During his preseason debut, Hoyer completed just one of his four passes for three yards in limited play against the Kansas City Chiefs. It was enough to reaffirm the doubts on the minds of the Niner Faithful. Against the Denver Broncos, Hoyer looked improved but costly offensive turnovers may have skewed the perception of how he performed. He completed eight of his 11 passes for 89 yards and an interception.
On Sunday, 49ers fans got a glimpse of what may have looked like an entirely different quarterback. Hoyer displayed more confidence and management of the offense than he had displayed in his previous two outings. He completed his first eight passes, which included two touchdowns, and was 12-17 for 176 yards. The touchdowns came during the 49ers' first two offensive drives and the team looked to be firing on all cylinders during those drives.
The 49ers' first touchdown pass came on a deep Hoyer pass to wide receiver Marquise Goodwin for the 46-yard score. The second came on a 24-yard pass to running back Carlos Hyde, who scampered into the end zone for the score, at the start of the second quarter.
Of course, we know the narrative of the rest of the game. The Vikings came back to beat the 49ers 32-31 on a successful two-point conversion. However, just looking at the starting offense, the 49ers showed their first sign of improvement under head coach Kyle Shanahan and his complex offensive system, which wasn't even on full display.
Hoyer's performance has to give the Niner Faithful a little more hope for the 2017 season as the 49ers look to improve on a disastrous two-win campaign from last year.
For your analysis, here is a video compilation of every pass thrown by Hoyer in the game. Let us know in the comments section what you thought of his outing on Sunday night at U.S. Bank Stadium.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers vs. Seahawks: Brian Baldinger breaks down the talent gap
The San Francisco 49ers' playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks exposed more than just the impact of injuries. According to NFL analyst Brian Baldinger, it revealed a widening talent gap between the two NFC West rivals. Baldinger joined Bay Area radio station 95.7 The Game on... -
ESPN shockingly ranks 2025 Seahawks above every 49ers Super Bowl champion
It may be too early to definitively rank the 2025 Seattle Seahawks, winners of Super Bowl LX, among the greatest teams in NFL history. But that didn't stop ESPN from doing exactly that. In a recent ranking by NFL analyst Aaron Schatz, the 2025 Seahawks ranked No. 3 among the... -
49ers pass rush struggles: Is Cashius Howell the solution?
The San Francisco 49ers' pass rush was a major concern this past season, finishing with just 20 total sacks—the fewest in the NFL. While injuries to defensive end Nick Bosa played a role in those struggles, general manager John Lynch likely expected more consistent pressure... -
Watch: 49ers legend Roger Craig learns he's headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
The NFL officially announced Thursday that San Francisco 49ers legend Roger Craig has been selected for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A pioneer who helped redefine the running back position, Craig's long-awaited enshrinement cements his place among the game's...