Hutchinson: 3 takeaways after 49ers lose to Vikings, as Midwest nightmare continues
He had the chance to be a hero. In crunch time, with less than six minutes to go, and the 49ers at the Vikings’ 49-yard line, he threw a confounding, and fate-sealing interception….That set up a 4th-and-4 at the San Francisco 42-yard line. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell inexplicably opted to punt the ball, which bounced into the end zone for a touchback.
But Purdy turned the ball over twice, badly, and O’Connell was not punished. The defense grew into the game, but they failed to pressure Cousins. It was not an inspiring performance.”
Kawakami: The 49ers’ pass rush has disappeared and so has their identity (paywall)
“What are the 49ers if they don’t have a roaring front four? Good question. I’m not entirely sure of the answer and I don’t think the 49ers are too sure, either…….
They’re all getting paid a lot. They’re all very talented. The whole defense revolves around them — the 49ers don’t have a lot of high-priced talent in the secondary because they count on the defensive front to pressure the QB into quick and wayward throws. The defensive backs aren’t supposed to have to cover double moves. They’re supposed to pounce on inaccurate, rushed passes. And if the passes aren’t rushed or inaccurate? That’s trouble for the 49ers.
The way out of this is the way the whole thing was conceived: Bosa, Hargrave and Armstead have to take over games and take over this season. The 49ers can’t try to reverse-engineer a great pass rush. They’ve either got one or they don’t. The manufacturing isn’t going to help things or create a new identity for this defense. Actually, as we all saw Monday, it’s probably only going to make things worse.”
What we learned as 49ers shredded by Cousins, Vikings in loss
“The first major sign was a week earlier when the offensively challenged Cleveland Browns with a backup quarterback picked up big yards in crucial times against the 49ers.”
Branch: 49ers fall to Vikings 22-17 as Brock Purdy throws two late interceptions (paywall)
“Bynum also victimized Purdy, who had thrown one pick in the first six games, on the 49ers’ penultimate possession. Trailing 22-17 with 5:36 left, Bynum intercepted Purdy on first down from Minnesota’s 49-yard line while Purdy was targeting wide receiver Jauan Jennings on an intermediate crossing route.”
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