6 biggest takeaways from the Vikings win over the 49ers in Week 7

Vikings takeaway No. 2

Protection was very good.

The San Francisco 49ers are known for being strong in the trenches. Their defensive front is among the most celebrated in the league and was going to be a problem for a Minnesota Vikings team that has struggled at times to keep Kirk Cousins upright.

Surprisingly, Cousins wasn't sacked at all on Monday Night Football. There was one occasion where it looked like the defense surrounded him and appeared to have swallowed him up, but he stepped up and fired a pass that was completed.

ESPN shows that the 49ers defense is credited with six hits on Cousins. Interestingly enough, no San Francisco defender had more than one hit on the Vikings quarterback despite starting left guard Ezra Cleveland not being able to play due to injury.

If Monday night was a sign of what is to come for the Minnesota Vikings, the future could be bright for the passing attack. Kirk Cousins thrives when he can have time to read the field and make accurate throws, and he got just that in Week 7.