After another rough game, the San Francisco 49ers dropped to a 5-2 record This was an overall sloppy game with some good parts, and many players will need to step up. The final score of the game was 22-17, with the Minnesota Vikings taking the win. The players who stood out deserve their recognition, but two losses in a row are rough. Here is a look at the key players and the ones who need to do better next weekend.
San Francisco 49ers Slay
Fred Warner
While the defense definitely had its issues, linebacker Fred Warner still managed to be everywhere on the field. One play in particular that should be highlighted was when he stopped quarterback Kirk Cousins from completing the sneak into the endzone. Warner leaped over the offensive line and grabbed Cousins right away. This was a key defensive stop in the matchup.
By the end of the game, Warner had 13 combined tackles, seven solo, and one tackle for loss, according to ESPN. He had a missed tackle, which is rarely seen, but he still was a big factor on the struggling defense. As a leader on the 49ers, hopefully, Warner can help this defense regroup, and come out strong next week.
San Francisco 49ers defense – Kym Fortino/San Francisco 49ers
Christian McCaffrey
While there was some unknown regarding whether or not running back Christian McCaffrey would play against the Vikings, he pushed to play. It wasn’t his best game, but what he did does make him stand out compared to other players. The worst part of his game was when he fumbled the ball. The defense forced the interception to start the game, but the offense could not put up any points due to McCaffrey losing the ball, with the Vikings recovering it. After the game, McCaffrey took full accountability for this mistake.
Aside from that, the run game as a whole struggled, but McCaffrey had some big plays. By the end of the game, he had 15 carries for 45 yards and one rushing touchdown, according to ESPN. He also had three receptions for 51 yards and one touchdown. He was the only player on the team to score a touchdown. His touchdown broke the record for consecutive games with a touchdown, this being his 16th game in a row. For not being himself, he was able to make big plays and keep the game close.
San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey vs Minnesota Vikings – Kym Fortino/San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers Bomb
Arik Armstead
This game against the Vikings is the worst that the 49ers defense has had this season so far. One player that needs to step up is defensive tackle, Arik Armstead. The Vikings ended up rushing the ball for 74 yards, according to ESPN, and Armstead had zero tackles. This team grew the defensive line with the addition of Javon Hargrave in the offseason, and Armstead should not be having zero tackles in the game. The defense must fix that ahead of next weekend.
Deommodore Lenoir
This was not a great game for cornerback Deommodore Lenoir. He was beaten by receivers, and the 49ers left too many receivers open. By the end of the game, Lenoir had four combined tackles, two solo, according to ESPN. Both Lenoir and Charvarius Ward struggled, but at least Ward had an interception at the beginning of the game. Overall, the cornerback position needs to be better as this team continues to fight this season.
San Francisco 49ers CB Charvarius Ward (7) and Deommodore Lenoir (2) – Terrell Lloyd/San Francisco 49ers
In the end, this was not a good game for the 49ers. There were good parts, and same as last week, it was a one-score game, but there is a lot of room for improvement. The turnovers need to be fixed, and the defense needs to step up. The offense needs to score more points as well, after having five games in a row scoring 30+ points. The San Francisco 49ers will now head home for a tough matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. This will be their final game before their bye week, where they can get hopefully healthy and regroup.
