NFC West Power Rankings: Week One
September 14, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyd (28) scores a touchdown against Minnesota Vikings strong safety
Robert Blanton(36) during the fourth quarter at Levi
The 49ers entered week one with a lot of questions surrounding them following an extremely tumultuous offseason. Could Jim Tomsula run a team? How would the defense play with a ton of different pieces? Would NaVorro Bowman be back to his old, dominant self after a horrific knee injury? Could the offensive line hold their water? Could Carlos Hyde fill 49er legend Frank Gore‘s shoes?
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The answer, at least in the first week of the season, was a resounding yes on all fronts. The defense, which was the linchpin of the team’s success during the Jim Harbaugh years, was outstanding in their debut in the Tomsula era. Against the Minnesota Vikings, they allowed just 248 yards of offense, sacked Teddy Bridgewater five times, and picked him off once. Adrian Peterson, in his first game in a year, picked up just 31 yards on 10 carries.
Hyde was fantastic, giving everyone the impression that he will turn into one of the best running backs the NFL has to offer. On 26 carries, the second-year back from Ohio State racked up 168 yards (a 6.5 yard average), and scored twice. He showed power, speed, and some shifty moves, including this gorgeous spin move.
The offensive line, which sparked a ton of criticism following a really bad offseason, protected quarterback Colin Kaepernick very well, allowing only a single sack. Kaepernick, after an offseason of work with Kurt Warner, was efficient, though not spectacular. He completed nearly two-thirds of his throws, but didn’t find the endzone. On a night when Hyde dominated, he didn’t need to.
The 49ers got back to their old identity as a running team with a scary defense. Week one was a huge stepping stone as the team looks to get back to the top of the heap in a strong NFC West. There’s a lot of good to build on, and with the Pittsburgh Steelers next on the docket, they’ll need to continue to grow.
Next: Number One