Kirk Cousins connected with rookie Jordan Addison for two first-half touchdowns and Camryn Bynum intercepted Brock Purdy twice in the fourth quarter as the Minnesota Vikings held on to beat the San Francisco 49ers 22-17 on Monday night.
Christian McCaffrey scored twice for the 49ers (5-2), who lost their second straight game for the first time in a 34-game stretch with another uncharacteristically sloppy performance.
"One play here, one play there. We've had some tough losses," said Cousins, who went 35 for 45 for 378 yards. "Last year we were fortunate enough to pull them out. We found a way tonight."
Addison had the play of the game when he wrestled a contested pass from 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward in the closing seconds of the second quarter, spun away from his defender and jogged into the end zone for a 60-yard score to put the Vikings ahead 16-7 going into the break.
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Addison, stepping up in a big way with superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson sidelined by a hamstring injury, had seven catches for 123 yards in his breakout game on a prime-time stage. The first-round draft pick from Southern California, who left the game briefly with leg cramps, also had a 14-yard reception on third-and-four on a drive that could have sealed the game for Minnesota (3-4).
But Greg Joseph, who also missed an earlier extra point, pulled a 50-yard field goal wide right.
With no timeouts and 1:11 left, the 49ers took possession at their 40. Purdy, who was picked off with 5:30 remaining at the Minnesota 30 after a poorly thrown ball intended for Jajuan Jennings, completed two short throws to reach the Minnesota 40. But Bynum zeroed in on a pass over the middle for Ray-Ray McCloud III and leaped over him for the interception.
Stats leaders:
San Francisco 49ers
- Passing: Brock Purdy, 21/30, 272 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
- Rushing: Christian McCaffrey, 15 carries, 45 yards, 1 TD
- Receiving: George Kittle, 5 catches, 78 yards
Minnesota Vikings
- Passing: Kirk Cousins, 35/45, 378 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
- Rushing: Alexander Mattison, 8 carries, 39 yards
- Cam Akers, 10 carries, 31 yards
- Receiving: Jordan Addison, 7 catches, 123 yards, 2 TDs
The 49ers, who were still the favourite to win the Super Bowl after a 19-17 defeat last week at Cleveland, played without wide receiver Deebo Samuel and left tackle Trent Williams, both of whom were hurt in that game. Purdy bounced back from the worst game of his young NFL career and his first regular season loss as a starter, but those late interceptions will sting.
The Vikings had their fourth opening-drive turnover in seven games this season when a pass over the middle to Addison was intercepted by Ward with a quick game of tug-of-war. Addison got revenge on his touchdown a little later.
Minnesota's defense also avenged that mistake. McCaffrey lost the ball at the Minnesota 11 on the ensuing possession when Bynum and Harrison Smith converged on the NFL's leading rusher. The latter was credited with the forced fumble for his third of the season.
That was the first time in seven games this season the 49ers failed to score on their first drive.
Addison's first touchdown, a 20-yarder, was the first allowed by the 49ers in the first quarter this season.
Jake Moody, who missed a 41-yard field goal attempt in the closing seconds that would have won it at Cleveland, pulled a 40-yard attempt wide right in the second quarter on Monday night before later converting from 55 yards.
McCaffrey sets NFL record
McCaffrey made NFL history on the night as he scored a touchdown from scrimmage for an NFL-record 16th straight game (including the postseason).
Baltimore Colts running back Lenny Moore (1963-64), Buffalo Bills running back OJ Simpson (1974-75) and Washington running back John Riggins (1982-83) previously shared the record with McCaffrey, scoring from scrimmage in 15 consecutive games.
However, Moore still has a place in the record books as he went 17 straight games with a touchdown of any kind, setting the record across the 1963-64 seasons. McCaffrey will have a chance to match that streak when the 49ers play the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
McCaffrey rushed 15 times for 45 yards on Monday night, and he also came down with three catches for 51 yards.
In seven games this season, the 27-year-old Stanford product leads the NFL with 598 rushing yards. He also has 26 receptions for 228 yards and a total of 11 TDs (eight rushing, three receiving).
Scoring summary
What did they say?
Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins: "One play here, one play there. We've had some tough losses. Last year we were fortunate enough to pull them out. We found a way tonight."
Vikings safety Camryn Bynum: "Obviously, our season isn't going as well as we would like it to, but nothing's better than bouncing back from adversity and stacking wins up."
Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell on Jordan Addison: "Jordan's been everything that I hoped for from the moment I put on the time from his time in college, but he's been more than that. He's been really taking on a role within our team, within our offense, he's earned an incredible amount of trust from Kirk and the rest of our guys. Jordan was fantastic tonight, and this is for sure a performance he can build on for the future."
What's next?
The 49ers are next in action at home to the Cincinnati Bengals (3-3) while the Vikings are on the road against the Green Bay Packers (2-4).
Week Eight begins on Thursday night (1.15am Friday morning) when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers travel to face the Buffalo Bills, live on Sky Sports NFL.