49ers Lose Second Straight Game As they Fall to Vikings 22-17

Liam O'Connor

October 23, 2023

(Quarterback Brock Purdy escapes from the pocket)

The San Francisco 49ers find themselves in a familiar but frustrating pattern of self-sabotage, falling to the Minnesota Vikings by a score of 22-17. The Vikings celebrated their first home win this season, thanks in no small part to the 49ers errors and a struggling defense that allowed the Minnesota team to dictate the game's tempo. In a game filled with ups and downs, one bright spot for the 49ers was the performance of quarterback Brock Purdy. For the majority of the game, Purdy completed 19 out of 24 passes for 252 yards and a touchdown. However, his near-perfect performance took a turn during a potential game-winning drive. Purdy's second interception of the season, a deep lob that fell into the hands of Vikings safety Camryn Bynum, proved to be a critical turning point. This turnover allowed Minnesota to regain control and run down the clock to secure their one-score lead. Purdy's late-game interception marked the first time he had truly lost a game for his team when it mattered most. The 49ers' defense was horrible, struggling to contain Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, who passed for an impressive 378 yards on 35 completions out of 45 attempts. The defense managed just one interception on the game's opening drive, failing to sack Cousins throughout the match. Although the Vikings' rushing game was less impactful, the first half witnessed several runs that set the stage for Minnesota's dominance. The defense's performance was far from acceptable, given the talent on the 49ers' roster. While individual players had their share of struggles, it was the overall defensive scheme that proved to be ineffective. The inability to apply pressure on the quarterback allowed the Vikings to convert eight out of 13 third-down attempts. This resulted in Minnesota enjoying a 16-play advantage on offense and a 10-minute lead in time of possession. Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks takes most of the blame, as his schemes were consistently dissected by a pass-heavy Vikings offense. One costly error came at the end of the first half when the Vikings, with no timeouts, converted a crucial third down to score, exploiting the absence of a deep safety in Wilks' zero blitz strategy.

(Vikings Defense celebrates an interception)

The 49ers built a reputation in the first four games of the season for overpowering opponents with their abundance of talent, taking control of the game early. However, the past two weeks have seen the team struggle to overcome adversity, whether it's their own doing or not. Coming into the game, the 49ers led the NFL with a turnover margin of +8. Their fortunes seemed to be on the rise when Cornerback Charvarius Ward stripped the ball from the Vikings on their opening drive. Yet, a fumble by Christian McCaffrey in the red zone allowed the Vikings to seize a lead they wouldn't give up. Although the penalty count was roughly equal (5 penalties for 37 yards for SF, and 5 penalties for 35 yards for MIN), the 49ers were less effective at capitalizing on them. Often, Minnesota managed to overcome their offensive penalties, while the 49ers' defensive flags only provided the Vikings with more leeway. Furthermore, rookie kicker Jake Moody experienced another setback when he missed a 40-yard field goal attempt in the first half. This followed his game-losing attempt last week in Cleveland, which also went wide right. Despite this, head coach Kyle Shanahan displayed unwavering confidence in Moody, sending him out for a 55-yard field goal attempt without a full play clock, which Moody successfully converted. In the end, the 49ers must confront their ongoing struggles and inconsistencies, particularly in crucial moments of the game, as they aim to regain their early-season form. They will play the Bengals next week, and hope to get their 6th win of the season.

(Vikings Quarterback Kirk Cousins walks off the field after the victory)