National Football League

Monday Night football highlights: Vikings stop 49ers in thriller

Updated Oct. 23, 2023 11:27 p.m. ET

Week 7 of the NFL season wrapped with the San Francisco 49ers (5-2) on the road to face the Minnesota Vikings (3-4) at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

The 49ers were handed their first loss of the season by the Cleveland Browns last week, and have now lost two in a row after Brock Purdy threw two interceptions in the second half of Monday's affair.

Kirk Cousins and the Vikings offense was phenomenal, as he became the second QB to throw at least 300 passing yards and two TDs against the 49ers in the last three seasons (Patrick Mahomes was the other). Cousins completed 35 of his 45 pass attempts for 378 yards, plus the pair of scores.

Here are the top moments!

FINAL: Minnesota Vikings 22, San Francisco 49ers 17

Stolen away!

Charvarius Ward flexed his grown man strength on the Niners' first defensive possession, snatching this ball away from Jordan Addison to make off with a big interception.

Trading turnovers

The Vikings got the ball right back with a forced fumble, using a stellar display of gang tackling to free the ball away from Christian McCaffrey's grasp.

Find the rook

Jordan Addison has stepped up nicely in Justin Jefferson's absence, and the rookie wide receiver found the end zone for the fifth time this season to cap a 10-play, 89 yard drive.

16 straight!

There was uncertainty earlier in the week as to whether Christian McCaffrey would even play in this game. But Mr. Reliable showed up for the outing, and showed out. He snuck into the end zone nearly the close of the second quarter to bring San Francisco within three. The run marked his 16th straight game awith touchdown.

Find the rook (part two)

You saw the original, here's the sequel. After Ward ripped a ball away from Jordan Addison in the first quarter, Addison returned the favor in the final seconds of the first half. The shocking catch-and-run put Minnesota up 16-7 heading into halftime.

Is that a bird?

Nope, just Fred Warner making plays per usual. The All-Pro linebacker flashed an impressive leaping ability to thwart this QB sneak attempt. Minnesota settled for a field goal, taking a 19-7 lead midway through the third quarter.

CMC to the house!

McCaffrey has another! This time he did his damage through the air, making the Vikings play for bringing an all-out blitz, and making a man miss en route to a 35-yard TD.

Purple people eaters!

The Vikings defense was looking for a big play all night, and it came at an opportune time, as Purdy made his first mistake of the contest on this interception to Camryn Bynum.

Addison again!

He's not Justin Jefferson, but Jordan Addison has put up Jettas-like numbers in this one. He hauled in his seventh catch to set up a 50-yard FG for Greg Joseph. The nifty grab marked his seventh catch for 124 total yards, but Joseph was unable to hit the kick.

It's over!

Purdy made a couple of nice plays after regaining possession at San Francisco's 40-yard line, but with 34 seconds left, Bynum came up with a tremendous save on another clutch pick.

PREGAME

Get hyped!

We'd like to nominate Fred Warner for best pregame motivational speech:

Still a holiday

A day after National Tight Ends day, TJ Hockenson and George Kittle kept the tight end love going in their pregame meeting.

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