After losing three of their last four games at home, the Kansas City Chiefs improved to 6-3 on the season following a 26-23 walk-off victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
Players cleared the Chiefs sideline in celebration when kicker Harrison Butker kicked a 44-yard field goal attempt through the uprights to win the game in the closing seconds.
Minnesota came into today’s game at 6-2 with a red-hot offense led by quarterback Kirk Cousins, who had the second-best QBR in the NFL, a top-five receiver in Stefon Diggs and the NFL’s leading rushing attack, starring running back Dalvin Cook.
On the other side of the ball, the Vikings possessed a top-five defense that loves to get after the passer.
There was no doubt that Kansas City was going to have their hands full against a very good Vikings team and though they struggled early, the Chiefs didn’t shy away and met Minnesota head-on.
Getting defensive tackle Chris Jones back from injury would prove to be huge for Kansas City as he and the Chiefs run defense held the Vikings to just 96 yards on the ground. Running back Dalvin Cook was almost a non-factor in this game despite how explosive he can be but was held to just 71 yards on 21 carries.
In the passing game, quarterback Kirk Cousins struggled to get the ball to his receivers for most of the game, completing only 19-of-38 passes and only completed one pass to his top receiver, Stefon Diggs. Despite that, however, Cousins was able to hit tight end Kyle Rudolph, running back Ameer Abdulla, and rookie receiver Bisi Johnson each for a score.
After the game, Head Coach Andy Reid told the media that he was proud of how his defense stepped up, “I’m proud of our defense to continue to work and get better, that was one of the objectives this week and they’ve done that,” Reid said. “Some of the young guys are growing up and [the Vikings] have a great quarterback and great skill position players and I thought our guys really buckled down and did a nice job to challenge them,” Reid explained.
Offensively for the Chiefs, Quarterback Matt Moore once again filled in for the injured Patrick Mahomes and got the start under the center.
Moore didn’t disappoint and had another great day for the second consecutive week, throwing 25-of-35 for 274 yards and a 40-yard touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill.
The Chiefs running game also had a big day despite a patchwork offensive line, with Damien Williams leading the charge with 12 carries for 125 yards, including a 91-yard run he took all the way to the endzone for the score.
Williams’ 91-yard score was the longest run of his career and it tied Jamaal Charles for the longest touchdown run in Chiefs’ franchise history, set back in 2012 during an epic 27-24 overtime victory over the New Orleans Saints.
Williams’ score would be followed up by a 45-yard Harrison Butker field to give the Chiefs a 20-16 lead late in the third. Although, the Vikings would respond on the following drive as Kirk Cousins took the Viking offense 75 yards down the field to hit tight Kyle Rudolf for the three-yard touchdown to regain the lead for Minnesota 23-20 entering the fourth quarter.
Yet, the final quarter of the game would belong to Kansas City as the Chiefs traveled down the field on their last two possessions to set kicker Harrison Butker up to kick a 54-yard field goal to tie the game and a 44-yarder to win it as time expired.
Both team’s records go to 6-3 on the year as Kansas City gets a much-needed victory as they get ready to compete for a first-round bye in the postseason.
The Chiefs will enjoy this win for the rest of tonight and will prepare for Ryan Tannehill and the Tennessee Titans next week.
