SANTA CLARA — The 49ers’ win streak swelled to three games Sunday, but this was far from a runaway victory over fellow NFC playoff hopeful Minnesota.
Well, unless you literally factor in the running prowess of rookie Elijah Mitchell and versatile catalyst Deebo Samuel.
The 49ers emerged with a 34-26 win thanks to a scoring outburst midway through and only after a barrage of injuries took out star players.
Samuel bowed out in the second half with a groin injury, and he said he’s “not too concerned” ahead of an upcoming MRI. For the 49ers (6-5), his status is of great interest because of how valuable Samuel’s been to this season’s revival.
#49ers Deebo Samuel says he’s not too concerned about his groin. MRI upcoming. Said was initially in dark place when he exited to sideline pic.twitter.com/EPFOfOYN1N
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) November 29, 2021
“We have no idea what it’s going to be like. I don’t think it’s as bad as you worry,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “We’re hoping it’s a low strain. He feels that it might be.”
Exiting earlier were linebackers Fred Warner (hamstring) and Dre Greenlaw (groin), plus backup running back Trey Sermon (ankle).
The Vikings (5-6) lost key players of their own, including running back Dalvin Cook (shoulder) and linebacker Anthony Barr (hamstring). Their thin defensive line already had lost Everson Griffin (non-football illness) and Dalvin Tomlinson (COVID reserve) last week.
The 49ers’ ability to run the football, either with a play-making powerhouse in Samuel or an underrated rookie in Mitchell, has them in the thick of the NFC playoff hunt. This game’s result saw the 49ers and Vikings swap places in the NFC’s Nos. 6 and 7 playoff spots, behind the Los Angeles Rams at No. 5 in the NFC wild-card race.
“We’re all excited to be back in the mix and have a season in our control,” Nick Bosa said. “We always knew that we were a really good team and just had to execute better. Now we’re executing at the right times.”
Still, this time Sunday “was really stressful,” tight end George Kittle said.
“It was really cool the adversity our guys overcame,” Shanahan said, pointing to this game’s wave of injuries, the VIkings’ 99-yard kick return for a touchdown and Robbie Gould’s missed field goal in the fourth quarter that kept it a one-score game.
Shanahan also commended Jimmy Garoppolo for doing enough to win, which included overcoming a first-series interception that the coach called “inexcusable.” Garoppolo agreed, and he rallied with key completions, including late in the first half to Brandon Aiyuk on third-and-11 before a tying touchdown pass to Jauan Jennings.
As for their playoff status, Garoppolo said: “You always have it in the back of your head your position and the other teams around you. We take it week by week, and we have to continue doing that forward.”
The 49ers’ win streak now hits the road, with a date next Sunday in Seattle (3-7) before a Dec. 12 visit to Cincinnati (7-4).
This game’s superstars:
— Mitchell. He ran for 133 yards (27 carries) in his first action since a fracture to his right middle finger required a stabilizing pin. “Whoever’s in the way, I try to run the ball, run over them or run by them,” Mitchell said. “It’s just the mindset I have.”
Even with that issue, he also contributed five receptions for 35 yards. “I threw him the ball in warmups and he didn’t have an issue with it,” Shanahan said. “He was a stud today, just how physical he played. Didn’t seem like there were any concerns (with the finger).”
Tight end George Kittle wore a postgame T-shirt with the caricature of Mitchell, to whom he praised: “Elijah hits the holes downhill like Raheem (Mostert). He’s so explosive and fast, guys think they can get with an arm tackle because he’s not the biggest back in the world, but he runs through arm tackles and does it consistently.”
— Samuel. He rushed for 66 yards and two touchdowns. He had just one catch (12) to take him over the 1,000-yard mark this season in his “day job” as a wide receiver. There’s no doubt he ignited the second-half surge with a 49-yard run, and, two snaps later, a 3-yard touchdown run that gave the 49ers their first lead of Sunday’s game.
His groin injury came when he pulled up in the backfield ahead of a hit for a 6-yard loss. Shanahan said he’s seen Samuel stop like that in past season’s injuries and that may have saved him from a worse injury. As for how great Samuel’s been this year, Kittle explained why: “We can go out in every personnel and they don’t know if we’re running or throwing. He adds a dynamic to our offense that you can’t really prepare for. He just allows us to put defenses in a position we want them.”
— Azeez Al-Shaair. Not only did he intercept Kirk Cousins, he recovered a fumble for his second takeaway of the third quarter. He also handled the defensive signals once Warner departed in the second half. “He’s been one of our best players,” Shanahan said of Al-Shaair. “His energy, the way runs around, and him getting his hands on the ball today was great.”
Said Al-Shaair of his interception: “We made a halftime adjustment and talked about changing up the coverage. I was able to slide underneath it and he threw the ball.”
He returned that interception 24 yards to the 2-yard line. Mitchell followed with a touchdown to cap a 21-point scoring spree by the 49ers, preceded by Jennings’ touchdown catch and Samuel’s 3-yard run.
— Offensive line. The 49ers ran 39 times for 208 yards. It wasn’t their third straight game with 40 carries, but they came darn close, while allowing two sacks of Garoppolo. Afterward, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer accused the 49ers of frequent holding, to which Kittle replied: “Refs throw flags, refs don’t throw flags, it’s just the game. If you’re going to sit on the sideline complaining about holding the whole time, tell your guys to make better plays.”
— Kevin Givens. Unheralded on the defensive interior, he not only forced Cook to fumble, the Vikings’ star running back had to be carted off with a shoulder injury. How did Givens breach the backfield so well? “That’s our scheme, to attack,” Givens said.
