San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffery looks to run past the Minnesota Vikings defense at U.S. Bank Stadium on Monday OCT 23, 2023. (San Francisco 49ers)

by Marko Ukalovic

It was a reversal of fortune when it came to preserving the game at the end.

Kirk Cousins had a great game and the Minnesota Vikings defense closed out the game with two defensive takeaways en route to a 22-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football at U.S. Bank Stadium.

San Francisco has lost two games in a row for the first time since Weeks 6 and 7 of last season. Minnesota has won two games in a row and three out of its last four games after starting out the season 0-3.

“We got to find ways to win the grimy games,” 49ers lineback Fred Warner said.

Both teams turned the ball over on their opening possessions. Cousins was intercepted by Charvarius Ward, who wrestled the ball away from wide receiver Jordan Addison at the Minnesota 48 yard-line. Then five plays later, Christian McCaffery fumbled the ball at the 12-yard that was recovered by Dean Lowry.

Minnesota (3-4) cashed in the turnover when Cousins led a 10-play drive that went 89 yards that was finished off with a 20-yard touchdown reception by Addison. It was the rookie wide receiver’s fifth touchdown of the season. Running back Mattison aided the drive with runs of 16 and 13 yards.

San Francisco (5-2) was able to score on its final drive of the first half. Brock Purdy led a 12-play 75-yard drive down the field with McCaffery running the ball in for a three-yard touchdown. McCaffery has scored a touchdown in 16 consecutive games, making him number two in the NFL for consecutive games scoring a touchdown.

The Vikings answered back in just 54 seconds to end the half with its second touchdown. On a third and 16, Cousins threw a 50-50 ball that Addison was able to win the battle this time against Ward as ripped the ball away from him and cruised into the endzone for a 60-yard touchdown reception, his second of the game. Greg Joesph missed the extra point.

San Francisco’s defense held Minnesota to a 22-yard field goal by Joesph after having first and goal at the one-yard after a passing inference penalty by so and so on their first possession of the second half.

Purdy connected with McCaffery on a pass out to the flat and “Run CMC” took it to the house for a 35-yard touchdown reception that completed a quick three play 75-yard drive.

Jake Moody cut the lead to five points when he kicked a 55-yard field goal with 13:21 left in the fourth quarter. Moody had missed a 40-yarder earlier in the first half but made all two of his extra points.

Despite the 49ers defense tightening up in the fourth quarter, after allowing 270 yards offense in the first half to Minnesota, it was the Vikings defense that sealed the deal with two interceptions late in the game.

Camryn Bynum made his first interception of the game when Purdy overthrew a deep ball down the middle where Bynum, playing center field on the play, dove down to come up with the ball.

Minnesota wasn’t able to close out the game on offense as head coach Kevin O’Connell elected to try a 50-yard field goal instead of punting the ball with San Francisco out of timeouts with 1:16 remaining. Joesph’s attempt sailed wide right setting up the 49ers at their own 40-yard line.

However, Purdy, who had a good first half, forced a ball down the middle of the field while throwing off his back foot into the hands of Bynum for his second interception to seal the game for the Vikings with 26 seconds left.

“We got beat. We’ve got take it like a man…We’ve got 5 1/2 days to figure out a way to beat the Bengals and make sure we go into the bye week 6-2 and not 5-3,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said.

Cousins, who was not sacked during the game, finished the game 35 of 45 for 378 yards to go along with his two touchdowns and one interception. Addison led all receivers with seven catches for 123 yards to go along with his two scores. Alexander Mattison chipped in 39 yards on eight carries.

Purdy went 21 of 30 for 272 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. McCaffery, who was a game time decision due to an oblique injury he was dealing with throughout the week, had 45 rushing yards on 15 carries while chipping in three receptions for 51 yards. Tight end George Kittle led the 49ers in receiving with five catches for 78 yards.

GAME NOTES: San Francisco finished 5-for-9 on third down conversions. Minnesota went 8-for-13.

San Francisco fell to 0-36 under Shanahan when trailing by 8+ points in 4th quarter in regular season or playoffs. Niners have lost 37 straight in all in that scenario. Only the Carolina Panthers have a longer streak at 45 straight losses.

UP NEXT: San Francisco hosts the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday 10/29 at 1:25pm at Levi’s Stadium.