Minnesota Vikings (1-4) – Kansas City Chiefs (4-1): 20-27
Penalties galore and an aerial festival, that’s what we should remember from this clash between the Chiefs and the Vikings. In a tight and choppy meeting, Kansas City took the upper hand in the 3e quarter-time and withstood the onslaught of Minnesota’s offense to win a fourth straight game.
The match started in the worst way for the Vikings. On the very first play, tight end Josh Oliver loses the ball, which is covered by Bryan Cook. What follows is an exchange of field goals, two per team, as well as a touchdown each to reach the break with a parity score. (13-13)
Travis Kelce hit but not sunk
This first half was also an opportunity for Kansas City supporters to test their nerves. Following a tackle, Patrick Mahomes got up limping, images which were reminiscent of his injury against the Jaguars in the playoffs last season. More fear than harm, fortunately, for the quarterback. It was more worrying for Travis Kelce who, on a reception at the end of the second quarter, collapsed alone in the middle of the field. But the tight end is a tough guy, and he returned to his position in the second half with a bandage on his ankle.
Even with a painful ankle, Kelce remains the safety valve for his quarterback (10 recs, 67 yards, 1 TD). In the wake of a precise Patrick Mahomes (31/41, 281 yards, 2 TD), the Chiefs widened the gap in the third quarter, thanks to two passing touchdowns from Mahomes, for the rookie Rashee Rice, then for Kelce.
Vikings too short
In the last act, the Vikings believed they could achieve a feat but, unfortunately for them, there will be no second “Minneapolis Miracle”. Despite a new passing touchdown from Kirk Cousins (29/47, 284 yards, 2 TDs), the Chiefs defense closed the shop at the very end of the game to seal the score.
Minnesota believed in it, however, when on a fourth attempt, Cousins sent a hazardous ball towards the end zone, and yet another penalty (10 against the Chiefs, 4 against the Vikings) was thrown against L’Jarius Sneed. The cornerback seems to have clearly hampered Jordan Addison, but this time the referees decided to call the penalty, probably because the ball appeared to have landed too far from the receiver for it to be considered pass interference. With Kevin O’Connell no longer being challenged at this point in the match, the ball was returned to Kansas City.
Justin Jefferson hit in the thigh
Kirk Cousins had one last opportunity to win the game, but his hail mary attempt with 5 seconds remaining was aborted by a sack from Mike Danna. In addition to this fourth defeat of the season, which seems to push the Vikings even further away from the playoffs, we must also highlight the injury exit of Justin Jefferson, injured in the thigh at the end of the match. The start of the season is already complicated, a potential absence of the best receiver in the league would throw a cold chill over Minneapolis.
The Chiefs continue their rise in power with a fourth success in a row. The short week of recovery before Thursday’s match against the Broncos couldn’t have come at a worse time, as they will have little time to heal their injuries, particularly Travis Kelce. However, if Denver displays the same face as since the start of the season, Kansas City will not have to pull the string to emerge victorious either.
