How 49ers will prevent Vikings' Jefferson from beating them
By Scott Conrad
1 p.m. ET. 1-0. CBS. 49ers-Vikings preview. 60. 49ers -6.5. 42. Sunday, Sept. 15. 1-0
In a rematch from Week 7 of last year, the San Francisco 49ers will travel to Minnesota to face off against the Vikings. The defending NFC champions are hopeful that the result is different this time around.
Since the narrow defeat of last season, 22-17, Kirk Cousins is now longer the quarterback for the Vikings and since departed for the Atlanta Falcons. With a season-ending injury to their rookie quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, a former Niners backup is the new opposition for San Francisco.
Sam Darnold is now under center. Despite only starting one game last year for the 49ers, the veteran knows what it is like to connect with a big target downfield. He threw to the likes of Niners pass catchers such as Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and more.
On Sunday, San Francisco's defense is preparing its game plan to limit the production from the fifth-year talent in wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
If the 49ers are is going to win, they definitely will need to contain the Vikings' first option in the passing game.
How to stop Justin Jefferson from running over 49ers secondary
When these two teams went against each other last year, Jefferson did not play. Cousins is gone and tight end T.J. Hockenson is still out recovering from an injury.
Still, San Francisco's defense has a tough task ahead. The coordinator, Nick Sorensen, will have to keep pressure on covering Jefferson, who is 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds. His athleticism and explosiveness make him a threat against the 49ers.
Matching him up with size is a good start. Defensive backs Ji'Ayir Brown and Deommodore Lenoir are both under 6-foot tall. They give up a few inches in height, which limits the coverage advantage over Jefferson. Talanoa Hufanga is only an inch shorter than Jefferson, but the All-Pro safety is listed as questionable despite being cleared to return after last year's ACL tear.
That leaves other defenders, such as Charvarius Ward, Isaac Yiadom and George Odum, as the top 49ers options who are as tall as Minnesota's star receiver.
Ward and Yiadom each recorded a defended pass against New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers last week. The lone interception in the game came from linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, who hauled in a tipped pass by Lenoir.
Pressuring Sam Darnold could ice Justin Jefferson, too
The Niners may have a slight bonus, especially if fellow Vikings wideout Jordan Addison (ankle) doesn't play. Forcing Darnold who is finding his groove on a new team might provide the outlet for San Francisco to make mistakes on untimely throws when rushed by pressure.
Last week against the New York Giants, Darnold targeted Jefferson on six throws and connected on four of them, including one for a touchdown. Yet, he still collected just short of 60 yards in the game.
The majority of his catches were down the left side, including a 44-yard reception. However, the Vikings quarterback was intercepted on a similar play by the Giants last week.
Minnesota's premiere running back, Aaron Jones, is also new to the Vikings this year. If the 49ers defense can force Darnold to hand off the ball more than he throws, the time clock will slowly slither away.
San Francisco has enough firepower of its own behind quarterback Brock Purdy, running back Jordan Mason and Co. to limit the Vikings offense from taking the field too much.
Forcing the Vikings to punt and coming up with turnovers will also halt Jefferson from beating the 49ers.