49ers Drub Vikings; Falcons Edge Eagles on Monday Night
San Francisco and Atlanta won their 2015 NFL debuts on Monday night. Here’s a recap of the Week 1 doubleheader:
49ers 20, Vikings 3
Carlos Hyde ran for 168 yards and two touchdowns, and the San Francisco 49ers routed the Minnesota Vikings, 20-3, on Monday night in Santa Clara, Calif. Hyde’s big night overshadowed the return of Vikings’ star Adrian Peterson, who played his first game in more than a year after being suspended last season.
Colin Kaepernick threw for 165 yards to help San Francisco (1-0) win the coaching debut of Jim Tomsula for the Niners. Dressed in new, alternate black jerseys, the home team rolled over Minnesota (0-1), dominating time of possession and holding Peterson to 31 yards on 10 carries.
The Niners’ defense sacked Vikings’ quarterback Teddy Bridgewater five times and kept Minnesota out of the end zone on Monday.
Atlanta 26, Philadelphia 24
Eagles’ kicker Cody Parkey missed a go-ahead field goal from 44 yards out with 2:27 left and the Falcons held on to beat Philadelphia, 26-24, in Atlanta on Monday night. Matt Bryant kicked four field goals for the Falcons, including a 47-yarder with 6:27 remaining that gave them the lead for good.
Atlanta (1-0) dominated early and led 20-3 at halftime. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns to wide receiver Julio Jones, who caught nine passes for 141 yards in the game.
Running back DeMarco Murray, the 2014 NFL rushing champ with Dallas, was held to just nine yards on eight carries for Philadelphia (0-1). He did score two touchdowns in the third quarter as Philly narrowed its halftime deficit. The Eagles took a 24-23 lead when Ryan Mathews scored on a 1-yard plunge midway through the fourth quarter, but Atlanta marched downfield for Bryant’s final, decisive field goal on the ensuing drive.
Philadelphia quarterback Sam Bradford completed 36 of 52 passes for 336 yards, with one touchdown and one interception in his debut for the team that traded for him this past off-season.