San Francisco 49ers vs. Minnesota Vikings: 2024 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season on 2024-09-15, the Minnesota Vikings took care of business against the San Francisco 49ers, pulling away with a 23–17 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Purdy (San Francisco 49ers) paced the passing game, with -1.03 total EPA, and +8.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.27 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+13.6% win probability) landed in the second quarter when San Francisco 49ers changed the game: (13:33) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass deep left to 15-J.Jennings to MIN 20 for 25 yards (24-C.Bynum).

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 J. Jefferson · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +7.27 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.04 EPA/play
2. 2 G. Kittle · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +7.12 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.89 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Chandler · Minnesota Vikings · Rushing · +4.00 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Samuel · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +3.89 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.39 EPA/play
5. 5 B. Aiyuk · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +3.87 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Nailor · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +3.44 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.86 EPA/play
7. 7 B. Powell · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +2.70 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.35 EPA/play
8. 8 E. Saubert · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +1.47 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.73 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. Jefferson (S. Darnold pass) (Q2 39:51)
• San Francisco 49ers — G. Kittle (B. Purdy pass) (Q2 32:00)
• Minnesota Vikings — J. Nailor (S. Darnold pass) (Q3 21:53)
• San Francisco 49ers — J. Mason (Q4 10:21)

Field goals

• Minnesota Vikings — W. Reichard (Q1 49:48)
• Minnesota Vikings — W. Reichard (Q2 30:03)
• Minnesota Vikings — unlisted player (Q2 30:00)
• Minnesota Vikings — W. Reichard (Q4 3:33)
• Minnesota Vikings — W. Reichard (Q4 3:30)
• San Francisco 49ers — J. Moody (Q4 1:15)

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 3–0. Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the SF 4 (Q1 49:48) — (4:48) 16-W.Reichard 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-17-R.Wright..

The second quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 13–7. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the SF 97 (Q2 39:51) — (9:51) 14-S.Darnold pass deep middle to 18-J.Jefferson for 97 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q2 39:35) — 16-W.Reichard extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-17-R.Wright.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the MIN 7 (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass short left to 85-G.Kittle for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the MIN 15 (Q2 31:53) — 4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-3-M.Wishnowsky.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the SF 21 (Q2 30:03) — (:03) 16-W.Reichard 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-17-R.Wright.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal (Q2 30:00) — END QUARTER 2.

The third quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 7–0. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the SF 10 (Q3 21:53) — (6:53) 14-S.Darnold pass short right to 83-J.Nailor for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q3 21:49) — 16-W.Reichard extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-17-R.Wright..

The fourth quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 10–6. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the MIN 10 (Q4 10:21) — (10:21) 24-J.Mason right end for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the MIN 15 (Q4 10:16) — 4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-3-M.Wishnowsky.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the SF 8 (Q4 3:33) — (3:33) 16-W.Reichard 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-17-R.Wright.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the MIN 35 (Q4 3:30) — 16-W.Reichard kicks 65 yards from MIN 35 to end zone, Touchback to the SF 30.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the MIN 13 (Q4 1:15) — (1:15) 4-J.Moody 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-3-M.Wishnowsky..

Turning points

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

• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 43:33) — (13:33) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass deep left to 15-J.Jennings to MIN 20 for 25 yards (24-C.Bynum). [WPA +13.6% · EPA +4.49]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 39:51) — (9:51) 14-S.Darnold pass deep middle to 18-J.Jefferson for 97 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.5% · EPA +7.67]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 40:31) — (10:31) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass incomplete short left to 15-J.Jennings (43-A.Van Ginkel, 22-H.Smith) [92-J.Williams]. [WPA -13.0% · EPA -3.11]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 52:04) — (7:04) 3-M.Wishnowsky punt is BLOCKED by 30-C.Ham, Center-46-T.Pepper, RECOVERED by MIN-26-Th.Jackson at SF 39. 26-Th.Jackson to SF 24 for 15 yards (82-E.Saubert). [WPA -11.2% · EPA -4.75]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 22:04) — (7:04) 13-B.Purdy pass short middle intended for 44-K.Juszczyk INTERCEPTED by 44-J.Metellus (51-B.Cashman) at SF 22. 44-J.Metellus pushed ob at SF 10 for 12 yards (77-D.Puni; 65-A.Banks). [WPA -9.2% · EPA -5.02]

