went out with foot injuries, moving Mike McGlinchey right guard and Garry Gilliam to right tackle.
Garnett said after the game that his injury is not serious.
Rookie Bright Spots
Fred Warner
The rookies showed up to play today and play they did.
LB Fred Warner started in place of Reuben Foster and finished with 12 combines tackles (11 solo and one assist), one tackle for loss and a forced fumble.
“Fred did an amazing job today,” said DeForest Buckner, who had 2.5 sacks today. “He really communicated with everybody, got the plays off quick, gave us some really good close calls. For his first game, he played very well.”
Richard Sherman, who recovered that aforementioned forced fumble, felt good about Warner’s performance, but it was game one and a game the team lost.
“Middle linebacker is one of the toughest positions to come in as a rookie and play and be effective,” Sherman said. “I think he did an admirable job.”
Dante Pettis
After a couple of miscues early one, rookie wide receiver Dante Pettis settled in and had a solid performance, including an impressive touchdown reception on an impressive throw by Garoppolo.
“I thought Dante…played great the whole day,” Garoppolo said. “For it being his first NFL game, I thought he played really well and stepped up. [On the touchdown], it was kind of a broken play, but Dante found the open area, and he is a smart athlete. He goes where the ball takes him and a made a tremendous catch on it.”
Bring on the Lions
The 49ers next play Sunday, Sept. 16 when they will take on the Detroit Lions at Levi’s Stadium.
“I think we have a good locker room in there,” Garoppolo said. “We have a good mindset. Every person in there has the right mindset of what we have to do. It’s a long season. You can’t let one week bounce into the next week. After we watch the film an everything, we’ve got to move on.”
There’s a lot of football left to play. Go Niners!