The 49ers (5-5) host the Minnesota Vikings (5-5) at Levi's Stadium for a 1:25 PT kickoff.
Kirk Cousins is the Vikings' QB1 with Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and Dalvin Cook all on the offense. The 49ers come off the win in Jacksonville.
Both teams are fighting for wild-card position in the NFC.[1][2][3]
Both teams 5-5, both fighting for wild-card position in the NFC. Sunday at Levi's Stadium is the kind of late-November matchup that decides who gets to keep the season alive and who starts thinking about the offseason.
Kirk Cousins has thrown for 2,800 yards through ten games. Justin Jefferson is the WR1 in the NFC. The Vikings have a real offense; the 49ers' defense has been the team's identity all year.
Garoppolo against Cousins, the matchup of two solid-but-not-spectacular starters who win when their defenses produce. Sunday is the kind of game where field position, third-down conversion, and turnover differential decide the result.
Week 12 is the late-November NFC playoff sort. The 49ers and Vikings both at 5-5, both fighting for the wild-card spot. The Cardinals and Buccaneers continue to lead. Around the AFC the Bills, Patriots, Chiefs are in the top tier. The Sunday game is the kind of week where the loser starts to think about next year and the winner takes the next step toward January.
Through eleven games the 49ers are 5-5 with a +24 point differential. The Vikings are 5-5 with a +12. Kirk Cousins averages 280 passing yards per game with 21 TDs and 4 INTs. Cousins' last 212 passes had no interceptions entering. Justin Jefferson leads the NFC in receiving. Vegas opens the 49ers as 3.5-point home favorites; total 49.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots | 7-4 | -- |
| Buffalo Bills | 6-4 | -- |
| Miami Dolphins | 4-7 | -- |
| New York Jets | 2-8 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | 7-3 | -- |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 6-4 | -- |
| Cleveland Browns | 6-5 | -- |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 5-4-1 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Titans | 8-3 | -- |
| Indianapolis Colts | 6-5 | -- |
| Houston Texans | 2-8 | -- |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 2-8 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | 7-4 | -- |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 6-4 | -- |
| Denver Broncos | 5-5 | -- |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 5-5 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Cardinals | 9-2 | -- |
| Los Angeles Rams | 7-3 | -- |
| San Francisco 49ers | 5-5 | -- |
| Seattle Seahawks | 3-7 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 7-3 | -- |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 5-6 | -- |
| Washington Football Team | 4-6 | -- |
| New York Giants | 3-7 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Green Bay Packers | 8-3 | -- |
| Minnesota Vikings | 5-5 | -- |
| Chicago Bears | 3-7 | -- |
| Detroit Lions | 0-9-1 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 7-3 | -- |
| New Orleans Saints | 5-5 | -- |
| Carolina Panthers | 5-6 | -- |
| Atlanta Falcons | 4-6 | -- |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Vikings | Adam Thielen 2 yard pass from Kirk Cousins ( Greg Joseph kick) | 7-0 |
| 49ers | Deebo Samuel 20 yard rush ( Robbie Gould kick) | 7-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Vikings | Adam Thielen 20 yard pass from Kirk Cousins ( Greg Joseph kick) | 14-7 |
| 49ers | Jauan Jennings 3 yard pass from Jimmy Garoppolo ( Robbie Gould kick) | 14-14 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Deebo Samuel 3 yard rush ( Robbie Gould kick) | 14-21 |
| 49ers | Elijah Mitchell 2 yard rush ( Robbie Gould kick) | 14-28 |
| Vikings | Alexander Mattison 6 yard rush ( Greg Joseph kick failed) | 20-28 |
| 49ers | Robbie Gould 46 yard field goal | 20-31 |
| Vikings | Kene Nwangwu 99 yard kickoff return (pass failed) | 26-31 |
| 49ers | Robbie Gould 22 yard field goal | 26-34 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| No scoring this quarter. | ||
Deebo Samuel ran for two touchdowns before leaving with an injury, Elijah Mitchell rushed for 133 yards and a score, and the 49ers beat the Minnesota Vikings 34-26 at Levi's Stadium. The matchup featured six scores in the third quarter alone, including a 99-yard kickoff return TD by Kene Nwangwu for Minnesota. Garoppolo threw for 230 and a TD. Samuel's two rushing TDs made him the first receiver since the merger to run for 5 TDs in a season. The 49ers' Azeez Al-Shaair intercepted Cousins on the play after Samuel's third-quarter TD, ending Cousins' 212-straight no-INT streak. The 49ers improved to 6-5.[1][2][3]
Six scores in the third quarter Sunday afternoon at Levi's Stadium. Kene Nwangwu took a kickoff 99 yards for a Vikings touchdown. Deebo Samuel ran for two more touchdowns of his own, becoming the first receiver since the merger to run for five TDs in a season. Elijah Mitchell ran for 133.
