49ers’ Super Bowl compass: Starting in right direction, next stop is Minnesota
SANTA CLARA — Here is the first in a weekly installment examining the 49ers’ outlook on winning their first Super Bowl in 30 years:
GAME RESULT
A 32-19 win Monday night against the New York Jets ushered the 49ers into an NFL season that ends Feb. 9, with or without them in Super Bowl LIX. The Niners didn’t suit up Christian McCaffrey (game-time scratch; calf) so they unleashed Jordan Mason for a 147-yard, 28-carry barrage in his first career start. The defense thwarted Aaron Rodgers, while Fred Warner forced a fumble and Deommodore Lenoir deflected an interception to Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles. Jake Moody’s field goals capped six of their eight straight scoring drives.
NEXT UP
Sunday at Minnesota Vikings (1-0). The 49ers have not won in Minnesota since 1992, a streak spanning seven visits, including a 22-17 loss last October. Sam Darnold, the 49ers’ backup quarterback last season, completed his first 12 passes in his Vikings’ debut Sunday and that included a touchdown pass to Justin Jefferson in their 28-6 win at the New York Giants.
NFC WEST STANDINGS
The 49ers are joined atop the division by the Seattle Seahawks, who won 26-20 Sunday but required a second-half comeback at home against the Denver Broncos. The Los Angeles Rams fell in overtime at the Detroit Lions, 26-20, to repeat last season’s wild-card outcome. The Arizona Cardinals led 17-3 at Buffalo before allowing four touchdowns in a five-series span to fall 34-28.
NFC CHALLENGERS
The NFC’s other double-digit victors in Week 1 were the Dallas Cowboys (33-17 at Browns), the New Orleans Saints (47-10 vs. Panthers), the Tampa Bay Bucs (37-20 vs. Commanders), and the Vikings (28-6 at Giants).
Also 1-0 are the Philadelphia Eagles (34-29 over the Packers in Brazil), the Chicago Bears (24-17 vs. Titans), the Lions and the Seahawks.
THE REIGNING CHAMPS
The Kansas City Chiefs opened the NFL season and their three-peat bid Thursday night, eking out a 27-20 home win over the Baltimore Ravens once a replay ruling overturned a potential Ravens touchdown catch on the final play.
STAR TURN
Mason seized Monday’s stage to showcase not only a physical rushing style but excellent vision to find lanes. His 28 carries were the most by any 49ers rusher under coach Kyle Shanahan since 2017. His 147 yards were third-most by a 49ers first-time starter, behind Carlos Hyde (168 yards, 2015) and Kevan Barlow (154 yards, 2003).
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
The offense shouldn’t need to settle for six field goals, all due respect to Moody matching a 49ers’ single-game record. Brock Purdy agreed: “We want to score touchdowns. We’re hard on ourselves about, I think it was like a third-and-eight or third-and-10 and coming up short. There’s areas where we want to push each other and get a little better and that starts with me.”
INJURY ISSUES
McCaffrey’s calf and Achilles issues are of significant concern after they scratched him from the lineup, be it 90 minutes before kickoff or “maybe Friday night” as Mason told ESPN about his starting-job assignment. Coach Kyle Shanahan said McCaffrey did not have a setback, just that it was too bothersome Monday. A similar calf injury struck in a Dec. 31 win at Washington, and it knocked him out of practice for four weeks after an Aug. 4 camp session. … Wide receiver Jauan Jennings (ankle) and guard Aaron Banks (calf contusion) were the only others on the initial postgame report.
QUOTES TO NOTE
“Credit to them, it’s a championship outfit and they introduced us to some championship football and we’ll get that fixed.” – Jets coach Robert Saleh
“They’re a championship-level group. I hope we see ‘em there.” – the Jets’ Rodgers on the Super Bowl
COMPASS DIRECTION
Excellent first steps following the treasure map to New Orleans, site of Super Bowl LIX.