Once considered the NFL’s most complete team, the 49ers have now suffered back-to-back shock defeats. Is there season at a crossroads, and how will they pull themselves out of this mini-slump?
It’s fair to say at 5-2, San Francisco are still likely headed to the playoffs in a relatively weak NFC West. But just making the playoffs isn’t what this team was aiming for at the start of the season. So where next?
49ERS STEADY QB MAY NOT BE ENOUGH
The 49ers went with Brock Purdy as their starting QB this season because JimmyG Couldn’t win games late. This is the second week in a row that that same was true of Purdy. Yes it’s early, Brock is younger, and all the other excuses you want to make. But the 49ers defence kept them in this game as long as possible, and on their last two drives Purdy threw interceptions.
There’s plenty of blame to go around, but at the end of the day a teams QB needs to be able to win them some games. And Brock Steady really isn’t that guy.
VIKINGS MIGHT BE TURNING THEIR SEASON AROUND
After starting the season 0-3 the Vikings have finally started to look like the team hotly tipped to win the NFC North. The 49ers may be the only good team they’ve beaten but the signs are there that the offence is clicking and Brian Flores defence is starting to understand his scheme.
After the game Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell had this to say, “No hesitation. Shoot your shot. Every single play, you are prepared and ready. Complimentary football is a beautiful thing and we just felt it at the highest level. We gotta be ready to package this feeling up. Bottle it up. Everything we work for, every guy in here doing everything they can to lean into the guy next to them and good things are going to happen for this team.”
If the Vikings can build on this win over the 49ers this could be a team to keep an eye on.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Downs | 19 | 24 |
| Passing 1st downs | 12 | 18 |
| Rushing 1st downs | 7 | 3 |
| 1st downs from penalties | 0 | 3 |
| 3rd down efficiency | 5-9 | 8-13 |
| 4th down efficiency | 1-1 | 0-0 |
| Total Plays | 53 | 66 |
| Total Yards | 325 | 452 |
| Total Drives | 9 | 9 |
| Yards per Play | 6.1 | 6.8 |
| Passing | 260 | 378 |
| Comp-Att | 21-30 | 35-45 |
| Yards per pass | 8.4 | 8.4 |
| Interceptions thrown | 2 | 1 |
| Sacks-Yards Lost | 1-12 | 0-0 |
| Rushing | 65 | 74 |
| Rushing Attempts | 22 | 21 |
| Yards per rush | 3.0 | 3.5 |
| Red Zone (Made-Att) | 1-2 | 0-2 |
| Penalties | 5-37 | 5-35 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Fumbles lost | 1 | 0 |
| Interceptions thrown | 2 | 1 |
| Defensive / Special Teams TDs | 0 | 0 |
| Possession | 25:04 | 34:56 |
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