The 49ers won 34-26. Azeez Al-Shaair intercepted Kirk Cousins on the play after Samuel's third-quarter touchdown, ending Cousins' 212-straight no-interception streak. Mitchell ran it in from 6 yards on the next play.
6-5. The Seahawks come up on the road next, then the bye is two weeks away. The 49ers' season has its third straight win.
49ers 34, Vikings 26. Margin: +8. Twelve-game record: 6-5, +32 differential.
A 34-26 win over the Vikings at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers improve to 6-5 with their third straight win.
How it unfolded
The Vikings opened with a Cousins-to-Thielen touchdown. The 49ers answered. The third quarter was a wild stretch: Samuel rushing TD, Nwangwu 99-yard kickoff return TD, Al-Shaair interception, Mitchell rushing TD, another Vikings TD, Samuel's second rushing TD. The fourth quarter was a goal-line stand by the 49ers' defense to seal it.
The turning point
Al-Shaair's interception of Cousins ending the streak. Coming on the play right after Samuel's third-quarter touchdown, the pick gave the 49ers a short field and Mitchell ran in the response touchdown that pushed the lead to two scores.
By the numbers
Garoppolo 230 passing on 31 attempts with a TD. Mitchell 27 carries for 133 with a TD. Samuel's two rushing TDs (now five for the season). Cousins 220 passing on 32 attempts with two TDs and one INT.
Personnel watch
Deebo Samuel left with an injury that was later diagnosed as a groin strain. Mitchell took the bulk of the run-game load. Al-Shaair the defensive standout with the pick.
What it means
6-5 with three straight wins and the wild-card math actively in the 49ers' favor. The Seahawks come up on the road next.
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Jimmy Garoppolo | 17/26 | 230 | 1 | 1 | |
| MIN | |||||
| Kirk Cousins | 20/32 | 238 | 2 | 1 | |
| Justin Jefferson | 1/1 | 24 | 0 | 0 | |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Elijah Mitchell | 27 | 133 | 1 | 15 |
| Deebo Samuel | 6 | 66 | 2 | 49 |
| Jeff Wilson | 2 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| Brandon Aiyuk | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Jimmy Garoppolo | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| MIN | ||||
| Dalvin Cook | 10 | 39 | 0 | 30 |
| Alexander Mattison | 7 | 21 | 1 | 7 |
| Kene Nwangwu | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Brandon Aiyuk | 3 | 91 | 0 | 37 |
| Kyle Juszczyk | 2 | 37 | 0 | 26 |
| Elijah Mitchell | 5 | 35 | 0 | 13 |
| Jauan Jennings | 2 | 24 | 1 | 21 |
| George Kittle | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| Deebo Samuel | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Charlie Woerner | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Trent Sherfield | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Jeff Wilson | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| MIN | ||||
| Justin Jefferson | 4 | 83 | 0 | 30 |
| Dalvin Cook | 6 | 64 | 0 | 24 |
| Adam Thielen | 5 | 62 | 2 | 29 |
| Tyler Conklin | 2 | 25 | 0 | 17 |
| C.J. Ham | 1 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| Alexander Mattison | 2 | 7 | 0 | 5 |
| K.J. Osborn | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Find or start the canonical thread for this game on r/49ers. The thread title is deterministic so anyone running this Rewatch lands on the same place.
Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 2021 W12 - 49ers vs Minnesota Vikings - Game Thread
