After joint practices for two days earlier this week, the San Francisco 49ers beat the Minnesota Vikings 17-7 at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Just an hour and a half before game time, the Vikings announced that 27 of their 85 players on the roster would not play.
In turn, the 49ers also announced that they would also not be playing 27 players.
Trey Lance, Jimmy Garoppolo and Kirk Cousins all missed the game, meaning it was an opportunity for the backup quarterbacks for both sides to get meaningful reps.
For two offensive coaches, the offense was pretty sloppy throughout. Dropped passes, multiple turnovers and numerous missed opportunities for big plays.
Some of that is on the quarterbacks, as they are not what you would consider NFL starting-caliber quarterbacks. The running game was inconsistent on both sides, although the 49ers turned it up at the end of the game to seal the deal.
The game itself left us with some vital takeaways. Here were my four biggest takeaways from Saturday night’s loss.
The Defensive Line is Deep
Jul 28, 2022; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Jaylen Twyman (93) performs a drill during training camp at TCO Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
The Vikings are going to need to have a good pass rush if they want to take the next step. Luckily for them, there is talent behind the starting five.
T.Y. McGill and Jonathan Bullard have made major waves so far this preseason. Not only did McGill get four sacks over the first six quarters, but he blew up a running play on the goal line causing a fumble by pushing the center into the quarterback.
In a similar vein, Bullard has been disruptive in his own right. A veteran of the Fangio scheme, he has been in the backfield and laterally moving quickly to stop the run. A great late-offseason pickup for the Vikings.
While he hasn’t been as impressive as those two, Jaylen Twyman has also shown himself to be worthwhile. After missing the entire 2021 season with a non-football injury, Twyman has shown the ability to penetrate and get pressure.
Patrick Jones II is a Third Starter
Dec 9, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Armon Watts (96) celebrates a sack with defensive end Patrick Jones II (93) during the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Coming out of Pitt, I…
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