Even if it takes the Vikings’ new-look offense a week or two to get up to full speed, they still have the NFL’s top-ranked defense. On Sunday, it made the difference in the Vikings’ fourth Week 1 win in five years.
In a game that gave the Vikings plenty of their own missed opportunities to lament, their defense pounced on nearly all of the 49ers’ mistakes, forcing four turnovers in a 24-16 win.
Kirk Cousins completed 20 of his 36 passes for 244 yards, throwing a pair of pretty touchdown passes to secure his first opening-day win as a NFL starting quarterback.