49ers Powerful Defense is Back!
The San Francisco 49ers dominate the Minnesota Vikings
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman (25) intercepts a pass in front of Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) during the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
2020.01.11 – The San Francisco 49ers powerful defense and running game that carried the Niners to an 8-0 start this season delivered a dominating 27-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the divisional round Saturday.
The formula that fueled a perfect first half of the season for the 49ers was more than enough to carry San Francisco into the NFC championship game.
The 49ers powerful running game with 186 yards completely shut down Minnesota’s offense in San Francisco’s first playoff game in six years.
San Francisco will host Green Bay in the NFC championship game Sunday. The Niners won the regular-season matchup 37-8 in November.
“We have shown that we can win in a variety of different ways,” left tackle Joe Staley said. “We have had to really air out and make all of the plays in the passing game, when the run game wasn’t working. We have also had games like this when we run the ball well and control the clock. It really helps getting back everybody on defense. Our defense playing as terrific as they did today gives us the opportunity to really control the clock.”
After allowing only 11 points a game the first seven games, San Francisco (14-3) gave up 25.9 points per game the rest of the season as injuries to edge rusher Dee Ford, linebacker Kwon Alexander and safety Jaquiski Tartt took a toll.
But with the bye week, and giving Ford, Alexander, and Tartt extra time to heal up, the 49ers looked like the version from the first half of the season when they limited Minnesota to 21 yards rushing, a franchise playoff-record 147 yards and only seven first downs in a dominant performance.
“That is what we wanted to get back to,” Ford said. “Unfortunately, we had a little stretch of facing some tough offenses. Whether I was out there or not, we played some tough offenses. We had to fight through it, and we got through it.”
WHAT’S WORKING
Pass rush. Ford’s return opened things up for the entire defensive line leading to a six-sack performance. Ford got one to force a field-goal attempt late in the first half. Rookie Nick Bosa got two of his own, while Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner and Solomon Thomas each got one. Ford’s speed off the edge opened up opportunities for everyone else on the defensive line.
“Just having his presence and his pass-rush ability, his knowledge and communication, he’s a true vet,” Bosa said. “It’s nice to have him out there.”
2020.01.11 – San Francisco 49ers vs. Minnesota Vikings (Video)
2020.01.11 – San Francisco 49ers vs. Minnesota Vikings (Video)
Richard Sherman anticipated the route for an interception and then watched the 49ers run eight straight times for the touchdown that put them in control of their first playoff game in six years.
“People keep disrespecting us. At the end of the day, all you can do is go out and execute,” Sherman said. “It felt good. That’s what we look like when we’re totally healthy.”
WHAT NEEDS HELP
Passing game. Being able to win convincingly despite a less than spectacular game from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo bodes well for the future.
Garoppolo threw a TD pass on his opening drive as a playoff starter, completing 5 of 6 passes for 57 yards and a 3-yard TD to Kendrick Bourne on the opening drive.
Garoppolo then went 6 for 13 for 74 yards, an interception and then mostly watched his defense and running game take over.
It really didn’t matter in this game, but the Niners will likely need more from Garoppolo to keep this playoff run going.
The top-seeded 49ers turned a pair of second-half turnovers by Minnesota (11-7) into 10 points.
“They’re pretty good right?” tight end George Kittle said of his defense. “It’s such a blast just to watch them, how they work together. …
“If our defense keeps playing like that, all we have to do is not turn the ball over to win games”
BLOCKING BACK
Garoppolo showed he has skills beyond his throwing. He threw a lead block on 255-pound linebacker Anthony Barr on a reverse by Deebo Samuel in the second quarter.
“Sometimes you have to remember you’re not just a quarterback, you’re a football player too,” Garoppolo said.
Samuel fumbled the ball on the play but replay ruled his knee was down, negating the turnover. That proved especially important when Coleman capped the drive with a 1-yard TD run.
STOCK UP
Sherman set up RB Tevin Coleman’s second short touchdown run of the game when he beat Adam Thielen to the spot to intercept Kirk Cousins for his third career playoff interception.
