49ers in NFC Championship game
Here are the highs and lows as 49ers advance to NFC championship game
San Francisco’s defense was too much for Minnesota in a 27-10 playoff win at Levi Stadium.
SANTA CLARA >> Tense moments gave way to well-earned jubilation Saturday as the top-seeded 49ers reserved a spot in the NFC Championship Game.
Not once did the 49ers trail but it took a second-half surge to close out the sixth-seeded Minnesota VIkings 27-10 in a divisional-round game at sold-out Levi’s Stadium.
Next up is next Sunday’s shot at a Super Bowl XLIV berth. That NFC Championship Game will kick off at 3:40 p.m., and it will feature the 49ers (14-3) hosting Sunday’s winner between the No. 5-seed Seattle Seahawks and No. 3 Green Bay Packers.
Suffocating defense, an effective rushing attack and timely passing were the hallmarks of the 49ers’ regular-season rise from the ashes, and that recipe worked to cripple the Vikings (11-7).
As for the tense moments, most came before halftime. But the crowd went silent and the 49ers defenders took a knee while trainers tended to rookie sensation Nick Bosa after he got hurt on a third-down 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.
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, Dee Ford, Nick Bosa, DeForest Buckner). Ford’s return
from essentially a six-game hiatus was highlighted by a third-down sack. 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).
Bosa actually had a pair of fourth-quarter sacks an overdue reward for a game well played. Armstead’s first-down sack early in the second quarter pinned the VIkings near the goal line. Buckner, who had a tacklefor-loss on the first series, joined the sack parade midway through the fourth quarter. Anthony Zettel also had a fourth-quarter 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, 11yard 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.
Coleman will be the 49ers’ leading rusher heading into the NFC Championship Game, based on Raheem Mostert’s unspecified calf injury and Matt Breida’s late fumble.
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 was 11-of19 for just 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. Even more impressive: a pseudopancake block he threw on Deebo Samuel’s 6-yard reverse to the Vikings’ 35 in the second quarter. Less impressive: Garoppolo got intercepted 2:41 before halftime when linebacker Eric Kendricks dropped into coverage and picked him off, setting up the Vikings at the 49ers’ 29-yard line. 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.
RB Raheem Mostert: His carries weren’t what made him such a stud but rather his special-teams roots. Using his blazing speed as a gunner, Mostert recovered a muffed punt at the Vikings’ 10-yard line late in the third quarter. That turnover killed the Vikings’ comeback hopes. Mostert sustained a calf injury that is now the 49ers’ top injury concern.
WR KENDRICK BOURNE >> His three catches were beauties: a 3-yard touchdown catch on the 49ers’ opening possession, then a 16-yard reception on a third-down, desperation throw from Garoppolo, and, for No. 3, a 21-yard grab on third-and-5 out of halftime.
WR DEEBO SAMUEL >> The 49ers dual-threat rookie keyed the second touchdown drive with receptions of 14 yards (on third-and-12) and 18 yards (to the 1-yard line), and with a 6-yard reverse in between that featured a potential fumble overruled upon replay.
CB EMMANUEL MOSELEY
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Summoned to replace Ahkello Witherspoon after two series, Moseley came through with third-down stops on back-to-back series that forced Vikings’ punts. Moseley nearly allowed a Stefon Diggs’ catch at the 3 with 2 ½ minutes left but Diggs couldn’t hold onto it, especially after Jimmie Ward’s hit. Ward’s tackle on the Vikings’ final play resulted in a victory kneeldown.
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 ahd 264 yards (143 rushing) and 20 first downs.
KICKER ROBBIE GOULD >> He’s never missed a kick through eight career postseason games, and this outing saw him convert field-goal attempts from 35 and 21 yards.
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.
RT MIKE MCGLINCHEY >> The second-year right tackle allowed Danielle Hunter to make the first sack Garoppolo, and McGlinchey committed a false-start penalty one snap later.