SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Carlos Hyde wanted to outplay the better-known No. 28 on the field, Adrian Peterson.
He did that and more, and Jim Tomsula’s San Francisco 49ers produced a victory in his debut as head coach minus the interim status he had for the final game of 2010.
Hyde carried the offense with 168 yards on the ground and touchdown runs of 17 and 10 yards in his first career start, spinning away from a defender and diving into the end zone untouched on a rare nice play in a first half full of ugly ones to lead the Niners past the Minnesota Vikings 20-3 on Monday night.
The new starter in place of departed franchise rushing leader Frank Gore, Hyde’s yards were the most by a 49ers running back since Gore’s 207 in Week 2 of 2009 against Seattle.
“We want to run the football,” Tomsula said. “Carlos did an awesome job running the football.”