Coleman had five of the eight carries on the 44-yard drive as part of a 105-yard rushing performance.
“Those guys did very well,” Coleman said of his offensive line. “They moved the guys back so I had clear holes to run through. So, yeah, they did a real good job.”
Coleman rewarded coach Kyle Shanahan’s confidence by rushing for two TDs. He was the first 49ers running back to rush for at least 100 yards and two TDs in a playoff game since Terry Kirby did it Jan. 3, 1998, against Minnesota. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick also did it in the 2012 playoffs against Green Bay.
STOCK DOWN
CB Ahkello Witherspoon. Witherspoon committed a penalty and gave up two catches on the second drive of the game, including a 41-yard TD to Stefon Diggs. That was the fifth TD allowed by Witherspoon the past three games with San Francisco allowing no other TD passes in that span. Witherspoon was replaced by Emmanuel Moseley after and didn’t return until the fourth quarter, when he allowed another catch in place of Sherman.
2020.01.11 – 49ers Richard Sherman: ‘This Team is Family’ (Video)
20San Francisco 49ers’ Raheem Mostert (31) celebrates with teammates after recovering a fumble against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
2020.01.11 – 49ers Richard Sherman: ‘This Team is Family’ (Video)
KEY NUMBER
Garoppolo threw an interception deep in his own territory late in the first half and then spent most of the second half handing the ball off to Coleman and Raheem Mostert.
With 47 runs, the Niners set a franchise record for most runs in a playoff game and lost yardage on only two of those plays: a pair of kneel downs.
San Francisco ran on all eight plays on a key TD drive in the third quarter, the longest playoff drive for a TD without a pass since Chicago ran on all eight plays in the NFC title game against New Orleans following the 2006 season.
VIKINGS BOTTLED UP
There was little reason for coach Kyle Shanahan to take chances the way his defense completely bottled up talented RB Dalvin Cook. That took away Minnesota’s play-action game and forced Minnesota’s quarterback Cousins into becoming a drop-back passer.
“We didn’t do enough offensively to give ourselves a chance to win the game,” Cousins said. “It hurts right now. It’s so raw right now, just falling short.”
2020.01.11 – 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo’s with Steve Young (Video)
2020.01.11 – 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo’s with Steve Young (Video)
Cousins finished 21 for 29 for 172 yards with his only big play coming on a 41-yard TD pass to Diggs in the first quarter.
Cook was held to 18 yards on nine carries as the 49ers defense was back to its dominant early season form as the bye week helped the defense get healthy again.
“That was the No. 1 emphasis all week,” defensive lineman Bosa said of the Minnesota running game. “We knew we were facing probably the best back we’ve faced all year with Dalvin, and we knew we had to earn the right to pass rush. So, that’s what we did. We took the run as serious as we could, shut it down and then we ate.”
San Francisco had six sacks and held Minnesota to 81 yards until late in the fourth quarter.
TAKE IT AWAY
Eric Kendricks intercepted a pass from Garoppolo late in the first half to give the Vikings the ball at the San Francisco 29. Minnesota couldn’t capitalize with Ford getting a third-down sack in his return to the lineup from a hamstring injury. Dan Bailey’s 39-yard field goal cut the Niners lead to 14-10 at the half. The interception was the 19th turnover this season by Garoppolo, who had the most giveaways in the regular season of any player who made the playoffs.
INJURED
Vikings: RT Brian O’Neill left with a head injury after a blindside block from Nick Bosa in the third quarter following Cousins’ interception.
49ers: Coleman (elbow) and fellow running back Mostert (calf) both left the game late with injuries that were not believed to be serious.
Related: Greenlaw’s one inch goal-stand! 49ers beat the Seahawks
UP NEXT
Vikings: The off-season.
49ers: NFC championship game next Sunday against Green Bay.
The 49ers will play the Packers for the eighth time in postseason history, with Green Bay holding a 4-3 edge. San Francisco is 6-9 during the Super Bowl era in conference title games, including 4-5 at home.
Read more at: San Francisco 49ers Media Services / More AP NFL: www.apnews.com/tag/NFL
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
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