The San Francisco 49ers went into Minnesota as favorites for the second straight season. For the second straight season, the 49ers played a sloppy game and deservingly headed home with a one-possession loss.
San Francisco had back-breaking plays in all three phases of the game. On offense, Purdy has two turnovers, with one interception and a fumble on a ball that slipped out of his hands. On defense, they put two safeties on Justin Jefferson and deservedly got burnt for a 97-yard touchdown pass from Sam Darnold.
Lastly, on special teams, the Vikings blocked a punt that led to three points. With pretty much everything going the Vikings' way, it’s almost impressive that the 49ers only lost by a score of 23-17.
To make matters worse, San Francisco, already without Christian McCaffrey for the next three games, will also be without wide receiver Deebo Samuel for the next few games. Even though the 49ers lost, there was one huge bright spot on Sunday.
Fred Warner DPOY?
Fred Warner was already considered one of the best defensive players in the league. However, in two games, Warner has taken his game to another level.
On Sunday, Warner forced two fumbles, one of them on an Aaron Jones run that would’ve put the Vikings up 27-7. After Warner forced the fumble and Isaac Yiadom recovered, the 49ers marched down the field and scored to go down 20-14. Even though the 49ers ended up losing, game-changing plays like that are what makes a player win Defensive Player of the Year.
Through two games, Warner has done it all. He has one interception, three forced fumbles, one sack, and a team-leading 16 tackles.
Third-Down Struggles
With last week's resounding win over the Jets, the 49ers' third-down struggles on defense quietly went unnoticed. This week, the Vikings went 7/12, and the 49ers' third-down defense was among the biggest talking points among fans.
Down six with 10-plus minutes to go in the fourth quarter, the 49ers defense had a chance to get the ball back and take the lead with a stop. Instead, the Vikings put together a 49ers-esque drive that lasted 14 plays and nearly seven minutes. Every single one of the Vikings’ first downs on that drive came on third downs.
Even though they only scored a field goal, the Vikings went up nine with three and a half minutes left, which was too much for the 49ers to overcome. On offense, San Francisco went 2-for-10 on third down and 1-for-3 on fourth down. Despite the third-down struggles, Purdy played well for a QB who was under pressure all afternoon. He completed nearly 80% of passes for 319 yards. The next few weeks will be a test for Purdy without McCaffrey and Samuel.
It's Time for Aiyuk to Show He's Worth It
With the absence of Samuel and McCaffrey, no player will be under the spotlight than Brandon Aiyuk, especially after his massive offseason extension. After two games, Aiyuk ranks fourth on the team with 71 yards behind Samuel (164), George Kittle (116), and Jauan Jennings (101).
For a receiver set to make $120M over the four seasons after this one, his production needs to increase to where it was last season. I’m usually one to give players the benefit of the doubt after starting slow after seeking a new contract, but unlike Nick Bosa, who always said he wanted to be with the 49ers, Aiyuk wasn’t afraid to “flirt” with other teams and let his thoughts be heard.
So, without their best all-around weapons, McCaffrey and Samuel, it's time for Aiyuk to show he is worth the investment and can be an elite WR1.
To Much Burden for Mason
The injury to Samuel also impacts Jordan Mason. Even though Samuel only got two carries against Minnesota, his 10 on the year rank second behind Mason’s 48. Mason is coming off his second straight 100-yard game.
Health is the most important thing for the 49ers in the first half of the season, even more important than wins and losses. While Mason is clearly better than his backups, Isaac Guerendo and Patrick Taylor Jr., the 49ers can’t overwork Mason and lose him to injury as well. Even when McCaffrey returns, he won’t be 100%, and Kyle Shanahan needs a running back behind him he can trust.
Kyle Shanahan can be his own worst enemy at times, and if he doesn’t give Mason rest occasionally, his stubbornness could once again come back to haunt him.
Up Next: Los Angeles Rams (0-2)
The 49ers aren’t the only team battling injuries. The Rams will be without star wide receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. Even with the injuries, you can never count out McVay and Matthew Stafford.
Los Angeles is coming off a humiliating 41-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals were expected to have one of the league’s worst defenses but held McVay’s offense to just 10 points.
Outside of a meaningless week 18 meeting last season, the 49ers are 9-1 against the Rams since 2019.
Gonzales' Three Stars
1st Star - Vikings DC Brian Flores (Mastermind)
2nd Star - Fred Warner (9 tackles, 1 INT, 2 FF and 1 Sack)
3rd Star - Deebo Samuel (8 rec, 110 yards and 1 TD)
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