Vikings humble 49ers again, 27-7

Minnesota didn’t even need top running back Adrian Peterson.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — After the 49ers schemed all week against Adrian Peterson, their plan to stop the NFL’s leading rusher worked splendidly — and that was the extent of San Francisco’s successes in another big win for the resurgent Minnesota Vikings.

Though, to be fair, nobody could have planned for a game that began with a 311-pound man returning an interception for a touchdown on the very first play.

Defensive tackle Kevin Williams rumbled into the end zone just 14 seconds in, and Chester Taylor made an 84-yard scoring run in Minnesota’s fourth straight victory, 27-7 over San Francisco Sunday.

Though Peterson managed just 3 yards on 14 carries, the Vikings (7-6) still jumped to a 27-0 halftime lead while getting back above .500 for the first time since the season’s opening week. Minnesota is in the sixth spot in the NFC playoff picture, controlling its own destiny in a season that nearly went out of control.

“I think if you told our guys a month ago that they were going to be the hunted instead of going hunting, they probably would have asked you, ‘Well, how’s that going to happen?’ ” Minnesota coach Brad Childress said.

With patient offense and another strong game from a resurgent defense, that’s how — and even without help from Peterson, who finished with a career-low rushing total. San Francisco linebacker Patrick Willis made eight tackles to win the meeting of two high-profile rookies.

Robert Ferguson caught a 19-yard TD pass from Tarvaris Jackson, who passed for 163 yards. Minnesota’s only dynamic offensive play was Taylor’s TD run, the third-longest in franchise history and the bulk of his 101 yards rushing.

Yet nothing fancy is necessary to beat the 49ers (3-10) these days.

“We weren’t trying to force anything,” Peterson said. “Chester is capable of coming out and having big games, too. You can’t just focus on one guy on our team.”

Frank Gore rushed for 68 yards, caught eight passes for 49 yards and lost two fumbles for San Francisco, which has yet another injured quarterback after its 10th loss in 11 games. The Vikings defense turned in its third straight solid performance, limiting the 49ers’ league-worst offense to 79 yards in the first half.