Jordan Addison caught seven passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns, and the Minnesota Vikings held on for a 22-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night in Minneapolis.
Kirk Cousins completed 35 of 45 passes for 378 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for Minnesota (3-4). T.J. Hockenson had a game-high 11 catches for 86 yards.
Christian McCaffrey scored once on the ground and once through the air for San Francisco (5-2), which lost its second straight game. Brock Purdy completed 21 of 30 passes for 272 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Vikings safety Camryn Bynum picked off Purdy twice, including a leaping interception in the final minute to seal the outcome.
McCaffrey became the first player in NFL history to score at least one touchdown from scrimmage in 16 consecutive games, including playoffs. He entered Monday in a four-way tie with Lenny Moore (Baltimore), O.J. Simpson (Buffalo) and John Riggins (Washington).
Minnesota opened the scoring with 4:48 to go in the first quarter. Cousins fired a 20-yard touchdown pass to Addison, who found a soft spot in the 49ers’ coverage.
The Vikings increased their lead to 10-0 on Greg Joseph’s 21-yard field goal midway through the second quarter.
McCaffrey’s history-making touchdown cut San Francisco’s deficit to 10-7 with 1:01 left in the second quarter. He barreled through a crowded line of scrimmage for a 3-yard score.
Addison provided a highlight-reel reception for his second touchdown of the evening and the sixth touchdown of his rookie campaign.
On the play, Cousins underthrew a deep ball that looked as if it would be intercepted by 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward. But as Ward began to come down with the ball, Addison reached in and ripped the ball out of the defender’s arms. Addison then sprinted downfield for a 60-yard touchdown to make it 16-7.
The Vikings made it 19-7 on Joseph’s 20-yard field goal midway through the third quarter.
McCaffrey struck again to pull the 49ers within 19-14 with 5:54 to go in the third quarter. He caught a swing pass toward the right sideline and took off for a 35-yard touchdown.
Joseph’s 54-yard field goal gave the Vikings a 22-14 lead late in the third quarter.
On the next possession, San Francisco answered with a 55-yard field goal by Jake Moody to pull within 22-17.
–Field Level Media
