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Smothering defense, relentless attack on ground lead 49ers to NFC title game
SANTA CLARA >> Jimmy Garoppolo, Joe Staley and Mike Mcglinchey drove over to Levi’s Stadium early for the 49ers’ playoff opener Saturday, anxious to resume their Super Bowl quest.
“It’s the earliest I’ve ever been here,” Staley said. “I did my normal routine, then I realized how much time I had left, and said, ‘Why did I do this so early?’ “
Why a 9 a.m. arrival for a 1:35 p.m. kickoff? Probably because this 49ers team might offer the best shot in Staley’s 13-year career to win a Super Bowl championship, and the franchise’s first in 25 years.
Once the top-seeded 49ers reserved a spot in the NFC Championship Game by virtue of Saturday’s 2710 divisional-round win over the No. 6 Minnesota Vikings, platitudes rightfully were bestowed upon their suffocating defense, a 47-carry rushing attack and the “masterpiece” game plan crafted by coach Kyle Shanahan and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
Next up is next Sunday’s bid at a Super Bowl XLIV berth. Levi’s Stadium will host that NFC Championship Game with the 49ers (14-3) hosting today’s winner between the No. 5-seed Seattle Seahawks and No. 3 Green Bay Packers.
“Can’t wait to watch these games tomorrow and find out who we’re playing,” said coach Kyle Shanahan, who indeed should be interested in the AFC playoffs considering his team’s Lombardi Trophy potential.
Told that next Sunday’s kickoff is set for 3:40 p.m., Staley replied: “That’ll be good, then I can sleep in a little bit.” That wasn’t the case before this game. Staley went to bed at 10:30 p.m., awoke at 1 a.m. minutes for 30 minutes, awoke again at 3, then fell back asleep until 6.
“As I get older, I can’t sleep very well. I’ve been noticing that the whole entire season,” Staley said. “I just get anxious for games now.”
That passion to play in high-stakes games drove four 49ers back from injury to start against the Vikings — defensive end Dee Ford, linebacker Kwon Alexander, safety Jaquiski Tartt and right guard Mike Person.
“That’s what we look like when we’re healthy,” cornerback Richard Sherman said of a full-squad defense.
With Dalvin Cook limited to 18 rushing yards, the Vikings didn’t fare much better in the air with Kirk Cousins, who got intercepted by Sherman and got sacked six times, including twice by rookie Nick Bosa.
The sold-out crowd of 71,649 went silent and 49ers defenders took a knee while trainers tended to Bosa after he got hurt on a thirddown sack with 12:50 remaining in the game. Not even a minute later, Bosa bounced up smiling and cheered on the crowd as he ran to the sideline rather than the medical tent.
“Just got the wind knocked out of him,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “I thought he sat and milked his injury for a little bit to hear the crowd chant his name. Nah, he’s been a stud on and off the field.”
Bosa called the moment, in which the stadium shifted abruptly from nerves to relief, “A lot of fun...really cool.”
The 49ers now return to the NFC Championship Game where they made annual visits in the 2011-13 seasons, winning only in 2012 en route to a Super Bowl defeat. They are 6-9 all-time in NFC finals.
STUDS
DEFENSIVE FRONT FOUR >> The 49ers finally got their top four linemen back together and each produced a sack (in order: Arik Armstead, Ford, Nick Bosa, Deforest Buckner). Ford’s return from essentially a six-game hiatus was highlighted by a third-down sack. “I have been nursing injuries all year so it’s a good feeling to persevere and help my team get to the next week,” Ford said.
Bosa came out strong after halftime with a solid tackle then a pass breakup (then an illegal hit against right tackle Brian O’neill on a Richard Sherman interception return). Then came Bosa’s pair of fourthquarter sacks.
Armstead’s first-down sack early in the second quarter pinned the Vikings near the goal line. Buckner, who had a tackle-for-loss on the first series, joined the sack parade midway through the fourth quarter. Anthony Zettel also had a fourthquarter sack.
RB TEVIN COLEMAN >> He emerged from the shadows with a season-high 22 carries for 105 yards and two touchdowns, after producing just one score the previous nine games. His second score, a 2-yard run, came after a physical, 11-yard run courtesy of blocks by Mike Person and George Kittle. Coleman scored the 49ers’ second touchdown on a 1-yard run behind the left side and Kyle Juszczyk’s lead block.
QB JIMMY GAROPPOLO >> He won his first career playoff start via a red-hot start, an oopsy-daisy interception and an effective finishing effort. He had season-low totals in completing 11-of-19 passes for 131 yards, including just 3-of-6 for 26 yards after halftime.
It all began with a touchdown drive, going 5-of-6 for 57 yards, with the lone incompletion slipping off George Kittle’s outstretched hands. Kendrick Bourne’s 3-yard touchdown catch over the middle came with cornerback Xavier Rhodes trailing in coverage and Garoppolo dropping the ball over safety Anthony Harris.
Garoppolo came up limping a bit on his rebuilt left leg after completing a 16yard prayer to Bourne on the second possession, but all looked OK with his knee and ankle afterward.
CB RICHARD SHERMAN >> With the 49ers leading 1710, Sherman made his third career postseason interception (the other two were in 2014). He picked off a Kirk Cousins pass intended for Adam Thielen in the third quarter. The 49ers’ converted that turnover into Coleman’s second touchdown and a 24-10 lead. OVERALL DEFENSE >> The 49ers defense set its tone by forcing a three-and-out to open the game. Through three quarters, the Vikings had just 90 yards, including 15 rushing yards, and four first downs; the 49ers had 264 yards (143 rushing) and 20 first downs.
DUDS
CB AHKELLO WITHERSPOON >> Benched late in the regular-season finale at Seattle, Witherspoon got pulled earlier this game, after just two series. He was sent back in for the final two minutes after they pulled Sherman. Witherspoon earlier got tagged for a pass-interference penalty, then came a 12-yard catch by Adam Thielen on third-and-2, then a 41-yard TD catch by Stefon Diggs — also on thirdand-2. Once pulled, Witherspoon sat on a cooler away from the defensive backs on a bench and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh went over to give what looked like a pep talk.
RB MATT BREIDA >> Ball security issues resurfaced with 1:39 remaining, as he got stripped of the ball after a fourth-and-1 conversion at midfield. He also lost a fumble in last month’s home loss to Atlanta.
VIKINGS RB DALVIN COOK >> He had just 18 yards on nine carries as the Vikings had to turn to a passing attack in their comeback attempt. VIKINGS QB KIRK COUSINS >> He finished 21-of-29 for 172 yards with one touchdown and one interception.