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Top 5 takeaways from 49ers’ loss vs. Vikings in Week 1

By Aaron Tan

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 09: Danielle Hunter #99 of the Minnesota Vikings sacks Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers in the second half of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 09: Danielle Hunter #99 of the Minnesota Vikings sacks Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers in the second half of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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San Francisco 49ers Minnesota Vikings Week 1 position grades analysis
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 09: Pierre Garcon #15 of the San Francisco 49ers attempts to catch the ball over defender Mike Hughes #21 of the Minnesota Vikings in the second half of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /

No. 5: Red-Zone Woes

The 49ers’ ineffectiveness in the red zone that was on full display in Minnesota wasn’t a new thing for the team. It was a problem last season when Jimmy Garoppolo was on his hot five-game win streak as well.

It’s not head coach Kyle Shanahan’s fault — he is the best play caller in the league. It is the fact that the 49ers do not have a guy who can go up and snag the ball in contested situations, which is holding the offense back from scoring in the red zone.

Running back Alfred Morris seems like the perfect guy to pound the rock in on goal-line situations, but him fumbling on the 1-yard line didn’t help, either.

Since the team doesn’t have a true red-zone threat, the 49ers will have to be extra careful in the red zone this season.

I am not completely freaking out about the offense’s red-zone woes yet, but it is something to be mildly concerned about due to how long that this problem has been prevalent for.