MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL WEEK 7: SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS

BY ADAM GREENE

You can’t blame the schedulers for this one. No one expected the Minnesota Vikings to start off the season 2-4, so back when the schedule came out, this Monday Night Football face off with the San Francisco 49ers looked like a potential classic. Frankly, it might still turn out to be a pretty good one.

This rivalry goes all the way back to 1961, with the Niners holding a 25-23-1 edge in the all time meeting. San Fran has won the last two and three of the last four matchups. They last squared up on Nov. 28, 2021 with the 49ers winning 34-26. Jimmy Garoppolo (now with the Las Vegas Raiders) was 17 of 26 passing for 230 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the win. Elijah Mitchell carried the ball 27 times for 133 yards and a TD. He added five receptions for 35 yards. Brandon Aihyuk caught three passes for 91 yards.  Deebo Samuel rushed six times for 66 yards and two scores and caught one pass for 12 yards. Juan Jennings caught two balls for 24 yards and a touchdown.

In the loss, Kirk Cousins was 20 of 32 passing for 238 yards, two TDs and a pick. Dalvin Cook rushed 10 times for 39 yards and caught six passes for 64 yards. Adam Thielen (now with the Carolina Panthers) caught five balls for 62 yards and two scores.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (+7, O/U: 44)

Location: US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minn.

Broadcast: ABC/ESPN

Kickoff: Oct. 23, 8:15 p.m.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (5-1)

Last Sunday the Niners (and, well, so was everyone else) were shocked, losing on the road, 19-17, to the Cleveland Browns. Brock Purdy was 12 of 27 passing for 125 yards, one touchdown and an interception in the loss. Christian McCaffrey was injured in the game, but still led the team with 11 carries for 43 yards. He added three receptions for nine yards and a touchdown. Jordan Mason carried the ball five times for 27 yards and a TD. The defense sacked PJ Walker twice and picked him off twice.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-4)

The Vikings picked up their second win of the season, outlasting a beaten up Chicago Bears team, 19-13. Kirk Cousins was 21 of 31 passing for 181 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. He was sacked twice. Alexander Mattison had 18 carries for 44 yards. TJ Hockenson caught six passes for 50 yards. Jordan Addison had three receptions for 28 yards and a score. The defense picked up five sacks and two interceptions.

THE PICK

You’d love to see Kirk Cousins, everyone’s favorite QB nerd from Netflix’s Quarterback series finally put the “Prime Time Kirk” critique to bed. Certainly, a win here would do it. The Niners are banged up and there’s a chance that McCaffrey, Samuel and Trent Williams won’t play. So, I’m going to pull a TNF and give you two options here. If those guys are out, Vikings 27, 49ers 24. If those three (even just one of them) play, we’re going 49ers 31, Vikings 23

Last week

Straight up: 9-6

Against the spread: 9-6

Season

Straight up: 57-36

Against the spread: 50-43

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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