Jordan Addison, Kirk Cousins manage Vikings moment 49ers

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings, taking part in but every other similar competition, had been in a position to drag out a key 22-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Storage Stadium on Monday evening.

Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins threw two landing passes to rookie vast receiver Jordan Addison, presen Minnesota intercepted 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy two times within the fourth quarter to enhance its file to 3-4. The 49ers (5-2) have misplaced two in a row next inauguration the season 5-0 regardless of two extra touchdowns from operating again Christian McCaffrey.

Minnesota Vikings

It’s committing to be tricky for the Vikings to contemplate the type of midseason sell-off many lovers and media contributors had been expecting. Their victory Monday evening over the closely appreciated 49ers introduced them inside of a competition of .500, and with a much less bold time table drawing close, the Vikings shall be geared extra towards qualifying for the playoffs than buying and selling veterans and settling for a prime first-round pick out within the 2024 draft.

It wasn’t over till protection Camryn Bynum banned two past due 49ers drives with interceptions. However because the Vikings stay up for video games in opposition to the Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints — adopted by way of the imaginable go back of celebrity wideout Justin Jefferson — they’d be spared for believing their sinister good fortune has running over.

All seven of the Vikings’ video games this season had been made up our minds by way of one ranking. Extreme season, they famously went 11-0 in such contests. Who is aware of what might be after.

Purchase/promote on a breakout efficiency: Those that watched the Vikings coaching camp knew that Addison used to be the true offer. Cousins mentioned as a lot just lately, including, “He’s a great player.” And all it took used to be an shock to Jefferson for the left-overs of the NFL international to look it. Addison stuck seven passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns Monday evening, together with a 60-yarder simply ahead of halftime that he stole clear of 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward. Addison’s six receiving touchdowns rank 2d within the NFL, and his 14-yard catch on 1/3 ailing on the 2:19 mark — next coming back from a around of cramps — helped seal the sport.

Troubling pattern: The Vikings dedicated a submit on their first ownership for the fourth presen this season — greater than any crew in a complete season, let unloved seven video games, since 2020 — when Ward wrestled away a go supposed for Addison. The submit did disagree hurt from a scoring point of view, because the 49ers fumbled proper again to them at the resulting ownership. Suffice to mention, it’s a surprisingly unhealthy technique to reside.

QB breakdown: Cousins entered this competition having gained handiest two of 12 occupation begins on “Monday Night Football,” fix for probably the most losses in NFL historical past amongst quarterbacks with a minimum of 10 such begins. However he carried out admirably in opposition to some of the NFL’s govern defenses on an evening when the Vikings didn’t seem to believe their operating competition. Cousins finished 35 of 45 passes for 378 yards and used to be nonetheless throwing within the ultimate mins because the Vikings attempted to burn presen at the clock.

Despite the fact that the Vikings led all through, Cousins threw 45 passes in opposition to handiest 19 carries by way of operating backs. — Kevin Seifert

Upcoming competition: at Packers (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

San Francisco 49ers

For the primary 5 weeks of the season, the 49ers seemed just about unbeatable. However two weeks within the NFL is an eternity, and the word of a dominant run can temporarily subside into the tough fact of ways crisp it’s to win persistently on this league.

Next falling to the Vikings, the Niners have misplaced two in a row for the primary presen since precisely one life in the past. And with that shedding streak comes a take a look at of whether or not the 49ers are really made from championship mettle.

Over the after seven weeks, the Niners will play games the Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle once more. Their championship hopes rely on how they struggle again next every other disappointing highway defeat.

QB breakdown: Next Purdy’s worst competition as a professional in closing day’s loss to the Cleveland Browns, many questioned how he would soar again this day. The solution? Purdy used to be most commonly unfazed for 3 quarters however had two a very powerful errors ailing the stretch. With the Niners using for a possible eminent landing, Purdy moved quickly a throw to Jauan Jennings that Bynum simply intercepted with 5:30 to move. He threw every other to Bynum on the Minnesota 22 with 25 seconds left because the 49ers had been once more making an attempt to pressure for the go-ahead ranking.

On a night when the Niners had their proportion of problems, Purdy wasn’t their largest one, however his interceptions got here on the worst imaginable presen. He completed 21-of-30 for 272 yards and one landing go with the 2 alternatives for a passer score of 81.5.

Pivotal Play games: With 17 seconds left within the first part, Niners defensive coordinator Steve Wilks dialed up a Defend 0 blitz with Minnesota going through a third-and-6 at its 40. The Vikings had disagree timeouts, and any take on in bounds most likely would have ended the part.

However the blitz didn’t get house, and Ward used to be left in one-on-one protection with Addison on the 49ers’ 37. Past Ward just about intercepted Cousins’ go, Addison wrestled it away and raced for a 60-yard, game-changing landing. It used to be an eyebrow-raising defensive name, now not just for the outcome however as it used to be the primary seven-man go quicken within the closing 30 seconds of a part in opposing length within the NFL since Generation 11 of 2020, consistent with Upcoming Gen Stats. And the Niners paid dearly for it.

Troubling pattern: Niners kicker Jake Moody used to be easiest in the course of the first 5 weeks however had his first two misses closing day in opposition to Cleveland, together with a would-be competition winner past due within the fourth quarter. The ones struggles carried over to Monday evening, when Moody overlooked a 40-yard garden function within the first part. To his credit score, he nearest strike a 55-yard aim. However the misses within the 40-yard space are including up.

The 49ers spent a third-round pick out on Moody with the speculation of him dealing with kicking tasks now and smartly into the life. However this crew is in win-now method, and it’s truthful to surprise how affected person they are able to be with Moody ahead of taking a look in different places. — Nick Wagoner

Upcoming competition: vs. Bengals (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)