Minnesota Vikings (3-4) – San Francisco 49ers (5-2): 22-17
San Francisco has lost its mojo. Coming off a defeat against the Browns, the Californians lost again far from their homeland, against the ultra-realistic Vikings. The last action of the first half (see below) is symptomatic of a team whose machine has stalled: with 16 seconds on the clock and the Minnesota Vikings on their 40 yards, the 49ers are playing too aggressively and do not put a safety on cover. Jordan Addison punishes the Niners with a touchdown 9 seconds later. One mistake among many for San Francisco. The Vikings didn’t ask for that much.
San Francisco accumulates errors, Cousins capitalizes
Appearances can be deceiving. On the first drive of the match, Kirk Cousins (35/45, 378 yards, 2 TD, 1 interception) targets rookie Jordan Addison but finds himself intercepted by Charvarius Ward. The beginnings of carnage? Not really since San Francisco does not benefit, Christian McCaffrey (15 races, 45 yards, 1 TD, 3 receptions, 51 yards, 1 TD) having the ball snatched a few actions later.
This is the story of the match with the Niners who accumulate blunders (a new field goal missed by Jake Moody, long third attempts converted by Minnesota, missed interception and touchdown by Addison), and a Kirk Cousins without complex who reaps the points to widen the gap, despite difficulties in the red zone (no touchdowns in 2 possessions). No Justin Jefferson? No matter, Jordan Addison has put on his number 1 receiver costume and exploits the generosity of the Californian defense: 7 receptions, 124 yards, 2 touchdowns.
Purdy, from hope to despair
Orphaned by the injured Trent Williams, San Francisco’s running game is sluggish (65 yards on the ground including 19 by Purdy, 3 yards per carry). The match therefore rests on the arm of Brock Purdy. If Mister Irrelevant 2022 manages to bring his team within range of the Vikings in the second half, he nevertheless ruins the hopes of the Californians on the most important possessions: those to get in front (San Francisco is behind by 5 points at the end of the fourth quarter) . Purdy, very clean so far, throws an interception. Then a second (final record: 21/30, 272 yards, 1 TD, 2 interceptions) to allow Minnesota to seal its first success at home.
The Niners let the Eagles (6-1) escape at the top of the NFC, without capitalizing on the defeat of the Lions (5-2). More worrying, the physical problems of the stars begin to accumulate (Trent Williams, Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw).
The Vikings, for their part, put an end to several series: 3 consecutive defeats at home, 4 consecutive defeats in matches played to less than a touchdown (where they were at 11 victories and 0 defeats on the same statistic last year pass). The defense was reassuring, and the offense showed it could live without Jefferson. In particular, the offensive line was a real wall (0 sacks conceded). All good for the Vikes!
.@espn_jordan. TO. TEA. HOUSE.
📺: @ESPNNFL pic.twitter.com/MXcbsXdSoL
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 24, 2023
