Vikings-49ers

The Minnesota Vikings second California trip in three weeks didn’t end as well as the first. The San Francisco 49ers did a few more things right than the Vikings and ended up on the right side of the score, 34-26. Both teams entered the game at 5-5. Both teams have been playing better after rocky starts to the season. Both teams entered the game on a two-game win streak. The 49ers bumped their streak to three games. The Vikings are again looking for a way to win one-score games. 

The eight-point margin is the largest of the Vikings six losses.

The Vikings lost to the 49ers for a variety of reasons:

-the officials were horrid

-the Vikings allowed 21 unanswered points in about eight minutes

-turnovers gifted the 49ers 2- and 5-yard scoring drives

-injuries and COVID forced the Vikings to field a defensive line of backups

-Kirk Cousins missed a few too many open receivers

-Greg Joseph missed another extra point

The Vikings didn’t lose because of any one of the above. They lost because all of the above got in the way and kept them from winning a winnable game. 

The Vikings and 49ers followed a 14-14 first half with a wild third quarter. The teams combined for 32 points. The teams followed that third quarter with a scoreless fourth. 

Turning Point #1

With 8:38 remaining in the first half, the Vikings held a 14-7 lead. They had pretty much controlled the game up to that point. The 49ers had the ball at their own 15-yard line. They started a drive. About four minutes later the drive appeared to stall at the Vikings 44-yard line. The 49ers were bailed out by a very questionable holding call on Patrick Peterson while guarding George Kittle. Both players engaged off the line and stumbled with the contact. The whole thing appeared mutual and incidental rather than a penalty by either player. Instead of a punt from the 47, the 49ers sparked with gifted life. They continued to drive and milk the clock. They scored a touchdown with 18 seconds remaining in the half. Once again the Vikings couldn’t keep an opponent out of the end zone at the end of the first half. 

The late first half touchdown was the start of 21 unanswered points. The 49ers opened the second half with a breezy touchdown drive. It was the Deebo Samuel Show. His 49-yard run was the bulk of the drive. His three-yard touchdown run was the culmination of it. 

Then Kirk Cousins handed the 49ers another touchdown when he threw a pass to 49ers linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. It was such a horrible decision and throw. Al-Shaair returned the gift 24 yards to the Vikings 2-yard line. A play later, the score was 28-14. In a blink, the score went from 14-7 Vikings to 28-14 49ers. 

Turning Point #2

After rallying to cut the 49ers lead from 28-14 to 31-26, the Vikings defense forced a 49ers punt. Late third quarter, it was all set up for the offense to take the lead. Instead, it was disaster. Dalvin Cook was blown up in the backfield, fumbled, and injured his shoulder in the process. It was a disaster that greatly impacted this game. It was a disaster that may impact the rest of the season with the injury to Cook. 

The 49ers were gifted another possession inside the 10-yard line. Fortunately, the Vikings defense held the 49ers to a field goal but the damage was done. Cook was gone and the Vikings trailed by eight points. 

Vikings turnovers gifted the 49ers opportunities to drive only 2 and 5 yards for points. That’s ten gift-wrapped points in a game decided by eight. 

Kirk Cousins is a remarkably accurate quarterback. It’s perhaps his greatest strength. He wasn’t accurate yesterday. If he’d thrown to Justin Jefferson on a few occasions as accurately as he’d thrown that interception to Al-Shaair, the Vikings win this game. Cousins twice missed a wide-open Jefferson in the end zone. The first was a low miss on a two-point conversion attempt. The second was a high miss that would’ve been a fourth quarter touchdown. That’s eight missed points in an eight point game. Cousins opened the game with a low miss to Jefferson. He closed the game with a high miss to Jefferson on fourth down. The latter would’ve kept alive a potential, final-minute, game-tying drive. 

The officials.

It always seems petty to bitch about the officiating but this game was ridiculous.

Here are a few.

1. Holding. It’s part of the 49ers game plan. Mike Zimmer bitched about this in his post game press conference. The officials had a few holds to pick from on Deebo Samuel’s 20-yard touchdown run that opened the 49ers scoring. The officials allowed the 49ers get away with all of them. That play was a microcosm of the day. It’s been said that holding can be called on every play. The 49ers do it to an extreme. Zimmer’s right. The 49ers will continue to cheat on their blocks as long as the officials allow it.

2. The previously mentioned holding call on Patrick Peterson. The contact with Kittle was mutual and incidental. 

3. Justin Jefferson was at the start of his route. Cousins was throwing to a spot. Jefferson didn’t get there because he was tripped. It didn’t look intentional but he was tripped. There’s a rule against that. 

 

2. Samuel clearly interfered with Bashaud Breeland on a potential interception. Samuel had more jersey in his fist than Breeland had on his back. Robbie Gould kicked a 46-yard field goal on the next play. It could’ve been a much-needed interception. It should’ve been a much longer field goal. 

3. Somehow the officials allowed Josh Norman to punch Adam Thielen in the back during a pile-up. An official had a clear view of the blatant, cheap-ass punch. He even ran in to keep it from escalating. The officials are quick to jump on the slightest taunt to prevent an escalation. How do they allow a clear, cheap-ass punch? Norman probably should’ve been ejected. The Vikings should’ve had 1st-and-goal inside the five. 

4. Perhaps the biggest missed call of the game was Norman’s clear interference on K.J. Osborn on the Vikings final possession. Norman hit Osborn early. It wasn’t a close call. It’s one of those calls that’s usually automatic in today’s NFL. Norman hit Osborn well before the ball reached him. 

The officiating in this game was horrible. 

The Vikings are fighting. They are playing well but they aren’t playing well enough to get past the mistakes that they continue to make. They’ve lost six winnable games. This game was winnable. Despite giving up 21 unanswered points. Despite two turnovers at their end of the field. Despite giving up over 200 rushing yards. They still could’ve won this game. Unfortunately, “could’ve” isn’t reflected in their record. They are 5-6. It doesn’t matter how close each of those six losses are. They are still losses. If there’s an “easy” portion to the Vikings 2021 schedule it’s the portion in front of them. Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears twice. They still have games against the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers. The good news is that the Vikings can play against anyone. The bad news is that they can’t get out of their own way. Further bad news, is that they might have to play some games, perhaps all of the games, without Dalvin Cook. I’ve been thinking it since they lost their fifth game but the Vikings might have to win the rest of their games to make the playoffs. Now, they’ve lost a sixth game. I think that they have to win the rest of their games. 11-6 should make the playoffs. 10-7 could make the playoffs. I prefer 11-6. Leave no doubt. So far this season, that hasn’t been the Vikings way. It must become their way over the next six-plus weeks. 

The Detroit Lions are next. Winless teams are scary. With the Vikings inconsistencies, no game is easy. 

An observation from the seats. The fireworks after each 49ers touchdown were ridiculous. The smoke and stench just hovered over the field and the seats. It lasted through the following kickoff and often the first few plays. It’s mystery as to why anyone would think that this shit is a good idea. It’s not only an annoyance. It’s a health hazard.