Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) walks off the sphere after the Vikings 22-17 win over San Francisco 49ers within the fourth quarter of a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
A triumphant Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) walks off the sphere after the Vikings beat the San Francisco 49ers, 22-17 in a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
A large open Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) celebrates his touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in the primary quarter of a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) celebrates his touchdown against San Francisco 49ers with wide receiver Trishton Jackson (9) in the primary quarter of a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
A large open Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) catches a quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) pass for the touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in the primary quarter of a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison (2) bust through an arm tackle San Francisco 49ers safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. (31) in the primary quarter of a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) cradles the ball as he makes a primary down catch against San Francisco 49ers linebacker Oren Burks (48) in the primary quarter of a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Dean Lowry (94) dives on the San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) fumble in the primary quarter of a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) fumbles the football as Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) tackles him in the primary quarter of a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) dives into the tip zone for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings within the second quarter of a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers (31) powers his solution to a primary down against the San Francisco 49ers within the second quarter of a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin McConnell is indignant at line judge Tom Eaton (87) on a Vikings pass interference call within the second quarter of a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum (24) celebrates his game clinching interception with Minnesota Vikings safety Theo Jackson (25) within the fourth quarter of a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. The Vikings beat San Francisco 49ers 22-17. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. (40) puts pressure on San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) within the third quarter of a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings place kicker Greg Joseph (1) gets some love his linemen after hitting a 54 yard field goal against the San Francisco 49ers within the third quarter of a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) drags San Francisco 49ers defensive end Clelin Ferrell (94) for just a few yards after a catch within the third quarter of a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Brian O’Neill (75) blocks San Francisco 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead (91) within the third quarter of a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) leaps through an arm tackle from Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) within the second quarter of a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Akayleb Evans (21) stands up San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) for a no gain within the second quarter of a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings place kicker Greg Joseph (1) watches his 22 yards field goal split the uprights within the second quarter motion against the San Francisco 49ers in a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) stretches out but can’t catch a quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) as an Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (2) defends within the second quarter of a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers (31) cuts back against the San Francisco 49ers defense within the second quarter of a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings tight ends Josh Oliver (84), Mohnny Mundt (86) and T.J. Hockenson (87) fist bump before the beginning of a NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) pass the ball during warm-ups before the beginning of a NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin McConnell, right, and offensive coordinator Wes Phillips chat before the beginning of a NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah before the beginning of a NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
A trio of young Vikings fans cheer as players take to the sphere before the beginning of a NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
A young fan wears her love of the Vikings as she watches warm-ups before the beginning of a NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, Oct., 23 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Kirk Cousins, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson provided the offense, while Cam Bynum provided the defense.
Together, they helped the Vikings pull off a 22-17 upset win over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football at U.S. Bank Stadium.
It was the kind of complete performance from the Vikings that head coach Kevin O’Connell has been trying to find amid the rough start. He’s remained painstakingly positive, promising the very best game was still on the market for this particular group. In his eyes, there was simply an excessive amount of talent on the roster for things not to come back together in some unspecified time in the future.
It finally happened for the Vikings as they beat the 49ers after playing their best game up to now.
“I’m so pleased with our football team,” O’Connell said after doling out quite a lot of game balls within the Vikings locker room. “There have been a variety of elite performances in my mind.”
Indeed. It was an entire effort from the Vikings on either side the ball, led by Addison, who finished with 124 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and Bynum, who had a pair of interceptions late in the sport.
To not be outdone, Cousins performed at a particularly high level, ending 35 of 45 for 378 yards and a pair of touchdowns, Hockenson had 11 catches for 86 yards, and the offensive line as a complete played its best game up to now this season.
All of it added as much as an enormous win for the Vikings as they proceed their turnaround.
That helped the Vikings move to 3-4 heading right into a huge matchup against the rival Green Bay Packers next week at Lambeau Field.
So far as the Vikings are concerned, all the things they need to perform continues to be in front of them.
“Obviously our season isn’t going in addition to we would love it to,” Bynum said. “Nothing higher than bouncing back from adversity and stacking wins up.”
The flexibility to reply within the hardest moments was a talking point for the Vikings leading as much as the primetime game on national television. It’s something they’ve struggled with at times over the past month.
That said, the Vikings knew if wanted to tug off the upset against the 49ers, they were going to need to give you the chance to reply if, at any point, things didn’t go their way.
Fittingly, the Vikings got a possibility to prove themselves within the early stages as Cousins threw an interception before many fans had even found their seats. You felt the nervous energy reverberating throughout U.S. Bank Stadium within the immediate aftermath of the turnover.
Then the Vikings did something they haven’t been capable of do much this season. They stopped the bleeding.
“This game goes to punch you within the gut and also you’re going to have things that don’t go your way,” Cousins said. “That turnover was tough and you’ve got to play through it.”
They did. Because of a superbly executed tackle by Bynum, and a few help from his running mate Harrison Smith, the Vikings forced a fumble to get the ball back. On the next drive, Cousins found Hockenson for large gains of 16 yards and 22 yards, capping things off with a touchdown pass to Addison to make it 7-0.
“That was an enormous, huge play defensively,” O’Connell said. “Then offensively to come back back on the sphere, drive it, and go rating on a critical third down pitch and catch, all of it got here together for us.”
After a missed field goal on the opposite end, the Vikings took over with a probability to take complete control. The offense stalled out near the goal line, and while O’Connell could’ve gone for it on fourth down, he opted to kick a 21-yard field goal as an alternative to stretch the result in 10-0.
Naturally, the 49ers made the Vikings pay with a 12-play, 75-yard drive to chop the deficit to 10-7 right before halftime. The rating got here from running back Christian McCaffrey, extending his streak to 16 games with a touchdown.
The one issue? That left an excessive amount of time for the Vikings.
They got the ball back with a few minute left and Cousins unleashed a 50-50 ball to Addison within the face of a blitz. He wrestled the ball away from cornerback Charvarius Ward, then broke a tackle and raced toward the tip zone for a 60-yard touchdown to make it 16-7 due to a missed extra point.
“I just do whatever I can do to assist my team win,” Addison said. “In the event that they call my number, I ensure I show up.”
Not long after halftime, the Vikings got one other probability to take complete control. The offense once more stalled out near the goal line and Greg Joseph racked on a 20-yard field goal to increase the result in 19-7.
It felt like a missed opportunity for the Vikings in real time, and sure enough, the 49ers took advantage roughly a minute later. A straightforward swing pass to McCaffrey was an explosive play as he broke a tackle within the open field and went 35 yards to the home to chop the deficit to 19-14.
After each teams traded field goals to tug the rating to 22-17, Bynum left his mark on the sport, intercepting quarterback Brock Purdy twice to place the ending touches on an entire performance from the Vikings.
“The best way it did start it will’ve been very easy for a variety of groups to say, ‘Here we go again,’” O’Connell said. “There wasn’t one person on our sideline, or, it felt like, within the stadium, in the event that they were wearing purple, that didn’t feel like we were going to search out a solution to capture that momentum back.”
That’s exactly what the Vikings did en path to an enormous win.
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