Not many people were ready to fully lean in last weekend despite how dominant the Vikings looked in their season opener.

Were the Vikings really that good or were the New York Giants really that bad?

A much biggest test existed for the Vikings this weekend with the San Francisco 49ers coming to town.

The performance the Vikings put together in a 23-17 win over the 49ers on Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium proved that they are for real.

In the matchup, the Vikings looked like the better team from top to bottom, getting contributions for offense, defense, and special teams to pull off the upset. Or maybe it wasn’t an upset at all with how well the Vikings have looked so far.

In need of a spark early on, the Vikings got a blocked punt from veteran fullback C.J. Ham that gifted the offense good field position. Unfortunately for the Vikings, they couldn’t find the end zone and had to settle for a 22-yard field goal from rookie kicker Will Reichard to make it 3-0.

On the next possession, the 49ers put together a sustained drive, going the length of the field before facing a fourth down near the goal line. The defense for the Vikings came up with a big stop as edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel deflected a ball near the line of scrimmage before veteran safety Harrison Smith finished the play with a pass breakup.

A few plays later, Darnold dropped back to pass in the shadow of his own goal post, stepped up into the pocket, and launched the ball into the heavens. It dropped into the outstretched arms of Jefferson, who hauled it in with ease, then weaved his way through the open field for a 97-yard touchdown to stretched the lead to 10-0.

Though it looked like the Vikings might be about to put the game away, a costly interception by Darnold on the next drive kept things interesting, and the 49ers made them pay when quarterback Brock Purdy found tight end George Kittle for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 10-7.

Credit the Vikings for staying aggressive at that point. Instead of putting a leash on Darnold after his interception, head coach Kevin O’Connell trusted him to get some points before halftime, and Reichard nailed a 39-yard field goal as time expired to make it 13-7.

After an interception by safety Josh Metellus shortly after halftime, the Vikings to complete control on the very next play as Darnold found receiver Jalen Nailor wide open in the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown that made it 20-7.

There was a chance for the Vikings to put the game away once again following another interception near midfield. This time the veteran running back Aaron Jones coughed the ball up at the 1-yard — the play after Jefferson left the game with a quad injury — to keep the game without reach.

Naturally, the 49ers responded with a big drive to cut the deficit to 20-14, putting the ball in Darnold’s hands with a chance to make a statement.

What followed was an gutsy drive from Darnold — without Jefferson, without fellow receiver Jordan Addison, and without star tight end T.J. Hockenson — that culminated with a big field goal from Reichard to make it 23-14.

Though the 49ers got a field goal of their own to cut the deficit to 23-17, tight end Nick Muse recovered an onside kick for the Vikings, and Darnold kneeled out the clock to put the finishing touches on an impressive win.

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