PLAY OF THE GAME
THE SCRAMBLE
When: Second quarter, 5:30 remaining.
Score: Vikings led 7-3.
Situation: The Vikings used 10 plays to drive from their own 20 to the 49ers 23.
The play: On first-and-10, Christian Ponder scrambled up the middle, weaving his way toward the end zone and dived in for the score.
The result: The touchdown run gave the Vikings a 14-3 lead.
NOT IN THE BOX SCORE Threes are wild
The final 1:30 of the opening half produced at least a six-point swing in the Vikings' favor. The 49ers, with a second-and-3 at the Vikings 26-yard line, looked certain to trim their 14-3 deficit before the half. But after failing to pick up the first down with two pass attempts, the 49ers had to settle for a field-goal attempt. The visitors didn't even get that, thanks to Letroy Guion's block of David Akers' 43-yard attempt. And rather than play conservative with a minute to play, Christian Ponder took to the air with eight straight passes that took the Vikings to the 49ers 34-yard line. Blair Walsh then calmly booted a 52-yarder with 4 seconds left, becoming the first Viking to kick field goals over 50 yards in three straight games.
MANO-A-MANO
Vikings left guard Charlie Johnson vs. Justin Smith
WHO WON?
Smith didn't have a sack.
Edge: Johnson
THE QUOTE
"I just pulled down and ran with it. It felt a lot longer than 23 yards. But I'll take it."
-- Ponder
