Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers

Tevin Coleman ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns and the 49ers' defense produced six sacks of Kirk Cousins as the 49ers beat the Minnesota Vikings 27-10 at Levi's Stadium in the NFC divisional-round game. Jimmy Garoppolo went 11-of-19 for 131 in his first playoff start. Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner combined for 13 tackles. The 49ers improved to 14-3 and advanced to the NFC Championship game.[1][2][3]

Tevin Coleman ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns Saturday afternoon at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers' defense generated six sacks of Kirk Cousins. The 49ers beat the Minnesota Vikings 27-10 in the kind of NFC divisional-round home win where the year-three Shanahan project's playoff identity was firmly in the conference's championship-mix.

Jimmy Garoppolo went 11-of-19 for 131 in his first playoff start. Frank Gore (returned from Buffalo) didn't play. Raheem Mostert ran for 58. The defense's six sacks of Cousins. The kind of NFC divisional-round home game where the offensive identity, in Garoppolo's first playoff start, was the kind of game-managing performance the year-three project had been built around.

Kirk Cousins threw for 172 yards. Dalvin Cook ran for 18. The 49ers' defense generated six sacks and forced no takeaways but the defensive pressure was constant. The kind of NFC divisional-round home win where the year-three project's competitive identity, in the playoff opener, was firmly in the conference's championship-mix. 14-3 with the NFC Championship game at home next Sunday vs the Packers-Seahawks winner.

49ers 27, Vikings 10. Margin: +17. NFC Divisional Round.

• Tevin Coleman: 22 carries for 105, 2 rushing TDs.
• Jimmy Garoppolo: 11-of-19 for 131 (1st playoff start).
• Raheem Mostert: 12 carries for 58.
• Deebo Samuel: 3 catches for 17.
• Kendrick Bourne: 1 TD.
• Kirk Cousins: 21-of-29 for 172.
• Dalvin Cook: 9 carries for 18.
• Adam Thielen: 7 catches for 50.
• 49ers D: 6 sacks of Cousins.
• 49ers 14-3; Vikings out.
• 49ers advance to NFC Championship.

A 27-10 NFC divisional-round home win over the Minnesota Vikings at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers improve to 14-3 and advance to the NFC Championship game.

How it unfolded

Tevin Coleman ran in his first touchdown to give the 49ers an early 7-0 lead. The Vikings kicked a field goal. Robbie Gould kicked one of his own. Coleman ran in his second touchdown to make it 17-3. Kendrick Bourne caught a touchdown right before halftime. The 49ers led 24-3 at the half. The second half was a Gould field goal and a Vikings touchdown drive. The 49ers held on 27-10.

The turning point

The 49ers' second-quarter scoring explosion. With the year-three project's offensive identity in operation against Mike Zimmer's defense and the Levi's Stadium playoff crowd seeing the divisional-round opener, the three first-half touchdowns put the game out of reach by halftime.

By the numbers

Garoppolo 11-of-19 for 131 in his first playoff start. Coleman 22 carries for 105 with two TDs (his career playoff game). Mostert 12 for 58. Deebo Samuel 3 catches for 17. Bourne 4 catches for 51 with a TD. Cousins 21-of-29 for 172. Cook 9 for 18 (held down). The 49ers' six sacks.

Personnel watch

Coleman's two-touchdown playoff debut. Garoppolo's first playoff start producing the kind of game-managing performance the year-three project had been built around. The defense's six sacks of Cousins. The kind of NFC divisional-round home performance where the year-three project's competitive identity was firmly in the conference's championship-mix.

What it means

14-3. NFC Championship game at home next Sunday vs the Packers-Seahawks winner. The divisional-round home win confirms the year-three project's playoff identity. The conference championship is one win away.