MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Christian Ponder don't flinch, even next to that will swarming San Francisco defense. Minnesota's quarterback possesses come a long way from his hard fresh season.
Ponder threw two touchdown passes that will tiny conclude plus played regarding an additional score to help you the Vikings give this 49ers his or her earliest defeat, 24-13 with Sunday.
After a prominent start to his or her NFC North excursion by means of decisively conquering playoff groups Green Bay as well as Detroit, the particular 49ers (2-1) had been outdone within every single way through the team very least almost certainly going to complete so.
The Vikings (2-1) started out the overall game boldly with a fourth-and-goal touchdown overlook Ponder for you to his favourite targeted Rudolph. They finished robust by means of making some turnovers and two punts by the 49ers inside fourth quarter.
Playing alongside his ex - group inside normal season for your first time, Alex Smith 's franchise-record interception-free ability finished at 249 instantly goes over when Vikings rookie Josh Robinson harvested him off. Toby Gerhart lost two fumbles pertaining to Minnesota within the last quarter, but it didn't even matter.
This bad game increased worse to the 49ers as soon as legend linebacker Patrick Willis travelled gingerly over field together with assistance with a strong evident harm to his suitable leg. Smith completed twenty four intended for 35 intended for 204 yards, as well as a lost fumble with a late sack.
He discovered tiny conclusion Vernon Davis on consecutive passes, your second a single a 1-yard play-action fake, inside third quarter in order to draw within 17-13. The Vikings blew 17-0 and 20-0 halftime prospects last September inside losing consecutive home video games to Tampa Bay in addition to Detroit.
But using a single third-and-goal pass by Ponder - Adrian Peterson has been spacious almost Rudolph, which climbed to around Donte Whitner for you to corral this - this lead has been back to 11 along with the Vikings were upon their way to burying in which unpleasant start to past year's 3-13 record. That drive has been fueled by simply about three 49ers penalties, which includes two pointless roughness calls, just one by Dashon Goldson against Rudolph.
The 49ers have had the NFL's stingiest run safety since 2009, making it possible for seldom several 1/2 yards per attempt, along with Peterson received another difficult reminder regarding that. Even your holes that made an appearance with the line closed up inside a hurry. He complete with 86 yards on twenty-five carries.
Ponder was up to the challenge, though. Entering the sport while using league's best conclusion percentage, they retained upward his or her effectiveness along with had been particularly shrewd on third downs as well as against that blitz. Ponder journeyed 21 for 35 for 198 yards and, a lot of importantly, zero turnovers.
The Vikings went 82 yards in of sixteen plays to begin the actual game, with Ponder utilizing a massive amount rapid throws. Peterson had been stonewalled for 1 yard on second-and-goal along at the couple of and not any gain on third down. But by using inches wide to go, Ponder rolled quit less than difficulty by Goldson in addition to used a floater off of his back foot that Rudolph ran down while in front of Aldon Smith inside place with the end zone to get a 7-0 lead. Rudolph acquired a number of draws on that drive.
The Vikings, exactly who gamed without outside linebacker Erin Henderson as a consequence of a concussion, lost an additional beginner when they get home from the initial one fourth whenever totally free safety Mistral Raymond tried to help fishing tackle Gore. His perfect ankle rolled within a wince-inducing damage of which routed your pet off of on the basket in a full-leg immobilizing brace. But the particular Vikings placed firm along with forced a quick field objective through David Akers. Moss was extensive open from your purpose line on minute down, but Smith's pass was high and also Moss required an embarrassed make an effort to stretch out pertaining to it.
Ponder resolved to go some with regard to several pertaining to 39 back yards passing in addition to took away from some periods with regard to 34 back yards on the upcoming possession, such as this 23-yard sprint in which made that 14-3 Minnesota. Accelerating off a structure within the 10, conceivably reminding all the 49ers supporters within their old favorite Steve Young, Ponder dived through the objective collection for the final yard. He found the actual shot along with started his / her get together together with a good animated position at the cheering fans inside most adjacent seats.
Then, to end down Minnesota's complete dominance with the first half, Letroy Guion impeded a 43-yard effort through Akers, his first skip from the season. Ponder relocated the particular Vikings close enough pertaining to out of law school Blair Walsh to generate a new 52-yard field objective of which worked out the actual cause not one but two touchdowns.
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