MINNEAPOLIS — Sam Darnold passed for 268 yards and two touchdowns against his former team, including a 97-yard strike in the second quarter to Justin Jefferson, and an attacking defense again fueled the Minnesota Vikings in a 23-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
Darnold went 17 for 26 with one interception to win his second straight start for the Vikings (2-0), who used the last of three field goals by rookie Will Reichard to give themselves a bigger cushion midway through the fourth quarter.
Blake Cashman had 13 tackles, six passes defensed and a sack and Patrick Jones II had two of the six sacks of Brock Purdy, who threw two interceptions and found himself playing from behind all game. Purdy went 28 for 36 for 319 yards.
Overcoming two red zone turnovers that the 49ers (1-1) turned into touchdowns and a quadriceps injury that forced Jefferson out of the game in the third quarter, Darnold and the Vikings put on a show in his home debut after backing up Purdy last season for the NFC champions.
San Francisco lost for the eighth straight time in Minnesota, including for the second straight year. The most recent win here was in 1992.
Jordan Mason rushed 20 times for 100 yards and a touchdown for the 49ers in another fine fill-in for All-Pro Christian McCaffrey, who will miss at least two more games with injuries to his calf and Achilles tendon.
The Vikings might well have won in a runaway were it not for Fred Warner, the three-time All-Pro linebacker who made his NFL debut for the 49ers in the season opener at Minnesota in 2018.
Warner, who finished with nine tackles and two passes defensed, made a diving interception at the San Francisco 10 to thwart a promising drive with the Vikings leading 10-0. The 49ers seized the momentum with a five-play march capped with a touchdown pass from Purdy to George Kittle.
Then in the fourth quarter with the Vikings ahead 20-7, Warner jarred the ball loose from Aaron Jones at the 1-yard line at the end of an 18-yard run.
Playing in his 100th regular-season game, Kittle had seven catches for 76 yards to post the third-most receiving yards (6,390) by a tight end in NFL history at the 100-game mark. Rob Gronkowski (7,112) and Travis Kelce (6,762) were the only ones with more.
Ham it up
The Vikings set up their first field goal with a blocked punt by C.J. Ham, the ninth-year fullback and special teams stalwart. Theo Jackson scooped it up for a 37-yard return to the San Francisco 24.
Injuries
49ers: S Talanoa Hufanga (knee) was held out for the second straight week.
Vikings: WR Jordan Addison (ankle) was inactive after getting injured in the game last week.
Up next
49ers: Visit the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday. The 49ers had a 10-game regular-season winning streak against their division rival, excluding the NFC championship game in 2021-22, that ended with a 21-20 loss to the Rams on Jan. 7, 2024. That was Darnold's only start for the 49ers.
Vikings: Host Houston on Sept. 22. They're 5-0 all time against the Texans, who will bring former Vikings stars WR Stefon Diggs and DE Danielle Hunter with them.
49ers score field goal, making it a one-score game
Jake Moody scores a 31-yard field goal, making it a one-score game between the Vikings and 49ers.
Vikings score field goal, increasing lead over 49ers
Will Reichard scores a 27-yard field goal. The Vikings now lead the 49ers by 9 points.
49ers score touchdown; Vikings winning 20-14
The 49ers' Jordan Mason scores a touchdown and Jake Moody scores the extra point. The Vikings remain in the lead, with the score 20-14.
Justin Jefferson injured, return questionable
Vikings' wide receiver Justin Jefferson exited the field with assistance late in the third quarter after being injured in play. He suffered a right quad injury and his return is questionable.
Jefferson was blocking on the play late in the third quarter when he collided with teammate Garrett Bradbury and also took contact from 49ers linebacker Fred Warner.
Nick Bosa of the 49ers was also injured in the same play.
Jefferson missed seven games last season with a hamstring injury.
Vikings intercept 49ers, score touchdown
The Vikings' Jalen Nailor catches a 10-yard pass from Sam Darnold for a touchdown and Will Reichard scores the extra point. The touchdown comes after Josh Metellus intercepted a pass from 49ers' Brock Purdy meant for Kyle Juszczyk.
The Vikings are now winning 20-7.
97-yard TD pass 2nd longest in Vikings history
Sam Darnold strong-armed his former team in his home debut for the Minnesota Vikings — with a 97-yard touchdown pass to superstar Justin Jefferson.
Darnold dropped back into his end zone on second down from the 3 in the second quarter, spotted Jefferson speeding on a go-route between San Francisco safeties Ji'Ayir Brown and George Odum and let the ball fly. Jefferson caught it in stride just across midfield after it soared 55 yards in the air and ran diagonally toward the 49ers sideline, before stutter-stepping at the 32 and veering the opposite direction.
Vikings teammate Jalen Nailor caught up to dart in front of the two defenders and escort Jefferson across the goal line that gave them a 10-0 lead.
That was the second-longest play from scrimmage in Vikings history. Gus Frerotte threw a 99-yard touchdown pass to Bernard Berrian in 2008 against the Chicago Bears to set the record.
Vikings ahead 13-7 against 49ers at half
The Vikings' Will Reichard scored a 39-yard field goal to bring their score up 13-7 against the 49ers heading into half time.
49ers' Kittle scores touchdown
The 49ers' George Kittle scores a 7-yard touchdown and Jake Moody scores the extra point. The 49ers now trail the Vikings by three points with less than two minutes left in the second quarter.
Justin Jefferson scores 97-yard touchdown reception
Justin Jefferson scored a 97-yard touchdown reception for the Vikings and Will Reichard scored the extra point, improving their score to 10-0 against the 49ers.
Vikings score field goal
The Vikings' Will Reichard kicked a 22-yard field goal to score the first points of the game. The Vikings are now ahead of the 49ers 3-0.
Vikings superfan from Arizona returns to Minnesota for home opener
Jason Harmon from Arizona is one of the Vikings' biggest fans, and he'll be among the sea of purple inside U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday.
Click here for Harmon's full story.
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