<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3pSzVE_0vXUZeb800" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3pSzVE_0vXUZeb800" width="650" height="433" ><figcaption>Isaac Yiadom of the San Francisco 49ers recovers a fumble against the Minnesota Vikings during the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) </figcaption></figure> To describe the <a href="https://www.sfgate.com/49ers/" rel="nofollow"> San Francisco 49ers </a> ’ 23-17 loss against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday as a comedy of errors would be an understatement. After a dominant performance where they played like the best team in football during Week 1, this Week 2 game was rife with nonsense on both sides of the matchup. The silliness got off to an early start, specifically at the end of the Vikings’ first possession of the game. Ryan Wright booted a ball downfield that landed within 5 yards of the end zone. It certainly looked like Minnesota’s defense would have incredible field position, but when Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner went to down the ball, <a href="https://x.com/WillRagatz/status/1835367357050438042" rel="nofollow"> he got up to celebrate too early </a> while still having possession and touched the end zone, resulting in a touchback for the 49ers. It’s a mistake that would have stood out on its own were it not for the rest of the game. The pendulum of chaos swung back the other way in the next possession. Niners punter Mitch Wishnowsky had his punt blocked by fullback (yes, you read that right: a fullback) C.J. Ham. Not only that, Wishnowsky missed a clear chance to down the Vikings player who recovered the blocked kick, only to have it returned 37 yards. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> BIG punt block for the <a href="https://twitter.com/Vikings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow"> @Vikings </a> ! 📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SFvsMIN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow"> #SFvsMIN </a> on CBS/Paramount+ 📱: <a href="https://t.co/waVpO909ge" rel="nofollow"> https://t.co/waVpO909ge </a><a href="https://t.co/EyUolJwU9W" rel="nofollow"> pic.twitter.com/EyUolJwU9W </a> — NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1835368763006545920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow"> September 15, 2024 </a></blockquote><script async charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> The good news for San Francisco is that Minnesota only came out of that drive with a field goal. The bad news is that the blocked punt seemed to inspire Shanahan to get more daring over the next couple drives, going for it on fourth down three times. The&nbsp;Niners succeeded on the first attempt, but failed the second time, bringing a truly anticlimactic end to a 88-yard drive. To add insult to injury, Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, the 49ers’ backup quarterback last season, connected with Justin Jefferson <a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1835376103617077588" rel="nofollow"> on a 97-yard touchdown </a> — and, yes, Jefferson hit a devastating griddy during the celebration. San Francisco followed that up by failing to convert on a fourth-and-2 on the subsequent drive. Thankfully for the red and gold, the defense stepped up and picked off Darnold just four plays later. A few plays after letting out a sigh of relief, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy threw an interception. It wasn’t your average interception, that’d be too basic for this game, it was one that deflected off the hands of linebacker Blake Cashman — who, had he secured the ball, likely would have taken it into the end zone — into the hands of Joshua Metellus, who bobbled it to safety Camryn Bynum, who bounced the ball bounced back into Metellus’ hands. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Teamwork makes the dream work <a href="https://twitter.com/NoExcuses_23?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow"> @NoExcuses_23 </a><a href="https://twitter.com/Cambeezy_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow"> @Cambeezy_ </a><a href="https://t.co/qxTDEnjfLv" rel="nofollow"> pic.twitter.com/qxTDEnjfLv </a> — Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) <a href="https://twitter.com/Vikings/status/1835393361286443515?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow"> September 15, 2024 </a></blockquote><script async charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> There was a brief lull in foolishness until just under 8 minutes in the third quarter. Nick Bosa sacked Darnold, forcing a fourth-down punt, but the ball was muffed by rookie returner Jacob Cowing. The ball was live for a few seconds, but it must have felt like agonizing hours to those on the sideline as at least two Vikings players had a chance to recover the loose ball. Niners cornerback Isaac Yiadom eventually came up with the possession. Purdy's second turnover was a lot more baffling, as the ball simply slipped out of his hands while he tried to make a throw. It’s not clear whether it would have counted as an incomplete pass had it hit the ground, as linebacker Jihad Ward was there to corral the ball before it landed. Ultimately, it was ruled as a fumble. Did the turnovers stop there? Absolutely not. Minnesota had to outdo San Francisco in the silly department with its ensuing drive. Just as running back Aaron Jones was about to score a touchdown after an 18-yard run, linebacker Fred Warner punched the ball out and got the Niners possession back. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Vikings fumble in the redzone and the <a href="https://twitter.com/49ers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow"> @49ers </a> recover! 📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SFvsMIN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow"> #SFvsMIN </a> on CBS/Paramount+ 📱: <a href="https://t.co/waVpO909ge" rel="nofollow"> https://t.co/waVpO909ge </a><a href="https://t.co/IH6uE4JVKI" rel="nofollow"> pic.twitter.com/IH6uE4JVKI </a> — NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1835397298999947394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow"> September 15, 2024 </a></blockquote><script async charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> It's at this point we should mention that the nonsense was not contained to in-game plays. At one point, ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted suddenly that "49ers TE George Kittle carted to locker room." While true, the reason was for Kittle to get an IV, and he was soon back on the field. Shortly afterwards, the most expensive injury timeout in NFL history occurred as Nick Bosa and Justin Jefferson — with a combined guaranteed salary of $232.5 million — both went down late in the third quarter. With the clock winding down, the Niners needed a touchdown. They almost got there, but true to this game, their final drive was interrupted when a sidearm throw from Purdy was <a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1835407691101220922" rel="nofollow"> almost picked off by Andrew Van Ginkel </a> . To ensure that it wasn’t a loose ball, as the pass looked like it was backwards, Deebo Samuel had to grab the deflected throw and bring it 9 yards backwards, forcing a fourth-and-10 situation on the Vikings’ 13-yard line. The Niners kicked a field goal, bringing things to the eventual final score, and, in the most normal occurrence of the day, they did not recover their onside kick attempt. More 49ers — <a href="https://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/49ers-vikings-loss-stupid-game-19766966.php" rel="nofollow"> The 49ers' loss to the Vikings was the silliest game ever </a> — <a href="https://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/christian-mccaffrey-49ers-injury-19766537.php" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> 49ers get even more bad news about Christian McCaffrey </a> — <a href="https://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/refs-failed-penalize-hip-drop-tackle-injured-49ers-19763197.php" rel="nofollow"> Refs failed to penalize an illegal tackle on an injured 49ers receiver </a> — <a href="https://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/public-humiliation-saved-49ers-star-19742969.php" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> A public humiliation could have broken an ex-49ers star. It saved him </a> . <a href="https://www.sfgate.com/49ers/" rel="nofollow"> Full 49ers coverage </a></div></body>

The 49ers' loss to the Vikings was the silliest game ever

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