Cousins all Vikings hoped for
49ers’ Garoppolo loses for first time in eight NFL starts
MINNEAPOLIS — Quarterback Kirk Cousins gave the Vikings exactly what they needed in a victorious debut.
The throws Cousins made in tight coverage at important times were on target. Unlike counterpart Jimmy Garoppolo, he kept the ball out of the other team’s hands.
Cousins passed for two touchdowns and the Vikings forced four turnovers in a 24-16 victory Sunday against the 49ers that stuck Garoppolo with his first loss in eight games as an NFL starter.
Cousins connected with Stefon Diggs in the second quarter and Kyle Rudolph in the third for touchdowns, and the defense finished the job with three sacks and three second-half interceptions of Garoppolo. Mike Hughes turned one pick into a 28-yard touchdown return, the first by a rookie in a Vikings season opener.
‘‘I’m so grateful for this opportunity that I’ve been given, and I just want to make good on it with every chance I get,’’ said Cousins, who committed no turnovers.
Vikings safety Harrison Smith sealed the game with an interception with 1:35 left. He also recovered a fumble by the 49ers’ Alfred Morris at the Vikings’ 2-yard line late in the second quarter and sacked Garoppolo on a safety blitz on third down late in the fourth.
‘‘It was pretty smooth sailing there for a while,’’ Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. ‘‘And it was good to find the fight and the heart that we had there at the end.’’
Garoppolo finished 15-for-33 for 261 yards and a touchdown pass to rookie Dante Pettis late in the third quarter. With an injury-depleted offensive line in front of him and the absence of receiver Marquise Goodwin, Garoppolo was unable to capitalize on the opportunity for a comeback after the 49ers’ defense forced three consecutive threeand-out possessions by the Vikings to start the fourth.
‘‘We knew it was going to be a tough challenge with the environment, going against a tough team,’’ Garoppolo said. ‘‘They stood up to everything we thought they would. But with all the things that went bad, we still had a shot at the end there. Just a tough way to end it.’’
Cousins went 20-for-36 for 244 yards, targeting Adam Thielen 12 times. Thielen caught six passes for 102 yards.
‘‘[Cousins] played the way he always does,’’ said cornerback Richard Sherman, who made his 49ers debut. ‘‘Efficient. Doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. He’s poised and doesn’t get rattled.’’
Too Kittle, too late
Tight end George Kittle had five catches for 90 yards for the 49ers, but the one he didn’t make stood out. Wide-open after beating linebacker Anthony Barr up the seam, Kittle had what would have been a 30-yard completion fall off his fingers at midfield. The third-down interception by Hughes came next to give the Vikings a 17-3 lead.
‘‘Misjudged it,’’ Kittle said. ‘‘Thought it was a little closer to me. Probably ran a bit too far with my arms out. Just a bad play.’’
Minnesota memories
Fred Zamberletti, the team’s original athletic trainer who died last week at 86, was honored with a pregame moment of silence.
The Vikings also staged a 20th anniversary tribute to the 1998 team that went 15-1 and reached the NFC Championship Game.
Running back Robert Smith, one of 28 former players who were introduced at halftime, received the loudest ovation. He focused on the current team at the end of his speech.
‘‘We want to see them accomplish something that we weren’t able to do,’’ Smith told the crowd, ‘‘and we want them to do it for you.’’