Impact plays

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 39:51) — (9:51) 14-S.Darnold pass deep middle to 18-J.Jefferson for 97 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.5% · EPA +7.67]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 34:48) — (4:48) (Shotgun) 14-S.Darnold pass short middle intended for 11-T.Sherfield INTERCEPTED by 54-F.Warner at SF 10. 54-F.Warner to SF 35 for 25 yards (71-C.Darrisaw; 14-S.Darnold). [WPA -7.7% · EPA -6.25]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 22:04) — (7:04) 13-B.Purdy pass short middle intended for 44-K.Juszczyk INTERCEPTED by 44-J.Metellus (51-B.Cashman) at SF 22. 44-J.Metellus pushed ob at SF 10 for 12 yards (77-D.Puni; 65-A.Banks). [WPA -9.2% · EPA -5.02]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 52:04) — (7:04) 3-M.Wishnowsky punt is BLOCKED by 30-C.Ham, Center-46-T.Pepper, RECOVERED by MIN-26-Th.Jackson at SF 39. 26-Th.Jackson to SF 24 for 15 yards (82-E.Saubert). [WPA -11.2% · EPA -4.75]

Quarterback report card

B.Purdy led all passers in efficiency for San Francisco 49ers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• B.Purdy (San Francisco 49ers) · 44 dropbacks · 63.6% completion · +8.4% CPOE · -0.02 EPA/play · -1.03 total EPA
• S.Darnold (Minnesota Vikings) · 30 dropbacks · 56.7% completion · +0.7% CPOE · -0.10 EPA/play · -3.08 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Minnesota Vikings held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.05 vs -0.13), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Minnesota Vikings: 11 drives, -3.64 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 10 drives, -11.31 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.
• J. Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• B. Purdy (SF) 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 FG (+3) — Q1 49:48 · SF 4 · Score 0-3
   (4:48) 16-W.Reichard 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-17-R.Wright.
2. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 39:51 · SF 97 · Score 0-9
   (9:51) 14-S.Darnold pass deep middle to 18-J.Jefferson for 97 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q2 39:35 · SF 15 · Score 0-10
   16-W.Reichard extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-17-R.Wright.
4. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q2 32:00 · MIN 7 · Score 6-10
   (2:00) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass short left to 85-G.Kittle for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q2 31:53 · MIN 15 · Score 7-10
   4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-3-M.Wishnowsky.
6. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q2 30:03 · SF 21 · Score 7-13
   (:03) 16-W.Reichard 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-17-R.Wright.
7. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q2 30:00 · Score 7-13
   END QUARTER 2
8. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q3 21:53 · SF 10 · Score 7-19
   (6:53) 14-S.Darnold pass short right to 83-J.Nailor for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q3 21:49 · SF 15 · Score 7-20
   16-W.Reichard extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-17-R.Wright.
10. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 10:21 · MIN 10 · Score 13-20
    (10:21) 24-J.Mason right end for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q4 10:16 · MIN 15 · Score 14-20
    4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-3-M.Wishnowsky.
12. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q4 3:33 · SF 8 · Score 14-23
    (3:33) 16-W.Reichard 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-17-R.Wright.
13. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q4 3:30 · MIN 35 · Score 14-23
    16-W.Reichard kicks 65 yards from MIN 35 to end zone, Touchback to the SF 30.
14. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q4 1:15 · MIN 13 · Score 17-23
    (1:15) 4-J.Moody 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-3-M.Wishnowsky.