A 39-yard subject objective by Will Reichard didn’t account for the margin of victory, however to Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold the factors have been essential in a 23-17 win over the 49ers.
Brock Purdy, who shared a quarterback room with Darnold final season had simply gotten the 49ers on the board with a 7-yard landing move to George Kittle to chop the Vikings result in 10-7 with 1:53 to play within the half.
To make issues worse, the drive got here after Fred Warner intercepted a Darnold move to get the 49ers going.
However as a substitute of killing the clock and ignoring Darnold’s penchant for interceptions, Minnesota stayed aggressive. Darnold hit Jalen Nailor with an 18-yard move on first down. He later threw a 16-yard strike to Justin Jefferson on third-and-13, shrugging off an earlier sack by Nick Bosa.
Lastly, Darnold had an 18-yard scramble up the center and slid to the turf with three seconds left to arrange the Reichard subject objective and a 13-7 lead at halftime.
“I noticed it first-hand your complete 12 months final 12 months, how a lot momentum the Niners get once they rating on the finish of the half,” Darnold informed reporters. “We have been getting the ball within the second half, however that momentum can carry that workforce to a win more often than not. For us to get a two-minute drive on the finish was big-time for us.”
Darnold and Purdy each had their moments, but it surely was Darnold who got here up large within the largest moments. He completed 17-for-26 for 268 yards and two touchdowns, together with a 97-yard landing move to Jefferson and a 6-yard strike to Nailor. He had 32 yards on 5 scrambles.
Purdy was 28-for-36 for 319 yards and the one landing to Kittle and one interception. Whereas Darnold was speaking up his successes, Purdy was lamenting the one which obtained away when the 49ers failed to attain on a fourth down on the 2-yard line. The 49ers had pushed 83 yards in 15 performs and had a first-and-goal on the 5 with 45 seconds left within the quarter.
With first-and-goal on the 4, Purdy threw incomplete to Brandon Aiyuk and Jordan Mason misplaced a yard to the 5. On third down, Purdy threw brief to George Kittle for 3 yards to the two.
Coach Kyle Shanahan went for the landing and Purdy, wanting immediately right into a blitz, had a ball supposed for Jauan Jennings deflected that fell incomplete. Minnesota obtained the ball, setting the stage for Darnold’s 97-yard strike to Jefferson.
“We felt we might have scored in that drive and I beloved the aggressiveness Kyle had going for it on fourth-and-2,” Purdy mentioned. “That they had a zero blitz, one man got here free, they obtained a hand on it, tipped the ball. It was a great defensive play and I used to be simply attempting to provide J.J. a shot. The ball was the place it’s purported to go in opposition to man (protection), I believed I had it and it obtained tipped.”
After watching Darnold all 12 months backing up Purdy, Shanahan believed it could be extra of a problem than Aaron Rodgers was every week in the past, given his age (40) and that the quarterback was coming again a much less cellular model of himself after a torn Achilles.
“It didn’t shock me. Knew we have been up for a problem,” Shanahan mentioned. “Sam’s a hell of a quarterback. He’s obtained lots of arm expertise and we knew scrambling-wise it was going to be a distinct problem at this time. He obtained us on just a few scrambles. We knew we had a problem with him.”
Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell will make a world of distinction for Darnold, given his offensive experience.
.@jalennailor behind the tip zone for six!!
: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/dmxULYwABg
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 15, 2024
“He’s actually good with the scheme, he is aware of easy methods to scheme up the big-time gamers on protection and he’s obtained lots of good gamers and a great O-line,” 49ers defensive finish Nick Bosa mentioned. “You possibly can really feel it whenever you’re taking part in a great coach.”
O’Connell mentioned the Vikings have gotten what they hoped out of a quarterback who signed for a one-year, $10 million contract and was a placeholder for first-round choose J.J. McCarthy. That’s, till McCarthy had an ACL tear and was dominated out for the season.
“In opposition to his former workforce, at that place, in your quarterback journey, when everyone decides that you just can’t play, we all the time believed in him and it was superior to observe him try this at this time,” O’Connell mentioned. “I’m actually happy with Sam Darnold.”
Purdy, now 18-5 as a regular-season starter for the 49ers, stayed in character. He accepted accountability and whereas he conceded Christian McCaffrey’s absence is critical, Purdy wasn’t about to make use of it as an excuse.
“It’s so simple as executing,” Purdy mentioned. “We’ve obtained the gamers, we’ve obtained the scheme, we’ve obtained what it takes. It’s realizing the place my solutions are at and getting the ball into guys’ palms and getting first downs. It’s all of that.
“It’s soccer, man. Simply since you’ve obtained good gamers and a great scheme doesn’t imply the opposite workforce goes to provide it to you.”
