San Francisco 49ers vs. Minnesota Vikings: 2023 Week 7 Recap

Game story

In Week 7 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-10-23, the Minnesota Vikings took care of business against the San Francisco 49ers, pulling away with a 22–17 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 22 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

K. Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) paced the passing game, with +16.23 total EPA, and +9.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, K. Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +16.23 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-24.1% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when San Francisco 49ers changed the game: (:34) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass deep left intended for 3-R.McCloud INTERCEPTED by 24-C.Bynum at MIN 22. 24-C.Bynum to MIN 22 for no gain (3-R.McCloud).

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 K. Cousins · Minnesota Vikings · Passing · +16.23 total EPA · 46 snaps · +0.35 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Purdy · San Francisco 49ers · Passing · +9.69 total EPA · 32 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Addison · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +6.25 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.63 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Powell · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +4.80 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.96 EPA/play
5. 5 B. Aiyuk · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +4.56 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.76 EPA/play
6. 6 G. Kittle · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +4.33 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.62 EPA/play
7. 7 C. McCaffrey · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +4.01 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.34 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Hockenson · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +3.91 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.33 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Minnesota Vikings — J. Addison (K. Cousins pass) (Q1 49:52)
• San Francisco 49ers — C. McCaffrey (Q2 31:04)
• Minnesota Vikings — J. Addison (K. Cousins pass) (Q2 30:16)
• San Francisco 49ers — C. McCaffrey (B. Purdy pass) (Q3 21:02)

Field goals

• Minnesota Vikings — G. Joseph (Q2 37:36)
• Minnesota Vikings — G. Joseph (Q3 22:02)
• Minnesota Vikings — G. Joseph (Q3 15:24)
• San Francisco 49ers — J. Moody (Q4 13:26)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 7–0. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the SF 20 (Q1 49:52) — (4:52) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep right to 3-J.Addison for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q1 49:48) — 1-G.Joseph extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-14-R.Wright..

The second quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 13–9. Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the SF 3 (Q2 37:36) — (7:36) 1-G.Joseph 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-14-R.Wright.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the MIN 3 (Q2 31:04) — (1:04) 23-C.McCaffrey up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the MIN 15 (Q2 31:01) — 4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the SF 60 (Q2 30:16) — (:16) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep right to 3-J.Addison for 60 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

The third quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–6. Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the SF 2 (Q3 22:02) — (7:02) 1-G.Joseph 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-14-R.Wright.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the MIN 35 (Q3 21:02) — (6:02) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass short right to 23-C.McCaffrey for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the MIN 15 (Q3 20:54) — 4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the SF 36 (Q3 15:24) — (:24) 1-G.Joseph 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-14-R.Wright..

The fourth quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 3–0. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the MIN 37 (Q4 13:26) — (13:26) 4-J.Moody 55 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 0:34) — (:34) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass deep left intended for 3-R.McCloud INTERCEPTED by 24-C.Bynum at MIN 22. 24-C.Bynum to MIN 22 for no gain (3-R.McCloud). [WPA -24.1% · EPA -2.23]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 1:16) — (1:16) 1-G.Joseph 50 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-14-R.Wright. [WPA -19.0% · EPA -3.53]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 30:16) — (:16) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep right to 3-J.Addison for 60 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +17.5% · EPA +6.60]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 56:03) — (11:03) 23-C.McCaffrey left end to MIN 12 for 3 yards (24-C.Bynum, 22-H.Smith). FUMBLES (22-H.Smith), touched at MIN 13, RECOVERED by MIN-94-D.Lowry at MIN 11. [WPA -15.3% · EPA -5.82]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 21:02) — (6:02) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass short right to 23-C.McCaffrey for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +11.2% · EPA +3.53]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 30:16) — (:16) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep right to 3-J.Addison for 60 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +17.5% · EPA +6.60]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 56:03) — (11:03) 23-C.McCaffrey left end to MIN 12 for 3 yards (24-C.Bynum, 22-H.Smith). FUMBLES (22-H.Smith), touched at MIN 13, RECOVERED by MIN-94-D.Lowry at MIN 11. [WPA -15.3% · EPA -5.82]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 58:41) — (13:41) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short right intended for 3-J.Addison INTERCEPTED by 7-C.Ward at MIN 48. 7-C.Ward to MIN 48 for no gain (3-J.Addison). [WPA -11.0% · EPA -5.21]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 5:36) — (5:36) 13-B.Purdy pass deep middle intended for 15-J.Jennings INTERCEPTED by 24-C.Bynum at MIN 30. 24-C.Bynum to MIN 30 for no gain (15-J.Jennings). [WPA -11.1% · EPA -4.25]

Quarterback report card

K.Cousins led all passers in efficiency for Minnesota Vikings, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• K.Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) · 46 dropbacks · 76.1% completion · +9.5% CPOE · +0.35 EPA/play · +16.23 total EPA
• B.Purdy (San Francisco 49ers) · 32 dropbacks · 65.6% completion · +1.5% CPOE · +0.30 EPA/play · +9.69 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (San Francisco 49ers +0.01, Minnesota Vikings +0.06) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Minnesota Vikings: 9 drives, +4.69 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 9 drives, +0.72 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Minnesota Vikings leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• K. Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• K. Cousins (MIN) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q1 49:52 · SF 20 · Score 0-6
   (4:52) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep right to 3-J.Addison for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q1 49:48 · SF 15 · Score 0-7
   1-G.Joseph extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-14-R.Wright.
3. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q2 37:36 · SF 3 · Score 0-10
   (7:36) 1-G.Joseph 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-14-R.Wright.
4. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q2 31:04 · MIN 3 · Score 6-10
   (1:04) 23-C.McCaffrey up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. San Francisco 49ers TD (+7) — Q2 31:01 · MIN 15 · Score 7-10
   4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
6. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 30:16 · SF 60 · Score 7-16
   (:16) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep right to 3-J.Addison for 60 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q3 22:02 · SF 2 · Score 7-19
   (7:02) 1-G.Joseph 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-14-R.Wright.
8. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q3 21:02 · MIN 35 · Score 13-19
   (6:02) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass short right to 23-C.McCaffrey for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q3 20:54 · MIN 15 · Score 14-19
   4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
10. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q3 15:24 · SF 36 · Score 14-22
    (:24) 1-G.Joseph 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-14-R.Wright.
11. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q4 13:26 · MIN 37 · Score 17-22
    (13:26) 4-J.Moody 55 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.