Nobody knows anything about the NFL in 2023.
Two weeks ago, the San Francisco 49ers were the best team in football. It wasn’t even a question. There were no warning signs or reasons to believe they were anything other than the most complete and dominant team in the NFL.
But like the rest of the league this season, everything has changed for no real reason. The 49ers lost as the heavy favorite in Week 6 to the Cleveland Browns, who had backup PJ Walker at quarterback, and then lost again in Week 7 as the heavy favorite. This time it was the Minnesota Vikings who started the game 2-4 and took it to the 49ers.
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Kirk Cousins, whose poor record on Monday night has been laughed at for years, had an outstanding game and led to a huge 22-17 win in Minneapolis. Brock Purdy had two chances for a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter, but failed to follow through both times and threw two interceptions, including one with 25 seconds left. The win brings the Vikings to 3-4 on the season.
The 49ers are still one of the NFL’s best teams, but strange consecutive losses mean they’re vulnerable like everyone else.
Kirk Cousins, quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings, achieved victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, October 23, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Kirk Cousins shines on Monday night
Adding to the randomness of the Vikings’ surprise Monday night, it was led by Cousins, whose teams were 2-10 Monday night. Suddenly, Cousins, playing without injured superstar receiver Justin Jefferson, was carving up the 49ers’ respected defense.
Cousins has been the subject of trade speculation, but the Vikings are far from dead at 3-4 in a bad NFC. He was at his best on Monday night, throwing for 378 yards and two touchdowns against an excellent defense and doing it without one of the best players the NFL he could throw to.
The Vikings played well in the first half and then made a huge play in the final seconds before halftime. Cousins threw a pass that was almost intercepted, but rookie Jordan Addison picked it off, spun up and had a 60-yard touchdown. The Vikings then led 16-7.
It was a terrible decision by 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. It made little sense to launch a Cover-0 blitz with 16 seconds left and the Vikings alone with 40 seconds left, considering the only thing that would hurt the 49ers was a deep pass. According to next-gen statisticsit was the first seven-man rush in the final 30 seconds of a half in opponent territory since Week 11, 2020.
The NFL is typically defined by slim margins, and the 49ers gave away a touchdown.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) scores a 60-yard touchdown late in the first half against the 49ers. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Brock Purdy throws 2 picks
The 49ers were outplayed most of the night but were still in the game in the second half. The Vikings settled for a field goal after two failed attempts at a tush push from the 1-yard line and a misfire by Cousins into the end zone. McCaffrey then scored his second touchdown of the game and the 49ers trailed 19-14.
The 49ers and Vikings then traded field goals and the Vikings held a 22-17 lead well into the fourth quarter. The 49ers had a few chances to win the game. But with 5:30 left, Purdy threw down Jauan Jennings and Vikings safety Camryn Bynum made it. It’s the kind of mistake that will fuel Purdy’s critics.
San Francisco had one more shot when Vikings kicker Greg Joseph missed a 50-yard field goal at the right edge with 1:11 left. It could have been Purdy’s redemption. The 49ers entered Vikings territory in the final minute. But Purdy threw another interception to Bynum in a desperate situation and the game was over.
The 49ers were on top of the NFL world two weeks ago. The Vikings were 1-4, had just lost Jefferson to a hamstring injury, and were probably closer to trading all their players than thinking about the playoffs. Two weeks seems like an eternity in the NFL this season. Now more than ever, nothing is permanent.