The Minnesota Vikings got a crucial touchdown at the end of the first half, as Kirk Cousins and Jordan Addison hooked up for a spectacular play. Cousins hit Addison well downfield, Addison made an incredible play to wrestle the ball away from defensive back Charvarius Ward, and took the ball 60 yards to put the Vikings up by two scores going into halftime.
Maybe the most impressive aspect of the play, however, was just how improbable it was in the first place. Most teams in that scenario are playing conservative, content to go into the half and make the necessary adjustments for the second half. But that’s not how this one played out.
Instead, the 49ers defense took a calculated risk and tried to force Cousins to make a quick, and potentially bad decision. They sent a blitz and brought seven defenders at Cousins, and the Vikings quarterback made the 49ers pay dearly for their aggressive tactics.
Just how aggressive was the decision to bring seven? It was the first time a team had brought seven or more defenders on a pass rush in the last 30 seconds of a half with the offense in their own territory since Week 11 of the 2020 season.
Kirk Cousins was able to hit Jordan Addison vs Cover 0 for a 60-yard TD with 0:16 remaining in the first half.
The 49ers sent the first 7-man pass rush in the last 30 seconds of a half in opposing territory since Week 11, 2020.#SFvsMIN | #Skol pic.twitter.com/zD1empQQ26
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 24, 2023
The 49ers saw an opportunity to try and take some momentum going into the half, and instead, they gave even more to the Vikings, and that has carried through the second half.
