Last Updated: October 25, 2023, 02:00 IST
SANTA CLARA, Calif.: Few groups within the NFL make investments as a lot in draft picks and cash within the line of defense because the San Francisco 49ers.
So if a pass rush with gamers similar to Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave, Arik Armstead and Co. can’t do a greater job of bringing down quarterbacks, will probably be a giant downside for the Niners.
That was evident Monday evening when Kirk Cousins picked aside San Francisco’s protection in spectacular style, throwing for 378 yards and taking no sacks in Minnesota’s 22-17 victory over the 49ers.
“I mean we have a lot of really good players on the D-line and, obviously, a lot invested in it,” Bosa mentioned. “We have to make plays when they are there. We got lulled to sleep by some of the protections. When those opportunities come, you have to be ready for them.”
San Francisco had loads of probabilities towards Cousins with the Vikings passing the ball 45 instances. But none of these performs resulted in sacks and only a few even in a throwaway or scramble underneath strain. For the season, the Niners rank twenty seventh within the NFL in sack charge.
This marked simply the third time in coach Kyle Shanahan’s seven seasons with the 49ers that the protection confronted that many passes and failed to get a sack.
“We put out the running game,” Armstead mentioned. “After the first half I feel like it just became the passing game; the screen game so that was positive, to try and make them one-dimensional but Kirk was definitely hot. He’s a phenomenal quarterback and that showed tonight. We weren’t good enough in the passing game, both up front rushing and on the back end.”
WHAT’S WORKING
Christian McCaffrey scoring TDs. Despite being listed as questionable with an indirect harm, McCaffrey performed each snap on offense for the 49ers. He had a TD run and a TD catch, extending his streak to 16 consecutive video games within the common season or playoffs with a landing. That’s one shy of Lenny Moore’s all-time document.
McCaffrey is tied for the NFL lead with 11 TDs this season — two greater than every other 49ers participant has ever had by seven video games. He has scored 24 TDs in 21 video games since becoming a member of San Francisco final 12 months.
WHAT NEEDS HELP
Protecting the ball. San Francisco had a season-excessive three turnovers with McCaffrey shedding a fumble within the crimson zone on the opening drive and Brock Purdy throwing two interceptions late with San Francisco attempting to drive for the go-forward rating. The Niners completed minus-2 within the turnover differential, ending a 16-sport streak of not committing extra turnovers than the opposition that was the fourth longest within the Super Bowl period.
Purdy turned the primary Niners QB to throw two fourth-quarter INTs when trailing by a rating since Colin Kaepernick did it within the 2013 NFC title sport towards Seattle. Purdy’s 16.7 passer ranking this season when trailing within the fourth quarter is the worst within the NFL amongst gamers with no less than 15 makes an attempt.
STOCK UP
LT Jaylon Moore. With Trent Williams out with a sprained ankle, Moore did an admirable job defending Purdy’s blindside. He allowed just one strain all sport, in accordance to Pro Football Focus.
STOCK DOWN
Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. One of the important thing performs got here late within the first half when Wilks known as for a blitz with 16 seconds left and the Vikings going through a 3rd down at their 40. Cousins removed the pass and Jordan Addison outmuscled Charvarius Ward for the ball and raced for a 60-yard rating with no security assist to give Minnesota a 16-7 halftime lead.
According to NFL NextGen stats, it was the primary time a group rushed seven gamers in final 30 seconds of a half in opposing territory since Week 11 of the 2020 season.
INJURIES
LB Fred Warner left briefly with a bruised thigh however returned to the sport. … Williams may return this week after sitting out with the harm towards the Vikings. … LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles left the sport with an ankle harm and didn’t return.
KEY NUMBER
0-36. The 49ers remained winless in 36 video games underneath Shanahan within the playoffs or common season when trailing by no less than eight factors within the fourth quarter. No different group within the NFL has misplaced each sport in that situation since Shanahan took over in San Francisco in 2017.
NEXT STEPS
San Francisco hosts Cincinnati on Sunday.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
