San Francisco 49ers: The good, bad, and ugly in week one loss to the Vikings

5 of 10

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 09: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after passing the ball in the first half of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /

Good: They Remained Competitive

Despite the lack of crispness and sharpness, the turnovers, and the overall general sloppy play, the 49ers hung in there, and had a chance to at least try for a game-tying drive near the end of the game.

With just under two minutes left in the game, San Francisco took over on their own eleven-yard line. After an incomplete pass to Matt Breida, Garoppolo’s next pass intended for Trent Taylor was a little overthrown, and ended up in the hands of Minnesota’s Harrison Smith, sealing the game for the Vikings.

Admittedly, sometimes you have to dig real hard for those silver linings and moral victories in a loss, but in this particular case, the silver lining is that the 49ers remained competitive. With four turnovers, and an offense that failed do to a whole lot – especially in the first half – that San Francisco was able to stay in the game, and have a chance to tie it in the end, should make them feel pretty good about themselves overall.

But, when you’re paying a guy the kind of money they’re paying Garoppolo, moral victories aren’t enough. As the field general, he needs to find ways to win the close games – even when the team as a whole, didn’t bring its A-game.