NFL: No moral victories for the Niners

No moral victories for the Niners


With 10 losses in 13 games this year, it is tough for the San Francisco 49ers to find too many positives. And they're not looking for them either, unless it involves a victory.

San Francisco limited electric rookie running back Adrian Peterson to just three yards on 14 carries this past Sunday, but still lost 27-7 to the Minnesota Vikings. Adrian Peterson entered the week as the NFL's leading rusher but found little room against the 49ers.

"There are no moral victories in stopping Adrian Peterson," said 49ers corner Nate Clements. "We had a game plan all week to stop their run, and we were able to stop one guy, but (Chester) Taylor was still able to move the ball on us. We had some good plays on defense, but we need to bring it on every play to prevent giving up big gains."

Taylor, the Vikings starting running back last season, ripped off 101 yards on eight carries, with the bulk of that coming on an 84-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter.

The Vikings led 27-0 at the half and had posted 226 net yards by the break. Minnesota was held to just 54 yards in the second half, but the game had long been decided by that point.

"We really just wanted to be able to get our right personnel in there depending on what they had out there," said rookie linebacker Patrick Willis, who led the team with eight tackles to go along with a fumble recovery. We really came in with the intent on stopping the run, and unfortunately we let one big run hurt us.

"Taylor had a good game, but that was a big run and you can't take that away from him. But outside of that big run, I don't know what they really had rushing. Outside of that one big run, I think we did alright. After the first half, we just wanted to win the second half."

It would be easy for the 49ers to just point to their performance against the run and call it a day, something to build on, and so on and so on. But the bottom line is, the club is just not doing enough to win games.

San Francisco got tagged on the scoreboard, did little offensively, and turned the ball over five times. In fact, the Niners set the tone early when quarterback Trent Dilfer was intercepted on the game's first play from scrimmage in the game.

Vikings defensive lineman Kevin Williams was the recipient of the pick, and he took it 18 yards for a score just 14 seconds into the game.

Running back Frank Gore fumbled twice, while backup quarterback Shaun Hill was also intercepted in addition to a fumble lost.

"It's hard to win a game when you have that many turnovers, I've said that before but it is accurate," said San Francisco head coach Mike Nolan. "Ball security is imperative if you want to win a football game, just look throughout the league."

San Francisco began the year as a dark horse to win the NFC West. But at 3-10, the club is just trying to find itself in preparation for next season.

NEW HILL TO CLIMB

Dilfer wasn't around to see the 49ers get completely shelled. The veteran quarterback was knocked out of the game with 19 seconds left in the second quarter.

On 4th-and-2 at the Vikings' nine-yard line, Dilfer was flushed from the pocket and scrambled to his left. While stumbling short of the marker, Dilfer was nailed in the head by Charles Gordon and laid motionless for several minutes. He eventually sat up and was assisted on the field, then taken by cart to the locker room.

Nolan said after the game that he thought Dilfer had a concussion. He said on Monday that Dilfer left the hospital Sunday night and is doubtful for this weekend.

With Alex Smith inactive due to a right shoulder and right forearm injury, Hill stepped in and threw for 180 yards and a touchdown on 22-of-28 passing. Dilfer completed 7-of-19 passes for 45 yards before leaving.

Hill's day included his first career pass and touchdown throw, a five-yard strike to wideout Arnaz Battle. Battle said the TD came on a double out route run by himself and Ashley Lelie.

"Shaun is a competitor and can make plays," Battle said of Hill. "In the preseason and in practice our guys could see it. He came in and led the first drive for a touchdown and had a couple good drives late in the game. Hopefully, we can go back and watch the film and correct some things."

Hill is in his sixth year in the league after signing with Minnesota as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He joined the 49ers as a free agent following the 2005 season.

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