The Minnesota Vikings fought valiantly but ended up losing the game against the Kansas City Chiefs by a score of 27-20.
On the first play of the day, the Vikings shot themselves in the foot. Josh Oliver fumbled the football to the Chiefs, and they took advantage with a touchdown on the ensuing drive.
Overall, the defense did a good job for the Vikings. They pressured Patrick Mahomes while keeping him contained. Yes, Mahomes still made plays, but the defense made him earn every inch.
The Vikings suffered multiple injuries on the day. Garrett Bradbury, Justin Jefferson, Akayleb Evans, Andrew DePaola and T.J. Hockenson all left the game with injuries at one point. Jefferson (hamstring) was the only player not to return to the game.
Kirk Cousins played his best game of the season. The stats don’t show it, but he was excellent in maneuvering the pocket and finding players down the field.
The turning point of the game was a fourth-and-1 in the third quarter with Kansas City ahead 20-13. Mahomes threw deep to Justin Watson, and Harrison Smith was charged with defensive pass interference. That drive resulted in a Travis Kelce touchdown, which ended up being the difference in the game.
Right now, the Vikings sit at 1-4 with a lot less hope for a playoff spot than they had going in. They face the fellow 1-4 Bears in Chicago next week.
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