Edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel nearly had another interception, deflecting 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy’s final pass that was caught by receiver Deebo Samuel for a loss of 9 yards.
“I think we’re special,” Van Ginkel said. “From front end to back end, we got guys all over the place that can make plays. We got a Hall of Famer [safety Harrison Smith] in the back, we just re-signed [Harrison Phillips] up front. Just across the board, we got playmakers. We have depth. The sky’s the limit for us.”
The 49ers didn’t get points on the board until after the two-minute warning before halftime, when Purdy found tight end George Kittle for a 7-yard touchdown on a screen pass. The Vikings stalled two previous 49ers drives that marched into Minnesota territory with fourth-down stops and turnovers on downs.
In the third quarter, linebacker Blake Cashman, who finished with 13 tackles and three pass deflections, tipped a Purdy pass over the middle. The ball bounced between Cashman’s fingertips to Metellus’ hands and into Bynum’s grip. But Bynum lost it, and Metellus was there to land the interception.
“I broke and the next thing I know the ball tipped 15 times,” Metellus said. “I’m like, ‘Woah, woah, woah, where the ball at?’ Boom, it’s in my hands.”
“They was getting after the quarterback,” Metellus added. “Purdy was rattled, you could tell in the back end, not trusting his throws.”