Chiefs @ Vikings
Final Score: Chiefs 27, Vikings 20
Writer: Brennan Rampe (@phdinnfl on Twitter)
The Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings clashed at U.S. Bank Stadium, and Minnesota was hoping to win two in a row. Tight end Josh Oliver fumbled on the very first play of the game, and as a Vikings fan, I knew immediately that they weren’t going to be victorious. They were 11-0 in one-score games last year but are 1-4 in that category this year. 1-4 also happens to be Minnesota’s record. The season is all but over, and the franchise should start thinking about 2024 and beyond.
Two Up
- Patrick Mahomes – Had two touchdown passes and no turnovers.
- Travis Kelce – Overcame what seemed to be a serious injury and caught a touchdown.
Two Down
- Kirk Cousins – Just has lacked the clutch moments this year.
- Justin Jefferson – Had a season-low in receiving yards and couldn’t finish the game due to a hamstring injury.
Kansas City Chiefs
Quarterback
Patrick Mahomes: 31/41, 281 yards, 2 TD
I came into this game fully expecting Patrick Mahomes to have success against this Vikings defense, and he did. He had no turnovers and was particularly lethal on third downs. That’s where Kansas City did most of their damage, including a deep bomb to Justin Watson early in the third quarter that got them out of a jam. The Chiefs offense hasn’t been as explosive as we’re used to seeing, but they’re making the plays when they need to and they aren’t turning it over.
Notes
- Will probably find himself in the MVP conversation once again.
Missed Opportunities
- There was a deep pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling that could’ve gone for a touchdown at one point, but the pair couldn’t connect.
Running Back
Isiah Pacheco: 16 carries, 55 yards, TD
Isaiah Pacheco didn’t have any big runs, but he did score the game’s first touchdown. It came after the Vikings turned it over on the first play of the game. He just brings physicality and explosiveness that Clyde Edwards-Helaire lacks.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire: 3 carries, 4 yards
The first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft looks like a bust to me. He had his fifth-year option declined and lost his job to a 2022 NFL Draft seventh-rounder in Isaiah Pacheco. A rare miss by Chiefs general manager Brett Veach, who is one of the best in the league.
Jerick McKinnon: 1 carry, 7 yards; 2 receptions, 18 yards
Jerick McKinnon is mainly the pass-catching back, and he was the only Chiefs running back to catch passes. Pacheco is the lead back and looks like the only relevant fantasy option in this backfield.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Marquez Valdes-Scantling: 1 reception, 11 yards
Skyy Moore: 2 receptions, 11 yards
Justyn Ross: 2 receptions, 28 yards
Kadarius Toney: 5 receptions, 26 yards
Kadarius Toney may have had the most receptions of any Chiefs wide receiver, but he also was injured at one point and vanished after that. He was being talked up as a potential WR1 in this offense, but that hasn’t happened yet.
Rashee Rice: 4 receptions, 33 yards, TD
Rashee Rice was the only wide receiver for Kansas City to score a touchdown. He was a second-round pick this year and has two touchdown receptions in five games.
Justin Watson: 2 receptions, 56 yards
He had a catch on a long third down where he went up and fought for the football. He came away with it and it led to a touchdown on the drive.
Travis Kelce: 10 receptions, 67 yards, TD
There was a big scare in this game when Travis Kelce went down with what appeared to be a non-contact injury near the end of the first half. He missed the rest of the half and the first drive of the second half as he was getting X-rays, and the Chiefs felt confident enough to send Kelce back out there for the second drive of the second half. After returning from his ankle injury, Kelce then caught a touchdown that put the Chiefs up by two scores. Kansas City’s next game is on Thursday, so it’ll be interesting to see how he looks. Hopefully, there are no issues going forward.
Noah Gray: 2 receptions, 21 yards
Minnesota Vikings
Quarterback
Kirk Cousins: 29/47, 284 yards, 2 TD
Kirk Cousins had a solid day statistically, and he wasn’t responsible for any turnovers. He played pretty well, but it hurt him not having Justin Jefferson during the final moments of the game. Cousins has been the reason Minnesota has lost some of their games, but it wasn’t his fault today.
Missed Opportunities
- Wasn’t on the same page with K.J. Osborn in the end zone during one drive, it resulted in a field goal.
Running Back
Alexander Mattison: 8 carries, 26 yards; 2 receptions, 20 yards, TD
It was a pedestrian day for Alexander Mattison. There were no big openings for him, unlike last week. He’s still the lead back despite the Vikings trading for Cam Akers.
Missed Opportunities
- Dropped a screen pass that would have been a touchdown in the fourth quarter that would’ve tied the game.
Cam Akers: 5 carries, 15 yards; 2 receptions, 3 yards
Ty Chandler: 1 carry, 15 yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Justin Jefferson: 3 receptions, 28 yards
Justin Jefferson just couldn’t get separation against the cornerback duo of L’Jarius Sneed and Trent McDuffie. It was his lowest amount of yards in a game this season, and to make things worse, he couldn’t finish the game due to a hamstring injury. That will be something to watch going forward.
Jordan Addison: 6 receptions, 64 yards, TD
Jordan Addison had a nice day and caught his third touchdown. It seems like he gets more comfortable in the system with every game. He should be a good compliment to Jefferson in this offense.
K.J. Osborn: 5 receptions, 49 yards
Brandon Powell: 4 receptions, 43 yards
T.J. Hockenson: 5 receptions, 51 yards
Another uneventful day for T.J. Hockenson. His two touchdown receptions were both in Week 2, and there was a play where the football hit him in the hands and he didn’t catch it.
Josh Oliver: 1 reception, 15 yards
The rarely-used tight end caught a pass on the first play of the game and fumbled it. He essentially vanished after that. Good choice by the coaching staff.
Johnny Mundt: 1 reception, 11 yards