The Vikings shock the 49ers!
In the late 80s and early 90s, quarterback Randall Cunningham used to be one of the feared weapons in the NFL. His dual threat as a passer and a runner used to keep defensive coordinators awake at nights. He retired from football after the ’95 season and missed the entire ’96 season but joined the Minnesota Vikings as a backup quarterback to Brad Johnson this season. After Johnson was hurt last Monday Night against the Packers, Cunningham finally got his opportunity and showed that he does have a little juice in his old body left as the Vikings upset the San Francisco 49ers, 16-14, at 3Comm Park in San Francisco.
Cunningham got the Vikings going early in the 1st quarter when evaded the 49ers rush, scrambled to his right and slung the ball to the end zone into the arms of WR Chris Carter for the game’s first touchdown. Carter, who has been frustrated all season long, finally got the ball humming his way as he caught six passes for 198 yards in the game.
The 49ers offense struggled most of the day. New 49er head coach Steve Mariucci has transformed this year’s Niners offense with a strong running game. Today, they were without star RB Garrison Hearst, who broke his collar bone in last week’s game. Hearst rushed for over a 1,000 yards on the season and scored ten touchdowns, but not having him in the backfield slowed the 49er attack. The Vikings held the Niners to just 90 yards on the ground and 44 of it came from Steve Young scrambles.
The Niners could muter only 299 yards of offense and was shut out in the first half of the game. Steve Young threw for 228 yards on 20 of 37 passing with two touchdowns and an interception.
Cunningham finished with 249 yards passing on 13 of 24 passing with the lone TD and zero interceptions. He also rushed five times for 23 yards. RB Robert Smith rushed for 80 yards on 20 carries.
With the 49er loss, the NFC West is still in doubt because the Saints picked up another win. The 49ers are now 10-4 on the season and hold just a one game lead over the Saints in the standings. If the Niners win either of their final two games against the Broncos or the Seahawks OR the Saints lose one of their two remaining games, then the 49ers will win the West.
The Vikings are now .500 at 7-7 and will have a huge test in the Metrodome next weekend as they face the red-hot Detroit Lions. The Vikings still have an outside shot of making the playoffs, but many factors would have to fall their way for that to happen.