No. 1: A Good Season Awaits
Imagine how good this defense will be when Reuben Foster comes back from his two-game suspension. If Fred Warner plays as good as he did today for the rest of the season, the Foster-Warner duo will be one of the most dangerous linebacker groupings in the league.
Yes, the unit lacks a true pass-rusher, but the interior of the front seven is extremely young and talented.
San Francisco 49ers
And wide receiver Dante Pettis — man, this guy beat former first-round cornerback Trae Waynes on a deep ball Jimmy Garoppolo underthrew and maybe the league’s best safety Harrison Smith for a beautiful toe-tapping touchdown.
Pettis also beat Xavier Rhodes on a slant route later in the game. This guy knows how to get open no matter who he is going up against. He just needs to work on catching the ball and he is going to be a star in this league.
If Marquise Goodwin’s injury is serious, expect Pettis to do a lot of damage this season.
This team has a lot of heart, almost mounting a comeback against, in my opinion, the best team in the league on their home turf. With both of their right guards hurt. Without their top receiver, the fastest man in the league and gives them a speed threat.
There is a good chance that all of these injured players today will return soon later on in the season.
The team also shot themselves in the foot countless times (Alfred Morris’ fumble on the 1-yard line, Pierre Garcon drop in the end zone, George Kittle wide open possible touchdown drop that led to pick-six where Kendrick Bourne ran wrong route, Garoppolo overthrow wide open Kittle in the end zone, Solomon Thomas late-game fourth-down offsides jump to give Vikings first down).
If even one of those mistakes did not happen, the 49ers may just have won the game — and pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season against the best team in the league.
The 49ers got their toughest game out of the way. They fought tremendously in it despite everything going against them, and is ready to face the rest of the NFL.
With Kyle Shanahan, the best play caller in the league by far, leading this offense, anything is possible.