A 39-yard subject aim 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 an alternative 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 aim and a 13-7 lead at halftime.
“I saw it first-hand the entire year last year, how much momentum the Niners get when they score at the end of the half,” Darnold informed reporters. “We were getting the ball in the second half, but that momentum can carry that team to a win most of the time. For us to get a two-minute drive at the end was big-time for us.”
Darnold and Purdy each had their moments, nevertheless it was Darnold who got here up massive within the greatest 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 bought 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 quick to George Kittle for 3 yards to the two.
Coach Kyle Shanahan went for the landing and Purdy, trying instantly right into a blitz, had a ball meant for Jauan Jennings deflected that fell incomplete. Minnesota bought the ball, setting the stage for Darnold’s 97-yard strike to Jefferson.
“We felt we could have scored in that drive and I loved the aggressiveness Kyle had going for it on fourth-and-2,” Purdy stated. “They had a zero blitz, one guy came free, they got a hand on it, tipped the ball. It was a good defensive play and I was just trying to give J.J. a shot. The ball was where it’s supposed to go against man (coverage), I thought I had it and it got tipped.”
After watching Darnold all yr backing up Purdy, Shanahan believed it will be extra of a problem than Aaron Rodgers was per 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 surprise me. Knew we were up for a challenge,” Shanahan stated. “Sam’s a hell of a quarterback. He’s got a lot of arm talent and we knew scrambling-wise it was going to be a different challenge today. He got us on a few scrambles. We knew we had a challenge with him.”
Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell will make a world of distinction for Darnold, given his offensive experience.
.@jalennailor behind the top zone for six!!
: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/dmxULYwABg
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 15, 2024
“He’s really good with the scheme, he knows how to scheme up the big-time players on defense and he’s got a lot of good players and a good O-line,” 49ers defensive finish Nick Bosa stated. “You can feel it when you’re playing a good coach.”
O’Connell stated 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.
“Against his former team, at that position, on your quarterback journey, when everybody decides that you cannot play, we always believed in him and it was awesome to watch him do that today,” O’Connell stated. “I’m really proud of Sam Darnold.”
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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 as simple as executing,” Purdy stated. “We’ve bought the gamers, we’ve bought the scheme, we’ve bought what it takes. It’s understanding the place my solutions are at and getting the ball into guys’ arms and getting first downs. It’s all of that.
“It’s football, man. Just because you’ve got good players and a good scheme doesn’t mean the other team is going to give it to you.”
