The San Francisco 49ers (14-3) defeated the Minnesota Vikings 27-10 in the NFC Divisional round and their swarming defense pitched a shutout in the second half. The Niners advance to the NFC Championship game and will play the winner of Green Bay and Seattle.
The Vikings (10-7) kept the game close in the first half and only trailed 14-10. However, the Niners scored 13 unanswered points in the second half and cruised to a victory. The Vikings disappeared and wilted under pressure from the Niners.
“People keep disrespecting us,” said San Francisco cornerback Richard Sherman. “At the end of the day, all you can do is go out and execute. It felt good. That’s what we look like when we’re totally healthy.”
San Francisco scored on their opening drive when Jimmy Garoppolo marched the team down field 61 yards and connected on a three-yard touchdown pass to Kendrick Bourne.
Kirk Cousins and Stefon Diggs hooked up on the ensuing drive to even the score. Diggs caught a 41-yard touchdown pass for the Vikings first and only touchdown of the game. The first quarter ended in a 7-7 tie.
Tevin Coleman Shines
In the second quarter, San Francisco running back Tevin Coleman capped off a 53-yard drive with a rushing touchdown from the one-yard line. The Niners regained the lead 14-7 and never looked back against the Vikings. The Vikings added a Dan Bailey field goal shortly before halftime to trim the deficit to 14-10.
The Niners’ defense dominated in the second half. Robbie Gould sealed the game with two more field goals, while Coleman added his second rushing touchdown of the game late in the third quarter.
Coleman finished with 22 carries for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Raheem Mostert added 48 yards on only 12 carries.
Too raw 💥
Touchdown @Teco_Raww!!#BeLegendary pic.twitter.com/1E2JbQl5Np
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 11, 2020
Vikings Shutdown by Niners
Kirk Cousins finished the game with a somewhat efficient 21-for-29 passing for 172 yards. He threw one touchdown and one interception.
Aside from the 41-yard touchdowns trike to Stefon Diggs, the Vikings offense was non-existent.
The Vikings could not get their running game going against the Niners. They rushed only ten times all game and finished with only 21 yards on the ground. The Niners completely put the clampdown on Dalvin Cook. Cook rushed nine times for 18 yards or a 2.0 yards per carry average.
“They’re pretty good right?” said San Francisco Niners tight end George Kittle about the defense. “It’s such a blast just to watch them, how they work together. If our defense keeps playing like that, all we have to do is not turn the ball over to win games.”
Sherman made a huge play early in the third quarter when he picked off Cousins for his only interception of the game.
That's what happens when you throw at @RSherman_25 ðŸ˜#WPMOYChallenge pic.twitter.com/uiLO6gwnvC
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 11, 2020
The San Francisco Niners are currently the favorites to win the 2020 Super Bowl at 7/4 odds.
