49ers Defense Makes Kirk Cousins Look Elite in 22-17 Loss to the Vikings

Another ugly game from the San Francisco 49ers that ends up as a loss. This time, it wasn't the fault of the offense. The defense of the 49ers cost the team the game as they made Kirk Cousins look elite in their 22-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Tonight was by far the worst performance by the 49ers' defense since last season when they were destroyed by the Kansas City Chiefs. But against the Chiefs, they at least had the excuse of facing Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Andy Reid. The 49ers don't have any excuse against the Vikings. They were without their best player on offense in Justin Jefferson along with a very average running game. Aside from tight end T.J. Hockenson, there was no one who was much of a threat on the Vikings' offense. It should've been a game where the defense looked phenomenal as they have all season long.

Well, that didn't come close to happening as the 49ers' defense made practically every Vikings' offensive player look like a sweet player. Rookie receiver Jordan Addison had his best game of the season and early career thus far. He tallied 7 catches for 123 yards for two touchdowns. The 49ers had ZERO answers to stop him, let alone slow him down. The Vikings could've had Addison wear Jefferson's number and no one would've been able to tell the difference. Usually the 49ers' defense crumbles against the elite receivers, not a rookie who has been a non-factor.

Much of that also has to do with how fantastic Cousins performed. He has always looked putrid against the 49ers in the past. Against a defense with Robert Saleh and DeMeco Ryans as defensive coordinator, Cousins was living in a nightmare. Against Steve Wilks, however, he looked like the best quarterback in the league. Cousins completed 35-of-45 passes for 378 yards, two touchdowns, and one pick. He has never come remotely close to looking so elite against the 49ers before. The players are essentially the same on the defense, but there is one major change. All it took was the 49ers to hire a defensive coordinator from outside the organization for Cousins to be elite versus them.

It's time to start being concerned with Wilks. On the Vikings' final offensive series of the first half, Wilks elected to send the blitz against Cousins. That is his identity with the defense to constantly blitz. Because of that, it left the 49ers exposed on the backend, so if Cousins connected on a big play, then it was going to be a score. And that is exactly what happened when he found Addison who completely owned Charvarius Ward by taking the ball away from him to sprint down for the score. That was a game changing play after the 49ers had just scored a touchdown on the previous drive.

It also doesn't help when the defense can't get off the field. Minnesota converted on 8-of-13 third downs and only punted ONCE in the entire game. A nonexistent pass rush is part of why the 49ers can't get off the field. They didn't register a single sack, which is pathetic. Nick Bosa, as phenomenal as he is, cannot get to the quarterback at all. No one can unless Wilks dials up a blitz, and if that fails, then you see what happens like at the end of the first half. Losing the Cleveland Browns last week didn't generate any cause for panic, but after this loss, I think there is time to be concerned.

In this game, every receiver on the Vikings was open, and the 49ers pass rush was nonexistent yet again. Sure, you can always chalk it up to the 49ers being without Deebo Samuel and Trent Williams. The offense wasn't great by any measure at all, but the story of the game is the mediocrity that was on display tonight by the 49ers' defense. Again, if this had happened against a strong offense like last season against the Chiefs, then it is fine. But to look putrid against the Vikings without Jefferson is downright inexcusable.

The 49ers need to wake up and figure it out next week, which doesn't get easier as they play host to the Cincinnati Bengals.