Behind a strong defensive effort and an effective rushing attack, the 49ers cruised past the Vikings 27-10 on Saturday to advance to the NFC championship game.
The 49ers' return to playoff action following a five-year drought was dominant: San Francisco allowed just 147 total yards, the fewest in a playoff game in the Super Bowl era.
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Though the Vikings hung around in the early going with a 41-yard touchdown pass from Kirk Cousins to Stefon Diggs and a second-quarter field goal, Minnesota was unable to find any answers over the final 30 minutes.
San Francisco's defense allowed Vikings star running back Dalvin Cook to log just 18 rushing yards. It also forced six punts and tallied six sacks and an interception. The special teams, meanwhile, recorded a momentum-shifting fumble recovery off Marcus Sherels' muffed punt.
HAISLOP: 49ers takeaways from their dominant victory
As for the 49ers' offense, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo set the tone early with a handful of catch-and-run completions. Once San Francisco began to silence the Minnesota offense, the 49ers rolled out their three-headed rushing attack of Tevin Coleman, Raheem Mostert and Matt Breida, who combined for 180 rushing yards.
Sporting News provided live updates and highlights from Vikings vs. 49ers below.
49ers vs. Vikings score
| 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | F | |
| Vikings | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 49ers | 7 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 27 |
49ers vs. Vikings live updates, highlights
(All times Eastern)
FINAL: 49ers 27, Vikings 10
7:16 p.m.: Matt Breida had what would've been a first down but he fumbled and the Vikings recovered. Minnesota has 1:39 with which to work.
7:11 p.m.: Cousins takes a deep shot to Diggs but Jimmie Ward is there to break it up. Looks like the Vikings will go down quietly.
7:05 p.m.: San Francisco runs it near midfield, getting the clock to 5:02 before setting up to punt.
6:57 p.m.: The 49ers bring the heat on third down yet again to take down Cousins. Another Vikings punt with nine minutes remaining.
6:53 p.m.: San Fran logs a three-and-out and will boot it to Minnesota with 11 minutes to play.
6:46 p.m.: Cousins goes down again on third down as he's swarmed by the 49ers pressure. Nick Bosa is shaken up on the play but is able to get up and fires up the crowd.
6:41 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, 49ERS. Gould makes it a three-possession game with a 21-yard field goal. Big drive coming up for Minnesota. 49ers 27, Vikings 10.
End of third quarter: 49ers 24, Vikings 10
6:35 p.m.: Instead, Marcus Sherels misplays the return and running back Raheem Mostert lands on it. Right when the Vikings seemed to grab some momentum back, San Fran has a first-and-goal.
6:35 p.m.: Vikings force a quick and much-needed three-and-out and get a drive started before the end of the third quarter.
6:29 p.m.: Cousins' pass on third down is batted away and Minnesota has to punt yet again. Momentum is all San Francisco's right now.
6:24 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, 49ERS. San Francisco pounds it on the drive following the turnover, using eight runs and zero passes to find its way into the end zone via Tevin Coleman's second plunge of the day. 49ers 24, Vikings 10.
6:15 p.m.: Cousins' third-down pass to Adam Thielen is jumped and picked by Richard Sherman. San Francisco will have it on the Vikings 44.
6:10 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, 49ERS. The 49ers advance 46 yards on nine plays to set up Robbie Gould's first kick of the day from 35 yards out. 49ers 17, Vikings 10.
6:05 p.m.: San Francisco gets the second half started on offense.
Halftime: 49ers, Vikings 10
Stats
Possession : 49ers 17:52, Vikings 12:08
First downs : 49ers 14, Vikings 4
Total yards : 49ers 159, Vikings 83
Rushing yards : 49ers 63, Vikings 14
Passing yards : 49ers 96, Vikings 69
Penalties : Vikings 0-0, 49ers 3-18
Turnovers : Vikings 0, 49ers 1
5:46 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, VIKINGS. Dan Bailey converts a 39-yard field goal to chip into the 49ers lead. Just 36 seconds to go in the first half. 49ers 14, Vikings 10.
5:39 p.m.: After a close call earlier, Eric Kendricks makes it count this time as he reads Garoppolo on the play-action pass and snags the interception. Minnesota is back in business in 49ers territory.
5:33 p.m.: San Francisco gets off the field on third-and-10, forcing Minnesota to punt again.
5:27 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, 49ERS. Tevin Coleman punches it in from a yard out to give San Francisco the lead. The 49ers used a 10-play drive to get into the end zone. 49ers 14, Vikings 7.
5:20 p.m.: Xavier Rhodes strips Deebo Samuel in what was looking like a promising drive for the 49ers. However, after review, it was rulled that Samuel was down. San Francisco is back to work on the Vikings 35.
5:14 p.m.: Minnesota's offense goes backwards and the Vikings punt. San Francisco returns the punt back towards midfield.
End of first quarter: 49ers 7, VIkings 7
5:07 p.m.: Minnesota's defense steps up after San Francisco crosses midfield. The 49ers will punt it away.
4:54 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, VIKINGS . Cousins lofts it to Stefon Diggs who leaps over the falling Akhello Witherspoon to cash in the 41-yard touchdown. 49ers 7, Vikings 7.
4:44 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, 49ERS . San Francisco goes 61 yards on eight plays and finishes the drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Kendrick Bourne. 49ers 7, Vikings 0.
4:41 p.m.: Jimmy Garoppolo has a 22-yard pass to Emmanuel Sanders to set the 49ers up at the Minnesota 27.
4:38 p.m.: The Vikings run twice with little success and then Cousins fires a pass out of bounds and Minnesota goes three-and-out to start.
4:36 p.m.: Kirk Cousins and the Vikings will get started on their own 25 following the touchback.