Vikings outlast 49ers with two Cousins TDs
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Monday, Oct. 23, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)Abbie Parr/Associated Press
2023.10.23 – Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins connected with Jordan Addison for two first-half scores, Camryn Bynum intercepted San Francisco’s Brock Purdy twice in the fourth quarter, and the Vikings held on to outlast the 49ers 22-17 on Monday Night Football.
Cousins let the ball fly for Addison earlier than he wanted to in the face of an all-out 49ers blitz in the closing seconds of the second quarter, Vikings bracing for the worst after realizing the pass was under thrown.
Addison manage to win the tug-of-war battle with 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward and spun away for a 60-yard touchdown, and the Vikings finally pulled out a victory after three straight late lapses at home.
“I thought it was getting picked,” Cousins said. “I still don’t know how Jordan came away with it.”
Addison, stepping up in a big way with superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson sidelined by a hamstring injury, had seven catches for 123 yards in his breakout performance on a prime-time stage.
“One play here, one play there. We’ve had some tough losses,” said Cousins. “Last year we were fortunate enough to pull them out. We found a way tonight.”
The 49ers’ third-ranked defense was torched by Vikings quarterback Cousins, who headlined an offense that gained 452 yards and went 8 of 13 on third-down conversions. The 49ers had no sacks of Cousins, who completed 35 of 45 passes for 378 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
2023.10.23 (SF 49ers vs. MIN Vikings) Game Highlights
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (9) breaks a tackle by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward (7) during a 60-yard touchdown reception in the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 23, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)Abbie Parr/Associated Press
2023.10.23 (SF 49ers vs. MIN Vikings) Full Game Highlights
2023.10.23 – 49ers vs. Vikings (49ers Wake Up with Bruce & Krueger)
2023.10.23 – 49ers vs. Vikings (49ers Wake Up with Bruce & Krueger)
Running-back Christian McCaffrey scored twice for the 49ers (5-2), who have a two-game losing streak for just the second time in two years.
“We came in with the right mindset,” said Purdy. “We’ve just got to execute better.”
Purdy completed 21 of 30 passes for 272 yards with a touchdown and his two picks. It was the first two-interception game of his 12-start career.
The play of the game came with on third-and-6 with 16 seconds left before halftime when the 49ers sent three extra rushers. The fight for the ball with Ward was eerily similar to the opening drive of the game, when Cousins threw to Addison over the middle where it was wrestled away by Ward to hang the Vikings with their fourth opening-drive turnover in seven games.
“I needed that one,” Addison said. “I couldn’t let him get it twice.”
The first-round draft pick from USC, who left the game briefly with leg cramps, also had a 14-yard reception on third-and-4 on a drive that could have sealed the game for Minnesota (3-4).
But Greg Joseph, who also missed an earlier extra point, pulled a 50-yard field goal wide right.
With no timeouts and 1:11 left, the 49ers took possession at their 40. Purdy, who was picked off with 5:30 remaining at the Minnesota 30 after an off-target pass intended for Jajuan Jennings, completed two short throws to reach the Minnesota 40. But Bynum zeroed in on a pass over the middle for Ray-Ray McCloud III and leaped in front of him for the interception.
2023.10.23 – SF 49ers vs. MIN Vikings (NBC Sports-Post Game)
Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers looks for running yards in front of Jordan Hicks #58 of the Minnesota Vikings during the first half at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 23, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
2023.10.23 – SF 49ers vs. MIN Vikings (NBC Sports-Post Game)
2023.10.23 – SF 49ers vs. MIN Vikings (NBC Sports-Post Game)
“Obviously, our season isn’t going as well as we would like it to, but nothing’s better than bouncing back from adversity and stacking wins up,” Bynum said.
The 49ers, who were still the favorite to win the Super Bowl after a 19-17 defeat last week at Cleveland, played without wide receiver Deebo Samuel and left tackle Trent Williams, both of whom were hurt in that ugly game. Purdy bounced back from the worst game of his young NFL career and his first regular season loss as a starter, but those late interceptions will sting.
Minnesota’s defense also avenged another mistake. McCaffrey lost the ball at the Minnesota 11 on the ensuing possession when Bynum and Harrison Smith converged on the NFL’s leading rusher. Smith was credited for the forced fumble, his third of the season to tie a career high, and Dean Lowry recovered.
“I made a bad mistake today that I believe cost us the game,” McCaffrey said.
That was the first time in seven games this season the 49ers failed to score on their first drive to portend their mistake-filled game.
2023.10.23 – SF 49ers vs. MIN Vikings (Larry Krueger-Post Game)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) is sacked by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Danielle Hunter (99) during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 23, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)Abbie Parr/Associated Press
2023.10.23 – SF 49ers vs. MIN Vikings (Larry Krueger-Post Game)
2023.10.23 – SF 49ers vs. MIN Vikings (Larry Krueger-Post Game)
Addison’s first touchdown, a perfectly placed 20-yard pass into the hole in the zone coverage after Cousins audible, was the first allowed by the 49ers in the first quarter this season.
“Against that team, that’s big-time quarterback play in my mind,” coach Kevin O’Connell said.
OFF TARGET
49ers Kicker Jake Moody, who missed a 41-yard field goal try in the closing seconds that would’ve won it at Cleveland, pulled a 40-yard attempt wide right in the second quarter. He later converted from 55 yards.
McCAFFREY’S NFL RECORD
The 49ers running-back set a league record by scoring a touchdown in his 16th straight game, including playoffs. McCaffrey scored a on a 3-yard run with 1:01 left in the second quarter to trim the Vikings’ lead to 10-7.
McCaffrey had been tied with Bills running back O.J. Simpson, who scored in 15 straight games from 1974-75.
Colts running back Lenny Moore scored a touchdown in 17 straight games in which he played from 1963-64, but his streak included a five-game absence due to an injury. Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson scored in 18 straight regular-season games from 2004-05, but his streak included a one-game absence and a scoreless playoff game.
INJURIES/INACTIVES
49ers: LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles departed after an ankle injury that occurred while covering the third-quarter kickoff. … LB Dre Greenlaw (hamstring) returned from a one-game absence.
Vikings: LB Brian Asamoah limped off after colliding on the kickoff with Flannigan-Fowles. … LG Ezra Cleveland (foot) didn’t play, replaced by Dalton Risner.
UP NEXT
49ers: Host Cincinnati on Sunday.
Vikings: Visit Green Bay on Sunday.
Related: Browns hand 49ers its first loss of the season
Related: See below – 49ers Mostert Epic Dash to Super Bowl!
Read more at: San Francisco 49ers Media Services / More AP NFL
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