The Sports Xchange

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Except for two plays on special teams, the Minnesota Vikings laid a thorough, across-the-board stinker in their prime-time, season-opening opportunity to prove themselves worthy of widespread optimism.

In a 20-3 loss to the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on Monday Night Football, the Vikings were weak against the run, couldn’t protect the passer, missed yet another makeable field goal and had only a field goal to show for the first game uniting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and running back Adrian Peterson together in a Norv Turner offense.

“In (my) 17 ballgames here, that did not look like the football team that I know,” said head coach Mike Zimmer, who fell to 7-10 as a head coach. “It was a disappointing effort. A lot of credit goes to San Francisco. They were much more physical than we were. That’s more of (the kind of) the team that I would like to be like.”

The run defense gave up eight runs of 10 or more yards while surrendering 230 yards on 39 carries (5.9). The pass protection – which was missing center John Sullivan, who is out at least eight weeks because of back surgery, and right tackle Phil Loadholt, who is out for the season with a torn Achilles’ tendon – was just as bad, allowing five sacks and several knockdowns, including two on the first three offensive snaps of the game.

Meanwhile, kicker Blair Walsh, who made only 5 of 11 preseason field-goal attempts, pushed a 44-yarder wide right on his first attempt. A 37-yarder slid by the right upright later.

Peterson, who missed 15 games a year ago as he dealt with child-abuse charges, was a non-factor with 31 yards on 10 carries and three catches for 21 yards. He looked particularly hesitant taking handoffs out of the shotgun, which is a staple in Turner’s offense.

Bridgewater, however, might have been the most disappointing of all. Lauded throughout his brief career for his unusual poise for a 22 year old, Bridgewater played with a panicked rush to him that hadn’t been seen before.

“He was sped up,” Zimmer said. “He just looked unsure. I think he was concerned about all the things that defensively they were doing. It just did not look like him.”

That was a common theme in the locker room after the game. Players said they hardly recognized themselves. Others said they were humbled or embarrassed and are now facing the challenge of doing a 180 before Sunday’s home opener against Detroit. And, after Monday’s game, the only positives that came to mind were a blocked field goal on the 49ers’ opening possession and a fumble recovery of a 49ers’ muffed punt return.

“Everybody has been talking (optimistically) about us for 11 months,” Zimmer said. “Maybe we thought we were a little bit better than we were. You know, maybe we’re just not ready for prime time yet.”

–It’s clear that running back Adrian Peterson will need time to feel comfortable taking handoffs while standing beside the quarterback in the shotgun formation.

In his first game in more than a year, Peterson said that was the one thing that caused him to play “a little hesitant” while carrying the ball only 10 times for 31 yards.

“It’s different because you’re not able to get that full speed, that full steam going,” Peterson said. “But you can be successful doing it. The guys did a great job of doing it last year. I feel like I can run in any type of formation. So as we continue to work on the things we need to work on, we will improve.”

Peterson also didn’t get in his usual rhythm because the offense couldn’t maintain possession, going just 1 for 9 in converting third downs. Peterson’s first touch didn’t come until the second series. The first series featured three incompletions and two knockdowns for Teddy Bridgewater.

“I maybe assumed (I’d get) one carry (on the first series),” he said. “But I don’t really question coach (Norv) Turner. He’s been doing this a long time. I trust him. I got the ball a couple of times the second series. It is what it is.”

REPORT CARD VS. 49ERS

PASSING OFFENSE: F – In 13 starts and 14 games played, this was by far Teddy Bridgewater’s worst game. His usual poise in the pocket was replaced by a panicked pace that saw him rush through his progressions and overthrow receivers even when he had time. In his defense, the protection was terrible. The 49ers sensed the Vikings would be vulnerable without center John Sullivan and right tackle Phil Loadholt. So they blitzed early and often. The first series featured three passes, three incompletions and two knockdowns for Bridgewater. And things didn’t get a whole lot better after that.

RUSHING OFFENSE: F – So much for the angry-man return of Adrian Peterson. After more than a year away from the game, the general consensus was Peterson would grab the league by the throat and throttle whoever was in his path. Instead, the 49ers were able to make him a non-factor – 10 carries for 31 yards – by playing just six and seven men in the box. Peterson had no rhythm and admitted he was “a little hesitant,” especially taking handoffs while standing next to the quarterback in the shotgun formation.

PASS DEFENSE: C – The pass defense gets a decent grade only because the 49ers were too busy pummeling the run defense to bother racking up big passing numbers. Colin Kaepernick completed just 17 of 26 passes for 165 yards and an 83.0 passer rating. No 49ers receiving target had more than 47 yards. But, again, the pass was unnecessary on this night.

RUSH DEFENSE: F – The Vikings have been talking about being more consistent against the run all offseason. If anything, they looked worse than the team that ranked 25th in run defense a year ago. The 49ers had eight runs of 10 yards or more, including TDs of 10 and 17 yards. Carlos Hyde had 168 yards and two touchdowns in his debut as Frank Gore’s replacement. And, overall, the 49ers gashed the Vikings for 230 yards on 39 carries (5.9).

SPECIAL TEAMS: B – Andrew Sendejo took advantage of a crack in the 49ers’ field-goal protection by racing through the line and blocking the kick. Marcus Sherels, who always seems to be around the ball on special teams, picked it up and returned it into 49ers territory, only to have the offense throw three incomplete passes and have Blair Walsh push a 44-yard attempt wide right. Walsh made only 5 of 11 preseason field-goal attempts. He did make a 37-yarder to avoid the shutout on Monday night, but that kick slid just inside the right upright.

COACHING: F – Head coach Mike Zimmer didn’t think the Vikings were flat. Their performance screamed otherwise. The team just wasn’t ready emotionally for a season opener on a stage this big. And it was humiliated. Defensively, the Vikings had no adjustments in store when the 49ers began pounding away with their running game. Offensively, the Vikings couldn’t slow the 49ers’ pass rush or make any headway with the running game. So the first game uniting Teddy Bridgewater, Adrian Peterson and offensive coordinator Norv Turner was a bust. Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer had his group ready from the get-go, but his biggest concern remains finding a way to snap Walsh out of his long funk.