There was plenty of blame to go around for the 49ers in their 22-17 loss to the Vikings on Monday night. One 49ers player chose to put it all on himself after the game.
Christian McCaffrey told reporters, "I made a bad mistake today that I believe cost us the game if I don’t fumble that ball. So put it on me and go from there.”
McCaffrey was referring to his first quarter fumble after 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward had intercepted Kirk Cousins on the opening series of the game. The 49ers drove to the Vikings 12-yard line when McCaffrey coughed it up on a run tot the left.
The Vikings then flipped the script on the 49ers and drove 89 yards on 11 plays to take a 7-0 lead in the game. It was the first time this season the 49ers didn't score first and they would go on to not hold a lead at any point in the game.
It's one play in a game littered with 49ers miscues but you can understand McCaffrey's logic, a turnover with his team driving for points that comes up empty in a game that winds up being decided by five points. It also was the second fumble in three games for MaCaffrey who appeared to be uncomfortable battling through the pain of the oblique/rib he injured against the Browns.
McCaffrey did score a touchdown for a 16th consecutive game and had two on the night, including a 35 yard reception of a short Brock Purdy pass that he took to the house to pull the 49ers to within 19-14 in the third quarter.
