month.The 49ers are dealing with several injuries during this short week with backup strong safety Antone Exum already ruled out for the game with a concussion.Starter Jaquiski Tartt also could miss the game with a shoulde

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — No miraculous play was needed for New Orleans to win this game in Minnesota Maxx Crosby Jersey , no where-were-you moment that instantly went viral.Drew Brees and the Saints simply scored some revenge for their last-second loss in the playoffs last season by taking advantage of two key turnovers, including a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown by P.J. Williams, in a 30-20 victory over the Vikings on Sunday night.“This one had a little extra special meaning,” Brees said, flashing a slight smile after he went 18 for 23 to maintain his league-leading 77.4 completion percentage.Alvin Kamara scored twice, Wil Lutz made three field goals and Sheldon Rankins had two of the four sacks by the Saints (6-1), who needed only 120 passing yards by Brees to beat the Vikings (4-3-1) this time with far less tension down the final stretch and stay undefeated in four road games this year.“It’s everything we wanted it to be,” Rankins said.Stefon Diggs had 119 receiving yards and a score in his curtain call after the “Minneapolis Miracle” catch in the NFC divisional round here in January, but he stopped his drag route in a miscommunication with quarterback Kirk Cousins right before Williams picked the ball off for the pivotal third-quarter touchdown.Adam Thielen had another record-setting performance for the Vikings with 103 yards and a score, but he lost a fumble that was returned 54 yards by Marshon Lattimore to set up the go-ahead touchdown for the Saints.“We’re a really good football team, but you can’t make mistakes in this league and win, especially on critical situations when you have the ball in the red zone,” Thielen said. “Obviously I’m going to think about that one for a while, and I’m definitely disappointed in myself.”The Vikings had the edge on both sides of the ball during the first half. Harrison Smith handed Brees his first interception of the season after 231 attempts without one, putting the Vikings in position to stretch a 13-10 lead.Late in the second quarter, Thielen drove forward for extra yards after a short completion and had the ball pried loose by Williams and Alex Anzalone at the 14. Lattimore scooped it up and raced the other way Hakeem Butler Jersey , before Laquon Treadwell took him down. Treadwell then slammed his helmet on the turf in frustration, drawing a devastating 15-yard penalty to give the Saints the ball at the 18 with 57 seconds remaining before halftime. Kamara soared into the end zone two plays later.“I was giving up a few plays,” Williams said, “but a turnover always turns the game around.”The Vikings started the second half with the ball and went for it on fourth-and-1 at their own 45. With an empty backfield, Cousins had Treadwell open over the middle, but Lattimore broke up the pass to change possession and set up Lutz’s second field goal.“I told the team I was going to be aggressive,” coach Mike Zimmer said. “Every fourth down that was close, we were going to go for it.”SIZZLING STARTThe first evening kickoff of the season at U.S. Bank Stadium created an extra-energetic atmosphere, and the pregame hype video montage with replays of the last-snap catch and run by Diggs for the winning touchdown in the playoffs against the Saints only enhanced it.Defensive end Everson Griffen, returning from a five-game absence for mental health treatment, led the sprint out of the replica Vikings ship for introductions. Diggs was saved for last. Then the action came fast and furious.Kamara capped the opening touchdown drive by catching a forward flip on a jet sweep play with both backup quarterbacks, Teddy Bridgewater and Taysom Hill, lined up as wide receivers. Hill had taken a turn at quarterback earlier and threw a 44-yard pass to Michael Thomas, his second highlight-reel reception during that drive.Thielen climbed over the neck of Williams for a tricky third-down catch on the ensuing possession for the Vikings, who kept on attacking the third-year nickel cornerback. Diggs beat him with a back-shoulder grab at the goal line and again four plays later on a toe-tap touchdown at the edge of the end zone on fourth down.Williams had a pass interference penalty on the next drive for the Vikings. That set up a short scoring run by Latavius Murray, who tossed the ball back to Cousins earlier on that possession for a 28-yard flea-flicker throw to Thielen.THIELEN ITThielen tied Calvin Johnson’s all-time NFL record of eight straight 100-yard receiving games Chris Lindstrom Jersey , set in 2012 with Detroit. He also matched Patrick Jeffers with a fifth consecutive game with 100-plus yards and at least one touchdown, a mark set in 1999 for Carolina.INJURY REPORTSaints: CB Eli Apple, acquired in a trade with the New York Giants, made his debut in place of Ken Crawley, who was inactive but not on the injury report.Vikings: CB Xavier Rhodes (foot) was one of six starters held out with injuries. … Backup RB Roc Thomas left with a hamstring injury.UP NEXTSaints: Return home to host the Los Angeles Rams (8-0) next Sunday.Vikings: Stay home to face the Detroit Lions (3-4) next Sunday. San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard missed practice with an injured right wrist that could keep him out of Thursday night’s game against the Oakland Raiders.“His wrist hurts,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “He’s struggling today to hold a ball. So, we’ll see how he is tomorrow.”Beathard got hurt in the second quarter of a loss on Sunday at Arizona when he hit his hand on a helmet. He stayed in the game and finished 14 for 28 for 190 yards and a touchdown, falling to 1-9 in his career as a starter, including losses in all five starts this season.“I definitely felt it during the game,” Beathard said. “I felt it when it happened. But, I think with adrenaline going, I don’t think it was affecting the way I was throwing the ball.”Shanahan said he believed Beathard would be able to play if the game this week were on Sunday but doesn’t know if he’ll be ready on the short week for the 49ers (1-7). Beathard remained hopeful he’ll be able to go, otherwise the Niners will turn to untested Nick Mullens.Mullens joined the 49ers as an undrafted free agent last year after breaking all of Brett Favre’s records in college at Southern Mississippi. He earned himself a practice squad spot.Mullens played well in the preseason this year and got promoted to the active roster following a season-ending knee injury to starter Jimmy Garoppolo in September.“Nick comes in there, moves the chains, competes hard, made some plays with his legs and his arm http://www.atlantafalconsteamonline.com/kaleb-mcgary-jersey ,” Shanahan said. “Guys believe in him and he’s as competitive and confident as a guy I’ve been around. If he needs to play this week, he’ll be on it.”Mullens has not taken an NFL snap and has worked mostly with the scout team in practice.Mullens won’t get much practice time this week either if he plays, with the Niners holding only a walkthrough on Tuesday and then a light practice Wednesday before playing the game.“That’s the challenge of being a backup, you don’t get a lot of reps but you have to keep mentally sharp throughout the week,” Mullens said. “You have to play the game in your head before it actually plays out. That’s kind of what I’ve done each week.”The only other quarterback on the roster is Tom Savage, who is still learning the offense after being signed earlier this month.The 49ers are dealing with several injuries during this short week with backup strong safety Antone Exum already ruled out for the game with a concussion.Starter Jaquiski Tartt also could miss the game with a shoulder injury and linebacker Reuben Foster also missed practice with a hamstring injury. Several other players were limited, including running back Matt Breida (ankle), CB Richard Sherman (calf, heel), T Joe Staley (ankle), C Weston Richburg (knee), WR Pierre Garcon (shoulder, knee), RB Raheem Mostert (ankle) and G Mike Person (ankle).San Francisco made two roster moves Tuesday by waiving receiver Victor Bolden Jr. and defensive back Greg Mabin, who started at cornerback two weeks ago against the Rams. Those moves clear roster spots if the 49ers decide to activate strong safety Marcell Harris and linebacker Dekoda Watson from injured reserve.