What this game was supposed to do was clear things up for the coaches and the fans as to who they would cut and who they would keep this coming Tuesday. While the Chiefs won this game, it was a fail in terms of helping to sort out who stays and who goes. However, it wasn’t a total failure in that department, but first, let’s take a look back at the game.
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Game Review
Well, the first half lasted less than one quarter. For PMII. Patrick Mahomes was in on the Chiefs first two drives – both ending in a TD — and after going 8-of-9 for 117 yards, 2 TDs and a 158.3 QB Rating (BTW, that’s a perfect passer rating), that produced a score of 14 to 3, Chiefs.
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Head Coach Andy then Reid pulled Mahomes and sent in 3rd string QB Shane Buechele. Chad Henne didn’t play at all.
Those first two drives were 5 plays and 10 plays. The five play drive was: McKinnon Run. McKinnon Run. Pass to Kelce. McKinnon Run. Long Bomb to Hill for a TD. The 10 play drive resulted in a TD pass to Blake Bell. All is good.
Shane Buechele was very good, once again, rallying the team to a late second half score. After driving down to the Vikings 23 yard line, he hit Marcus Kemp was a laser over the middle of the field at the goal line. Buechele completed several passes over the middle during he drive taking advantage of his taller wideouts.
The defense held the Vikings to 3 first half points and each Chiefs unit played top level ball so much so, that it’s going to make cut down day this coming Tuesday even tougher.
On an earlier failed drive by he Vikings, Mike Hughes returned a Punt for an apparent TD only to have it whipped out by a block in the back by Byron Pringle.
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The second half began with Harrison Butker kicking it out of the end zone for no return. After the Vikings drove deep into Chiefs territory, the two tams exchanged turnovers. Armani Watts came up with his second INT in as many preseason games and on the Chiefs first play after that, Shane Buechele tried to pitch the ball and it resulted in a fumble recovery for Minnesota. The Vikes then drove the length of the field and the defense gave up a running TD.
3 Plays later, Derrick Gore had the run of the preseason: a 56 yard scamper darting this way and that way until he reached he end zone. 28-to-10 Chiefs.
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The Vikings missed a scoring opportunity in the 4th quarter when the Chiefs defense had an excellent Goal Line stand. That was immediately followed by a pick-6 by a Vikings DB. They then followed that up by scoring two on the extra point.
Score: Chiefs 28, Vikings 18
With 1:28 left in the game the Vikings scored again to make the final: 28-to-24 Chiefs. The Vikes followed that up with an onside kick, but Daurice Fountain recovered it. Game over.
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Players Who Did Themselves No Favors
Devon Key – Devon Key made a couple of poor decisions and one of them lead to the Vikings last score when he was called for Pass Interference in the end zone setting Minnesota up fo their last score.
Byron Pringle – Pringle committed the great sin of being penalized negating Mike Hughes Punt return for a TD. That shouldn’t keep him from making the roster.
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Players Who Helped Themselves
Offensive Line – If you were waiting to see how the OL would preform, they looked sensational.
Mahomes, Kelce and Hill – each looked like they picked right up where they left off during the 2020 regular season.
Shane Buechele – Buechele was 20 of 33 for 231 yards and he also had 2 TD, but what looked like an INT that was a matter of a miscommunication.
Mike Hugh – Hughes appeared to solidify his place as the Chiefs primary kick returner. A Byron Pringle penalty was all that stood between him and a TD return.
Derrick Gore – Gore’s 56 yard catch and run to glory was a beautiful site to behold. Andy Reid comparing him to Gayle Sayers a week ago is not far from the truth. If there’s any way to keep him on the 53 man roster, I sure hope they can. His 26 rushing yards plus his 80 yards of receptions gave him 106 all purpose yards for the game. Gore led all receivers with 5 catches.
3 Catches Each – Marcus Kemp, Daurice Fountain, Darwin Thompson.
Darwin Thompson – Thompson had a solid game with 11 rushing yards and 14 receiving yards on 6 touches.
Joshua Kaindoh – Josh had an INT… or a Fumble recovery. However, it was counted as an interception. He showed off his athleticism in this game and especially on that play.
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Tyler Clark and Austin Edwards – both DL contributed heavily to the Chiefs Goal Line stand and put up top shelf performances. Tyler Clark led all defenders with 6 tackles.
Armani Watts – Safety Watts had another interception and added to his positive performances this preseason.
Dicaprio Bootle – Bootle had six tackles and a pass defensed.
Tommy Townsend – Townsend was consistent with 5 punts for a 42.2 average.
Anthony Hitchens – Hitchens had a blitz and he nailed the Minnesota QB in the backfield for a nice loss.
No Injuries – the team came away from this game with no injuries. Anytime they can do that, it’s a victory.
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The Chiefs won this game but the decisions about who will make the roster and who will not, have become much more difficult. While that’s a great problem to have, and it signals that the depth on this team is clearly the best in the Andy Reid era, it doesn’t make their process of telling some gifted and talented players, that they will no longer be with the team in 2021, any easier.
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If you have an idea on who should stay and who should go, please let us know. Go Chiefs!
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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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