In only the second week of October, the Chiefs were hit with their first scare of the Halloween season. The fright came with about a minute left in the first half. The Vikings had just scored a touchdown, taking a 13-10 lead. Kansas City took the ball, looking to get into field goal range and tie the game. On the second play of the drive, Travis Kelce took a short screen pass and began running upfield. Only he wouldn’t get far, as he stumbled on the turf and went down despite not being touched by the Viking’s defense.
Chiefs TE Travis Kelce (87) and Vikings CB Byron Murphy Jr. (7) – Bruce Kluckhohn/AP Photo
Despite Kelce getting up and jogging off the field, everyone assumed the worst. Tony Romo and Jim Nantz, who were on the broadcast, did their best to not speculate, but you could sense that they also thought the worst. However, Kelce would surprise everyone and return in the second half, even catching a touchdown pass.
It’s worth noting that Justin Jefferson also slipped on the turf in the second half. He suffered a hamstring injury and did not play in the fourth quarter. This game could help further the discussion on the NFL using turf fields. Following Aaron Rodgers injury in week 1, many players spoke out against playing on artificial turf, as many believe artificial turf leads to greater injury risk.
— David Bakhtiari (@DavidBakhtiari) September 13, 2023
Chiefs Use Strong Third-Quarter
On the first play of the second half, Vikings defensive end Marcus Davenport sacked Patrick Mahomes for an eight-yard loss. The Chiefs’ next play went for no gain and were faced with a quick third and long. A three-and-out would shift the momentum in Minnesota’s favor. Kansas City, who always remain aggressive in these situations, was not going to simply run the ball and punt it away. Minnesota was well aware of this and brought some pressure. For a moment it seemed they did their job, and forced Mahomes to throw it off his backfoot.
However, Mahomes was able to put enough on the ball to give receiver Justin Watson a chance in the middle of the field. The ball just barely went over safety Camryn Bynum’s hands and into Watson’s. It was one of those throws that very few quarterbacks outside of Mahomes can make, and that changed the momentum back into the Chiefs’ favor. Kansas City would cap that drive off with a Rashee Rice touchdown reception. It was an impressive drive as other guys had to step up in the absence of Kelce.
The next drive would see Travis Kelce return. It was good just to see him give it a go, but he did more than just return, he dominated. On this drive, Kelce would make 5 receptions, and cap it off with a touchdown reception giving Kansas City a 27-13 lead. Unfortunately, Kelce won’t have much time to rest his ankle, as the Chiefs return home for a game against the Denver Broncos on Thursday.
Justin Watson
Justin Watson deserves some praise for his play on Sunday. Although he only had 2 receptions, Justin Watson may have had the two most important catches of the day. His first reception may have been overlooked, as it was a few plays after the Kelce injury. Mahomes stepped up in the pocket and kept the play alive long enough to find Watson on the right sideline for 23 yards. Watson did a great job of getting both feet down, before falling out of bounds. The play stood after review, and the Chiefs were now at the Viking’s 36-yard line. A few plays later, Harrison Butker drilled a 40-yard field goal, tying the game at 13.
Chiefs WR Justin Watson (84) and Vikings CB Byron Murphy Jr. (7) – Brad Rempel/USA Today Sports
Chiefs defense
The Chiefs’ defense continued its strong play against the Vikings. When facing the Vikings, there is always the threat that star receiver Justin Jefferson may have a monster game. However, Kansas City did a great job keeping him in check. Jefferson was limited to 6 targets, for 3 receptions and 28 yards. It is worth noting that he did not play in the fourth, following his hamstring injury. But that doesn’t change the fact that Kansas City limited him when on the field.
The Chiefs secondary was very physical with Justin Jefferson, and that did draw quite a few penalties. The Vikings’ third drive, which led to a field goal, was almost entirely aided by penalties. However, over the course of the game, I feel the physicality wore down Jefferson. Michael Danna, Chris Jones, and Leo Chenal all had sacks for the Chiefs.
Looking Ahead
The Chiefs (4-1) return home for their first divisional game against the Denver Broncos (1-4). Denver’s lone win this year came in a comeback win versus the Chicago Bears. This should be a good opportunity for the Chiefs’ offense to continue to grow in confidence, as the Broncos’ defense has taken a massive step back this season. It will be interesting to see if Travis Kelce plays, or if the Chiefs try to give him an extended rest until the Chargers game on the 22nd. Even without Kelce, the Chiefs should be fine for this game.
