Sam Darnold completed 17 of 26 passes for 268 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, leading the Minnesota Vikings to a thrilling 23-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.
Justin Jefferson was electrifying, catching four passes for 133 yards, including a sensational 97-yard touchdown — the longest of his career — to spearhead Minnesota’s offense and lift the team to a 2-0 record. Jalen Nailor also found the end zone with a touchdown reception.
On the other side, Brock Purdy had a commendable performance, completing 28 of 36 passes for 319 yards, one touchdown, and one interception for San Francisco (1-1). With Christian McCaffrey out injured, Jordan Mason stepped up significantly, rushing 20 times for 100 yards and a touchdown.
Minnesota’s impressive start sees them 2-0 to kick off the season for the first time since 2016.
The Vikings held a narrow 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter before extending it to 13-7 by halftime.
In a highlight-reel moment, Jefferson broke free from the 49ers’ defense and hauled in a deep pass from Darnold, racing 97 yards to the right corner of the end zone and electrifying the crowd with 9:35 left in the second quarter.
With 1:53 left in the first half, Purdy found George Kittle for a 7-yard touchdown, bringing the 49ers within three. Will Reichard then nailed a 39-yard field goal as time expired in the half, pushing the Vikings’ lead to 13-7.
The Vikings capitalized on Purdy’s lone interception, starting a drive at San Francisco’s 10-yard line. On the very first play, Darnold connected with Nailor for a 10-yard touchdown, extending Minnesota’s lead to 20-7.
The 49ers tried to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter. Mason’s determined 10-yard touchdown run capped off a grueling 12-play, 99-yard drive, pulling San Francisco within 20-14 with 10:16 left.
Reichard delivered a crucial 27-yard field goal with 3:30 left, giving the Vikings some much-needed breathing room.
Trailing by six points, San Francisco added a 31-yard field goal from Jake Moody to trim the deficit to 23-17 with 1:12 remaining. Despite their efforts, the 49ers couldn’t recover the onside kick, and Darnold’s strategic kneel-downs ran out the clock, sealing the victory for Minnesota.
The Vikings are off to a fantastic start, and their performance today has undoubtedly injected boundless excitement into their fans. This is football at its finest!
