The second half of the Monday Night Football doubleheader promised a dominant tailback performance, a surprising young defense announcing its arrival to the world and a team establishing itself in the playoff conversation.
That's exactly what football fans everywhere got—but instead of Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings defense staking their claim, Carlos Hyde and the San Francisco 49ers emphatically defended their place in the postseason mix.
It wasn't a flawless performance. In fact, many on Twitter pronounced the first half as the worst half of football they'd ever seen. Both teams made a host of embarrassing blunders and fundamental mistakes. There was only one scoring play in the first half, two in the first three quarters and absolutely zero reason to watch unless your fantasy football matchup was still in doubt.
Nevertheless, Hyde started off strong and seemed to get stronger every series. He finished with 26 carries for 168 yards and two scores, putting his signature on the game with a fantastic spin-move touchdown run:
Defensively, the 49ers picked up where former head coach Jim Harbaugh left off: They were fast, physical, strong to the ball and aggressive in coverage. They forced Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to run for his life time and again, short-circuiting the passing game. They kept a tight lid on Peterson and the Vikings run game, holding the one-time MVP to 31 yards on 10 carries.
The Vikings were a preseason darling of many—including this columnist—and the 49ers hemorrhaged talent all offseason long. But the 49ers' emphatic season-opening win not only casts a huge shadow on the Vikings chances, but it's also cause to look harder at the talent the 49ers still have.
Hyde would have had five carries for 38 yards on the opening drive if a holding call hadn't wiped out a 10-yard gain; the 49ers' use of two- and three-tight end sets allowed Hyde to attack the edges of the defense with speed and aggression. Colin Kaepernick barely needed to pass on that long, effective drive; it ended when the Vikings blocked Phil Dawson's field-goal attempt.
Things kept going wrong for the 49ers: Preseason sensation Jarryd Hayne muffed his first regular-season punt, free-agent spark plug Reggie Bush left the game with a calf injury and the 49ers offense couldn't stop getting committing penalties. Drive after drive, the defense stood tall, keeping the Vikings off the scoresheet despite the offense hanging it out to dry.
Nose tackle Ian Williams and defensive end Glenn Dorsey controlled the line of scrimmage, and All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman flew up to register seven tackles and a sack. Safeties Antoine Bethea and Jaquiski Tartt weren't just aggressive; they were on point, combining for 11 solo tackles, one assist and two sacks—and frequently left Bridgewater with no open downfield options.
After losing Justin Smith, Patrick Willis, Aldon Smith, Chris Borland, Perrish Cox, Chris Culliver, Dan Skuta and Darnell Dockett, the remaining 49ers combined for five sacks and an interception. Despite losing Mike Iupati and Anthony Davis, the 49ers offensive line was surprisingly effective against the Vikings' talented defensive front.
Yet all wasn't well.
Kaepernick went 17-of-26 passing but gained only 165 yards through the air. Averaging 6.4 yards per attempt isn't good; averaging 9.7 per completion is terrible.
The receivers had a classic good-news, bad-news showing.
It was good news that Vernon Davis returned at all; his 47 yards on just three catches were a welcome return to big-play productivity. But the team didn't sign Torrey Smith to a $55 million deal to catch one measly 11-yard pass per week. Ageless wonder Anquan Boldin led all 49ers receivers with four catches for 36 yards.
That should be a concern for 49ers fans going forward.
Yet the 49ers answered many other questions. Even if the play was sloppy, even if the offense wasn't at its prolific best, everything we came to associate with 49ers football during the Harbaugh era was there: speed, physicality, determination.
Fans will miss Frank Gore forever, whether he's playing elsewhere or not. But Hyde, as the second half wore on, proved he can take over a game, too:
There will be no free ride in the NFC West.
The St. Louis Rams upset the still-mighty Seattle Seahawks. The Arizona Cardinals look no worse for wear despite losing former defensive coordinator Todd Bowles to the New York Jets. This division is going to be as tough as ever, if not tougher.
The 49ers will need more games like this from Hyde and the offensive line—and much better games from Kaepernick and the receivers—if they're going to make the playoffs. But tonight proved they have the workhorse back, the beef in the trenches and the coaching to beat good teams, which is closer to contention than many thought they could be.
via http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2566836-revamped-49ers-look-like-surprise-playoff-contender-behind-stellar-carlos-hyde
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