Yikes, Vikes! Chiefs “Kick” It Up A Notch, Win 26-23

Yikes, Vikes! Chiefs “Kick” It Up A Notch, Win 26-23 – the Kansas City Chiefs last second victory yesterday over the Minnesota Vikings, 26-23, was the best football game that I’ve seen since the heartbreaking 37-31 overtime loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game last year.

A few snap observations from yesterday’s game:

• • Matt Moore is one tough, gritty quarterback
  • The Chiefs defense, Steve Spagnola’s defense, is the real deal
  • Tyreek Hill plays a whole different level of football than does the rest of the NFL
  • Damien Williams is fast, but escorts are always welcome
  • Andy Reid is a coaching genius
  • Harrison Butker is the epitome of clutch

Backup quarterback Matt Moore is a tough football player, a player’s player.  Despite five sacks and nine QB hits, the stoic Moore stood calmly in the pocket passing for 275 yards, completing 23 of 35 passes including a touchdown, seemingly unfazed by the swarming Vikings ruthless pass rush. Moore finished the game with a 103.9% passer rating.

How about that defense? Ranked 31st last year, the Chiefs defense now ranks 23rd, and is climbing each week. The Chiefs held the Vikings 3rd-ranked rushing offense to just 96 yards and 0 TDs. However, the Vikings scored three touchdowns along with 220 yards through the air against the Chiefs… but it was not enough. When the Chiefs absolutely had to make a stop, they made the stop.

While I’m reluctant to single out an individual Chiefs defender for his performance today, I absolutely have to acknowledge the effort of DE Chris Jones. Stone Cold Jones accounted for five tackles and a QB sack for a loss of eight yards, not to mention the various hurries he inflicted on Vikings QB, Kirk Cousins, and the reluctance of the Vikings to run the ball his way.

So too, must we give nods to the ever-improving cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Juan Thornhill. In fact, the entire defense inspired hope in Chiefs Kingdom worldwide, from Saunders to Ragland to Brees to Hitchens and Wilson, too. Spags has done a great job with this defense.

Tyreek Hill is ethereal in his role on this Chiefs offense. It seemed no matter how well the Vikes covered Cheetah, he would come down with it. His six receptions for 140 yards (23.3 YPC average) and one touchdown were crucial in this victory over Minnesota.

Ditto for Chiefs TE Travis Kelce, who seems to have a nose for sniffing out the first down marker. Kelce’s seven receptions for 62 yards always seem to come at the right time for the Chiefs. Kelce’s catches garnered four first downs for the Chiefs. Perhaps he could ‘slide’ some of that knowledge to Vikings QB Kirk Cousins?

Wow! Just wow, Damien Williams!  Little did you know that you would set/tie a Chiefs record today with your 91 yard run. With an escort, no less!

Andy Reid and his coaching staff coached the Chiefs to a win, minus their MVP QB, along with six other starters on the MIA list. Despite these key personnel losses, the Chiefs fought their way to victory against a tough NFC North foe ranked sixth in both offense and defense this season. Not to take anything away from the Chiefs players, but Big Red and his boys were absolutely genius in their game plan, custom-tailoring it for the players they had.

With the game on the line, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker came through with the 44-yard last second field goal to put the Chiefs three points ahead and seal the victory against the Vikings. No surprise here, however, Buttkicker, was clutch the entire game.

Butker was true on four of four field goals along with tacking on an additional two extra points, accounting for 14 of the Chiefs 26 points. That’s almost 54%! Butker leads kickers in the NFL so far this season, with 84 points.

I’m not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, so I won’t delve too deeply into negatives about the Chief’s performance in yesterday’s game. With that said, three fumbles, with one lost, might just warrant addressing during practice this week… particularly when you consider the Chiefs have put the pigskin on the carpet 11 times so far this season, losing five of them. Also worth noting is 0% red zone efficiency, 0-2.

A win is a win, but this was a great win against an extraordinarily good football team. The 2019 Kansas City Chiefs are not the team we thought they were in September. They’re better.

Michael Travis Rose — ArrowheadOne

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