San Francisco 49ers vs. Minnesota Vikings: 2018 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 2018 NFL season on 2018-09-09, the Minnesota Vikings took care of business against the San Francisco 49ers, pulling away with a 24–16 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

K. Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) paced the passing game, with +0.00 total EPA, and -12.7% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, A. Thielen (Minnesota Vikings) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +3.98 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-15.3% win probability) landed in the second quarter when San Francisco 49ers changed the game: (2:30) 46-A.Morris up the middle to MIN 1 for no gain (98-L.Joseph). FUMBLES (98-L.Joseph), RECOVERED by MIN-22-H.Smith at MIN 2. 22-H.Smith to MIN 2 for no gain (15-P.Garcon).

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 A. Thielen · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +3.98 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.33 EPA/play
2. 2 K. Juszczyk · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.86 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.43 EPA/play
3. 3 G. Kittle · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.34 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Cook · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +2.03 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
5. 5 K. Rudolph · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +1.17 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.58 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Morgan · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +0.89 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.89 EPA/play
7. 7 S. Diggs · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +0.78 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.13 EPA/play
8. 8 S. Diggs · Minnesota Vikings · Rushing · +0.56 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.56 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Minnesota Vikings — S. Diggs (K. Cousins pass) (Q2 43:44)
• Minnesota Vikings — M. Hughes (Q3 25:48)
• Minnesota Vikings — K. Rudolph (K. Cousins pass) (Q3 19:27)
• San Francisco 49ers — D. Pettis (J. Garoppolo pass) (Q3 15:40)

Field goals

• Minnesota Vikings — D. Carlson (Q1 49:00)
• San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould (Q2 41:47)
• San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould (Q3 24:18)
• San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould (Q4 8:13)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 3–0. Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the SF 30 (Q1 49:00) — (4:00) 7-D.Carlson 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-6-M.Wile..

The second quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 7–3. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the SF 22 (Q2 43:44) — (13:44) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep left to 14-S.Diggs for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q2 43:39) — 7-D.Carlson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-6-M.Wile.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the MIN 24 (Q2 41:47) — (11:47) 9-R.Gould 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion..

The third quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 14–10. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the MIN 80 (Q3 25:48); Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q3 25:41) — 7-D.Carlson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-6-M.Wile.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the MIN 15 (Q3 24:18) — (9:18) 9-R.Gould 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the SF 11 (Q3 19:27) — (4:27) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short right to 82-K.Rudolph for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q3 19:22) — 7-D.Carlson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-6-M.Wile.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the MIN 22 (Q3 15:40) — (:40) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass deep left to 18-D.Pettis for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the MIN 15 (Q3 15:31) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion..

The fourth quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 3–0. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the MIN 4 (Q4 8:13) — (8:13) 9-R.Gould 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 32:30) — (2:30) 46-A.Morris up the middle to MIN 1 for no gain (98-L.Joseph). FUMBLES (98-L.Joseph), RECOVERED by MIN-22-H.Smith at MIN 2. 22-H.Smith to MIN 2 for no gain (15-P.Garcon). [WPA -15.3% · EPA -6.33]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 25:48) — (10:48) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass short right intended for 84-K.Bourne INTERCEPTED by 21-M.Hughes at SF 28. 21-M.Hughes for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -11.4% · EPA -6.27]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 56:43) — (11:43) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short right to 19-A.Thielen to SF 34 for 14 yards (24-K.Williams). [WPA +8.8% · EPA +2.10]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 43:44) — (13:44) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep left to 14-S.Diggs for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.8% · EPA +2.95]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 40:33) — (10:33) 33-D.Cook up the middle to SF 37 for 15 yards (48-F.Warner). FUMBLES (48-F.Warner), RECOVERED by SF-25-R.Sherman at SF 29. 25-R.Sherman to SF 29 for no gain (83-T.Conklin). [WPA -7.8% · EPA -4.37]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 32:30) — (2:30) 46-A.Morris up the middle to MIN 1 for no gain (98-L.Joseph). FUMBLES (98-L.Joseph), RECOVERED by MIN-22-H.Smith at MIN 2. 22-H.Smith to MIN 2 for no gain (15-P.Garcon). [WPA -15.3% · EPA -6.33]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 25:48) — (10:48) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass short right intended for 84-K.Bourne INTERCEPTED by 21-M.Hughes at SF 28. 21-M.Hughes for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -11.4% · EPA -6.27]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 14:43) — (14:43) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass short left intended for 18-D.Pettis INTERCEPTED by 29-X.Rhodes at SF 41. 29-X.Rhodes to SF 38 for 3 yards (85-G.Kittle). MIN-29-X.Rhodes was injured during the pl [WPA -7.0% · EPA -5.00]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 1:45) — (1:45) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass deep middle intended for 81-T.Taylor INTERCEPTED by 22-H.Smith [93-S.Richardson] at SF 29. 22-H.Smith to SF 15 for 14 yards (15-P.Garcon). [WPA -2.8% · EPA -4.60]

Quarterback report card

K.Cousins led all passers in efficiency for Minnesota Vikings, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• K.Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) · 43 dropbacks · 46.5% completion · -12.7% CPOE · +0.00 EPA/play · +0.00 total EPA
• J.Garoppolo (San Francisco 49ers) · 42 dropbacks · 35.7% completion · -17.6% CPOE · -0.17 EPA/play · -6.94 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Minnesota Vikings held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.15 vs -0.23), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Minnesota Vikings: 13 drives, -13.77 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 12 drives, -18.40 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Minnesota Vikings leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• A. Thielen (Minnesota Vikings) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• K. Cousins (MIN) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• J. Garoppolo (SF) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q1 49:00 · SF 30 · Score 0-3
   (4:00) 7-D.Carlson 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-6-M.Wile.
2. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 43:44 · SF 22 · Score 0-9
   (13:44) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep left to 14-S.Diggs for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q2 43:39 · SF 15 · Score 0-10
   7-D.Carlson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-6-M.Wile.
4. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q2 41:47 · MIN 24 · Score 3-10
   (11:47) 9-R.Gould 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion.
5. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q3 25:48 · MIN 80 · Score 3-16
   (10:48) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass short right intended for 84-K.Bourne INTERCEPTED by 21-M.Hughes at SF 28. 21-M.Hughes for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q3 25:41 · SF 15 · Score 3-17
   7-D.Carlson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-6-M.Wile.
7. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q3 24:18 · MIN 15 · Score 6-17
   (9:18) 9-R.Gould 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion.
8. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q3 19:27 · SF 11 · Score 6-23
   (4:27) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short right to 82-K.Rudolph for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q3 19:22 · SF 15 · Score 6-24
   7-D.Carlson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-6-M.Wile.
10. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q3 15:40 · MIN 22 · Score 12-24
    (:40) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass deep left to 18-D.Pettis for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q3 15:31 · MIN 15 · Score 13-24
    9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion.
12. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q4 8:13 · MIN 4 · Score 16-24
    (8:13) 9-R.Gould 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion.