OPENING EYES

VIKINGS 23

49ERS 17

Roughly 11 months ago, the San Francisco 49ers came to US Bank Stadium as big favorites, and their fans packed the stadium, only to leave disappointed.

And on Sunday, the exact same thing happened. It was almost the same score.

We can only hope what happens next goes better this time. Because while last year's win was by a team trying to rescue a season, this win was from a team that is good right away.

Yes, this is a good team. It isn't a fluke. The Vikings are good, and might be good all the way through this, and just beat the toughest team on their schedule.

The Vikings drew first blood, as CJ Ham blocked a punt, and set the Vikings up deep in Niner territory. We only got 3, and were kind of lucky to get it, as Sam Darnold nearly threw an endzone pick.

The next Darnold throw would jolt the stadium like few plays ever had.

First, we had to survive a long 49ers drdrive. Brock Purdy completed a long pass on 4th down as the key play, and soon they were inside the 10. 3 plays later, they sat at the 1, and chose to go for it. Purdy's pass was tipped by Andrew Van Ginkel and nearly picked off by Harrison Smith. So the goal line stand was complete.

Then, on the 2nd play of the ensuing drive, Darnold fired a rainbow some 50 yards downfield into the hands of Justin Jefferson, who had beaten 2 Niners. JJ hauled it in, then pivoted at about the 30 and raced for the corner of the endzone, with a little late blocking assist from Jalen Nailor. 97-yard touchdown, a play you could still feel the buzz from many minutes later.

The 49ers again turned it over on downs the next series, this time near midfield after a Purdy run came up short.

A few plays later, the Vikings were on their way to completely taking over the game, but then we got some bad Darnold, as he got picked off near the redzone. The momentum swung back to the 49ers, who drove for a touchdown to cut it to 10-7.

Darnold had a nice bounce back drive before halftime, hitting a couple of good passes and getting the Vikings a field goal. It felt like more than a 13-7 game, and then when the Vikings 1st drive after halftime went nowhere, it felt like that could be where the game really swung.

But it never swung. The defense went back to work, with increasing pressure on Purdy now. Sacks by Jonathan Greenard and Patrick Jones (who has 4 in 2 games) forced a punt. Then, the next 49ers drive ended immediately with a tipped ball pick by Josh Metellus deep in SF territory. The Vikings cashed in right away, with a Darnold TD toss to Nailor.

The next 49ers series also ended in a turnover, as the ball slipped out of Purdy's hand as he cooked to throw, and Jihad Ward was there to scoop up what was technically a fumble.

The Vikings ground game was rumbling, with Ty Chandler getting chunks. The last of the Chandler runs nearly ended in disaster, as Jefferson lay on the field hurt, but it sounds like it's just a minor injury. Still, he did not return to the game.

It shouldn't have mattered, but on the next play, Aaron Jones took a screen and was darting to the endzone for a score that would have effectively daggered the Niners. But then Jones had the ball punched out right at the goal line, and the defense recovered.

The 49ers took their second lease on life and drove 99 yards on us. They did get some ref help with a questionable RTP call and a sideline catch that was reviewed and incorrectly upheld. Jordan Mason, the starter in place of injured Christian McCaffrey, darted into the endzone, and here we were sweating out a game we should have already salted away.

Here, we got the most impressive drive of the season for Darnold. With all the pressure on the Vikings offense, and a lot of time left, he led a terrific drive that took off over 6 minutes and led to a field goal that essentially clinched the game. Darnold converted 2 3rd downs to Brandon Powell and another on a fantastic back shoulder throw down the middle to Nailor.

The 49ers did get another score, but we got the onside kick and kneeled out a big, big win. 

I don't know if I would call it a statement win. Week 2 feels a little early for a statement win. But I do know that a season that began with pretty minimal expectations now feels like one that is open to any number of exciting possibilities.

Last week, I said the Vikings showed the template of how they can win. Well, maybe this is just what they are. They just beat the best team on their schedule, and frankly, if it wasn't for a couple of sloppy mistakes, this could have been a rout.

The Vikings are good. The NFC North is extremely winnable.

I know, I know. Getting excited over 2 games is ripe with peril. For 2 games, Josh Dobbs looked like a savior, too. But this feels a lot more real. We have our best defense in years. We have our most efficient run game in years. We have a QB playing well. We have an offense that should only get better when we have a full arsenal (Jefferson-Addison-Nailor-Hockenson-Jones-Chandler could be dominant).

There is another tough team coming in here next week. But we showed on this Sunday that we can play with and beat the best. Where there was just pessimism now exists optimism.