Week 3: Sloppy 49ers unable to solve Ponder's Vikings

After logging wins against the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions in the first two weeks, both of whom made the playoffs last season, the San Francisco 49ers were given their easiest task yet. So they thought. But the hosting 1-1 Minnesota Vikings would show no signs of intimidation facing one of the league's top teams and refused to be bullied in their own home. They would prove just that by going for it on a gutsy fourth-and-goal call to begin the game that paid off for Minnesota head coach Leslie Frazier. Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder executed Minnesota's opening-drive as well as anybody we've seen the 49ers face this year, capping the series off with a touchdown pass to his tight-end Kyle Rudolph and eating up over half the first quarter in doing so as the 49ers found themselves trailing for the first time this year, 7-0. 

Though the second quarter would treat the San Francisco offense much nicer than the first quarter did, quarter no. 2 wouldn't be very pretty either. 49ers QB Alex Smith and running back Frank Gore got things going on their second drive, as the two combined to get well within David Akers' territory, setting up the Pro-Bowl kicker for a 29-yard field goal to make it 7-3, Minnesota. But Christian Ponder would answer back by doing the unthinkable against the 49ers dominant run defense by scrambling up the middle for a 23-yard touchdown, channeling his inner Randal Cunningham and giving the Vikings a 14-3 cushion. With a chance to inch a bit closer nearing the two-minute warning, Alex Smith and company once again put the offense in position to tack on another three points, but this time David Akers' 43 yarder would be blocked, giving Minnesota a chance to increase their lead. A series of mainly short passes from Ponder would do just that, setting up Vikings kicker Blair Walsh who split the uprights from 52-yards out as Jim Harbaugh found his team down, 17-3 at the half. 

Having been downright outplayed in all three phases of the game in the first half, the 49ers would need both a solution on offense as well as an answer for Christian Ponder. And while they seemed to be on track by opening the second half with a 94-yard kick return from Kyle Williams resulting in another Akers field goal as well as a touchdown pass from Alex Smith to Vernon Davis after forcing a Minnesota three-and-out, it wouldn't be long before the 17-13 deficit would once again reach double-digits for the 49ers. Another 7-minute long drive orchestrated by Ponder ended much like the first with Ponder linking up in the end zone once again with his tight-end Rudolph who this time made a circus catch with one hand. With both the score (24-13) and the clock against them, the 49ers were in need of some magic if they planned on making a comeback. 49ers running back Frank Gore who hadn't fumbled since Week 5 of last year, would pick a terrible time to lose his first fumble of 2012, fumbling on San Francisco's first play of the drive. 

Gore's turnover ended a career-high streak of 255 consecutive carries without a fumble and seemed to have put the game away for good. But after each exchanging a pair of punts, Minnesota's second-string running back Toby Gerhart would fumble not once, but twice on back-to-back drives. But San Francisco would be unable to capitalize as they were courteous enough to give the ball right back on back-to-back turnovers of their own. Alex Smith who's been near perfect this season in the turnover department would be anything but during week 3 as the 49ers final two drives ended in an interception intended for WR Michael Crabtree and a fumble as Jared Allen greeted the quarterback with a sack, forcing another 49er fumble as San Francisco fell for the first time this year, 24-13. Ironically the 49ers first loss came on a day Alex Smith threw for more passing yards than the opposition as his 204 yards on 24-of-35 attempts bested Ponder's 198 yards on 21-of-35 pass attempts.

What was most puzzling regarding the loss was that Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was kept out of the end zone and held to under 100 rushing yards (86-yards on 25 carries) and yet the 49ers weren't able to come out on top. And while the 49ers looked unprepared for what they faced in Minnesota, the Vikings appear to be a better team than they've been portrayed to be and deserve all the credit in their upsetting win on Sunday. And though the loss is inexcusable for the 49ers, you can be sure that head coach Jim Harbaugh will take it as a wake-up call similar to the one they got from the early loss to Dallas last season and have his team alert and ready for battle come next Sunday. Hopefully his plan on offense will include more of Randy Moss who made his first trip to Minnesota as a member of the visiting team with only 27-yards and 3 receptions to show for. 

Week 4 Preview & Prediction: Week 4 will see the 49ers continue their current road trip as they get set to face a 2-1 New York Jets team that similar to theirs is best known for their defensive capabilities and run oriented offense. Luckily for Alex Smith and co., the 49ers offense will have one less problem to worry about as the Jets will be without the best cornerback in the game as it was learned that Darelle Revis will miss the remainder of the season due to a torn MCL in his left knee, dealing a huge blow to not only Rex Ryan's expensive D, but also his playoff hopes. The meeting at New York's MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will also mean that the 49ers will get to see their first glimpse of Tim Tebow. Having now taste defeat this season, I expect the tandem of Alex Smith and Frank Gore to have a much better outing on offense this week as well as a bounce back performance from the 49ers defense who should provide plenty of problems for the quarterback duo of Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow. With that said, look for the 49ers to return to the bay area 3-1 after a 24-17 win over Gang Green. 


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