49ers, Vikings close out week seven in Twin Cities Monday night showdown
San Francisco (5–1) at Minnesota (2–4), 8:15 p.m. Monday on ESPN. Week seven action closes out in the Twin Cities as Minnesota and Kirk Cousins hosts Brock Purdy and San Francisco in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. The 49ers are hoping to recover from their only loss of the season so far, while the Vikings come back home to US Bank Stadium with a win over NFC North rival Chicago under their belts.
San Francisco let a 10–7 lead at the intermission at Cleveland get away from them as the Browns got a pair of field goals from Daniel Hopkins in the fourth quarter and missed a 41-yard field goal try by Jake Moody late to take their first loss 19–17 at First Energy Field. After 49ers RB Jordan Mason scored on an 8-yard run early in the final quarter, Cleveland chipped away at the lead on the first of Hopkins’ two field goals and took the lead on his second from 29 yards with 1:40 left in the contest. San Francisco would get the ball with the 1:40 left and after three incomplete passes, the 49ers would get help on a defensive pass interference penalty, moving the ball to their 32-yard line. Purdy would then connect with Brandon Aiyuk for 25 yars and a first down, putting them in Cleveland territory at the 43 yard line. Four plays later, San Francisco would get to Cleveland’s 23 yard line, where they would set up for what they hoped would be the game-winning field goal with nine seconds left but Moody’s try sailed wide to the right, giving the Browns the ball back and the win.
Cleveland outrushed San Francisco 160–108 with Browns RB Jerome Ford leading the way with 84 yards, while San Francisco was led by Christian McCaffery with 43 yards (McCaffery would leave the contest with an injury); Purdy threw for 125 yards and a TD to McCaffery, while Cleveland’s Patrick Walker threw for 192 yards (Browns WR Amari Cooper led all recievers with 108 yards) with a pair of sacks and two interceptions (Purdy was sacked three times and picked off once). Both clubs struggled on third down (San Francisco 3 of 12, Cleveland 3 of 13; the Browns had the only sucessful fourth down try) and time was the ally of Cleveland, who held the ball for 33:03 to San Francisco’s 26:57.
Minneosta held off a late Chicago rally at Soldier Field last Sunday as the Vikings left the Windy City 19–13 winners over Da Bears. Minnesota led 12–6 at the break, using four Greg Joseph field goals, then added TDs from Jordan Addison and Jordan Hicks to lead by 13 with 6:44 left in the third before Chicago pushed the lead to within six late in the final quarter on a 1-yard TD run by backup QB Tyson Bagent (who took over for Justin Fields). Minnesota then held off Da Bears when Bagent’s pass intended for D.J. Moore was picked off by Byron Murphy to end the threat.
Chicago outrushed Minnesota 162–46; Cousins threw for 181 yards and a TD to Addison with a pair of sacks, while Fields started the contest, throwing for 58 yards with four sacks and interception (Bagent threwfor 83 yards with a sack and an interception after taking over for Fields). Neither club did a lot to talk about on third down (Minnesota 2 of 13, Chicago 6 of 14) and both clubs didn’t all that well on fourth down (Minnesota 1 of 2, Da Bears 0 of 1) and Da Bears would actually rule the clock and keep the pigskin for 35:11 to Minnesota’s 24:49.
Including contests played at Keezar Stadium, Candlestick Park, Metropolitan Stadium and the Metrodoome, the Vikings hold a 22–20–1 in the series but San Francisco has outscored Minnesota 975–955. Their last regular season meeting took place on the West Coast and San Francsico prevailed 34–26 at Levis’ Stadium (Minnesota’s last win came in the Twin Cities by a final of 24–16 in 2018. As far as Monday night is concerned? San Francisco’s 52–29 and the 49ers played two MNF games last year and won both contests, while the Vikings are 31–35, losing their only MNF game in 2022. San Francisco’s favored by 7 1/2 in the Land of 10,000 Lakes with a 45 1/2 over/under. You’re better off watching that “NCIS” rerun this week. San Francisco may not cover the 7 1/2 in the Land of 10,000 Lakes but they take the win in the Twin Cities. s
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Broadcast Information — 8:15 p.m. Monday on ESPN: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters; Westwood One: Kevin Harlan, Kurt Warner; SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) San Francisco: 83 or 226; Minnesota: 83 or 225 National: 88
Referee — Carl Cheffers
Injury Report
San Francisco
OUT — WR Deebo Samuel (shoulder)
DOUBTFUL — T Trent Williams (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE — LB Dre Greenlaw (hamstring), RB Christian McCaffrey (oblique)
Minnesota
OUT — G Ezra Cleveland (foot)
QUESTIONABLE — CB Akayleb Evans (oblique), WR Jalen Nailor (hamstring)
Weather Information — Game Indoors
Broadcast information, officials and injury report courtesy the National Football League, odds courtesy Don Best, weahter information courtesy The Weather Channel
