How 49ers let Darnold, Jefferson join on 97-yard landing

How 49ers let Darnold, Jefferson join on 97-yard landing initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Bay Space

There are a lot of performs the 49ers want they might have again from Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings, however one stands out above the remaining.

Either side of the ball struggled for San Francisco within the 23-17 loss to Minnesota at U.S. Financial institution Stadium, however the booming 97-yard landing go from Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold to star broad receiver Justin Jefferson within the second quarter may need been essentially the most impactful 49ers miscue within the one-score loss.

In chatting with reporters after the sport, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell broke down what went into his resolution to name the play whereas backed up towards their very own finish zone.

“The 97-yarder is without doubt one of the prettiest throws I’ve seen,” O’Connell stated. “It goes again to a glance we ran on them final 12 months, comparable type of presentation, comparable all the pieces. That one’s been within the hopper for a little bit bit. Didn’t know I might name it. Backed up with our ft within the paint like that.

“Nice safety in that second, elite execution by each [Jalen Nailor], I feel [he] would have been an extended hit as nicely relying on who Sam selected and he selected the fitting one launching that factor. That is as fairly of a throw as I’ve seen, particularly in these circumstances. After which [Nailor’s] play model to get the block to get Justin in the long run zone.”

Jefferson appreciated the belief Darnold had in him to beat the 49ers’ double-team and make a play.

“I imply, we practiced that play time and time once more,” Jefferson instructed reporters postgame. “We did not apply it being on the 3-yard-line and us going 97 [yards], it was only a nice, nice ball by Sam to actually belief the double-team for me to run proper by it. It has been time and time once more the place we apply these performs and we have simply acquired to exit and execute them. It may occur again and again, like I have been saying; me beating a double-team, Sam’s simply acquired to belief me to beat it and to make a giant play.”

All Darnold needed to do was put the ball in the fitting spot and let Jefferson do the remaining.

“Getting an identical protection we had been in search of and clearly I had [Nailor] as nicely on the excessive cross,” Darnold defined. “However simply trusting [Jefferson] to clearly beat his man but additionally beat the protection. Simply tried to place it on the market for him and clearly, he acquired it and did the remaining.”

So what occurred on the play from the 49ers’ perspective?

San Francisco doubled Jefferson with safeties Ji’Ayir Brown and George Odum, who every had been tasked with following the star receiver relying on which means he broke in his route.

“I acquired Jefferson on the over. He is [George Odum] acquired Jefferson on the up-and-out,” Brown shared. “So Jefferson stimmed inside, type of slowed me down, anticipating him going over and he type of simply took the roof off. Sam did a hell of a job throwing it, too. Sam simply let that factor go, man. And I do not suppose he cared who was over there. He simply let that factor go and it fell proper into his palms.”

Jefferson in the end burned each Brown and Odum and with a key block from Nailor downfield, scampered practically the whole size of the sphere for the rating to place Minnesota up 10 factors halfway by the second quarter.

“I gotta be higher. I type of left my security hanging there,” Brown admitted. “Yeah, I’ve simply acquired to be higher on that play.”

Whereas the massive play was pricey, it occurred far too early to seal the 49ers’ destiny on Sunday.

San Francisco hung round within the sport, however in the end could not include Darnold and the Vikings’ offense when it mattered most.

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