Minnesota Vikings defensive MVP vs. 49ers in Week 1

As the Minnesota Vikings came out of their Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers with a well-earned victory, there was plenty nice to say about a defense that forced four turnovers and held a much-heralded 49ers’ quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to under 50% on his passing afternoon.

The Minnesota Vikings victory over the 49ers on Sunday was closer than it should have been. In fact, the Vikings defense played along in making in a contest for a short while, starting in dominating fashion, but then slipping as they tried to adjust to the 49ers misdirection plays, bootlegs and backside passes.

Meanwhile, the fairly potent Vikings’ offense decided to stall on three consecutive drives to start the fourth quarter and continued returning the ball to the sneaky San Francisco offense.

But when the 49ers’ charge came to make pull off the unexpected, a fierce Viking pass rush and a man in purple named Smith rubbed it out cleanly.

Defensive MVP vs. 49ers

Harrison Smith, Safety

Sometimes when I watch ‘Harry the Hitman’ play the free safety position, I imagine New England Patriot Coach Bill Belichick in an office watching the same film and lamenting the fact that he didn’t pick him out of the college draft.

On Sunday afternoon, Smith was the same mature reliable playmaker who keeps the cap on head coach Mike Zimmer’s remarkable defense. He was also at the point position of closing the Viking victory out.

As the 49ers’ faced a third-and-five at midfield, down just six points with just over six minutes remaining in the game’s fourth quarter, Smith cruised in on a safety blitz for a monster sack of Jimmy Garoppolo, forcing a 49ers punt.

The Minnesota Vikings then chewed the clock down and punted back to San Francisco.

With 1:45 left in the game, with the San Francisco offense facing a second-and-ten from their own 11-yard line, Vikings’ defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson pressured a Garoppolo pass into triple coverage, where a waiting Smith bagged it like a lolly-pop outfield fly.

The Jimmy G bandwagon has finally stopped for gas.

Honorable Mention:

Danielle Hunter, Defensive End

One of the reasons 49ers’ quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo threw three interceptions on Sunday was no doubt due to his growing anxiety in facing a defensive secondary tight on his passing options and heavy pressure from the Vikings’ defensive line.

A lot of that pressure came from Danielle Hunter, who outclassed his 49ers counterpart and chased plays down across the football field.

Hunter, not much the type to talk trash, even said that Jimmy G was getting scared of the Viking defensive line as the game went on.

With fellow linemen Everson Griffen shaking his off-season rust and Sheldon Richardson abusing the banged-up 49ers interior offensive line, no one blames the young San Francisco QB much.

Honorable Mention:

Mike Hughes, Cornerback

Hughes started the game by making a brilliant play on special teams, catching and downing a punt at the San Francisco five-yard-line as the Vikings’ punt gunner.

Placed into the starting slot corner role because of teammate Mackensie Alexander’s ankle injury, Hughes then had to move over to the left corner spot as starter Trae Waynes left the game in the second quarter.

The rookie from Central Florida responded to his assignments by making three solo tackles and defending three passes, one of which he took back 28 yards for a touchdown, giving the Vikings a 17-3 third-quarter lead.

Criticism of Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman’s decision to take Hughes with Minnesota’s first-round pick has been soundly diminished.