The FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE PURDY-OCALYPSE - Kirk Cousins, Jordan Addison, Cam Bynum, and... (checks notes) T.J. Hockenson? YUP. The Vikings shocked the 5-1 San Francisco 49ers last night on Monday Night Football to save the season, move to 3-4, and avoid a selloff ahead of the Halloween NFL trade deadline. Phew. Oh, and we finally won a game at home. The first since Greg Joseph kicked a 61-yard field goal to beat the Giants. Like, forever, right?
After the obligatory first-quarter Vikings turnover - in which 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward pried the ball loose from the hands of Jordan Addison on the opening drive - Minnesota's offense, sans Justin Jefferson, picked apart one of the best defenses in the league, punting only once the entire game.
Cam Bynum thwarted that first Niners drive after the INT, knocking the ball loose from the hands of Christian McCaffrey and giving Dean Lowry the recovery. The Vikings then drove the field and finished off the drive with a 20-yard TD connection from Cousins to Addison, the rookie's fifth score of the season.
And, getting his revenge with 12 seconds left in the first half, Addison won his SECOND tug-of-war battle Ward and spun away for a 60-yard touchdown.
“I needed that one," Addison said. "I couldn’t let him get it twice.”
Addison, stepped up with Justin Jefferson sidelined by a bad hammy, and had seven catches for 123 yards in his breakout prime-time performance. The first-round draft pick from USC left the game briefly with leg cramps, scaring everyone to death for a minute. Brandon Powell came up big while Addison was briefly sidelined, extending the Vikings' final drive with four clutch receptions for 64 yards.
... but Greg Joseph, who also missed an earlier extra point, pulled a 50-yard field goal wide right, leaving the door open for Purdy and the 49ers. Purdy looked ready to break our hearts, completing two short throws to reach the Minnesota 40. But Bynum undercut Ray-Ray McCloud III for his second interception, ending the game.
“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,” Bynum said.
Cousins hit the 300-yard mark for the 50th time in his 12-year career. Only four others have done that by their 12th season: Drew Brees (67), Matt Ryan (64), Peyton Manning (56) and Kurt Warner (52).
Next up: The Dirty 'Sconnies at Lambeau. No letdown games, alright? GOOD.
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