When things go south in the National Football League, they really go south.
The Minnesota Vikings (3-2) are coming from a 16-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6.
“The turnovers, the mistakes, the penalties… I’ve been a part of it before”, outside linebacker Tamba Hali said.
That was certainly the case again against the Vikings when they were down 10-0 at halftime after an offensive performance that gained just 51 yards on 20 plays.
The Chiefs, who lost their fifth game in a row, also dropped to 1-5 - a stunning development during a season that began with high hopes. You are what your record says you are.
Allen Bailey led the charge this week, producing eight tackles, three tackles for a loss, and even a sack. For the Vikings to make a playoff run, and certainly for them to capitalize on a stretch of winnable games, they’ll need Bridgewater to tip the balance further in the right direction. The defense had stiffened and held the Vikings to a field goal on their previous drive.
Two weeks after the Denver Broncos sacked Teddy Bridgewater seven times, the Chiefs and their pass rushers were only able to get to Bridgewater twice, though Bridgewater was forced into a few bad throws when rushed. Other than that, the Vikings offense was only marginally better in the second half than the Chiefs’ offense was in the first. Ron Parker intercepted Teddy Bridgewater in the end zone to stop one drive and Marcus Peters picked him off in the fourth quarter to set up Wilson’s score on a screen pass.
The Chiefs offense looked lost then, and looked lost now.
The Minnesota Vikings will have their star running back Adrian Peterson on Sunday, while the Kansas City Chiefs will not. “Last year, regardless of the situation or the moment we were put in, we were able to make the play, and this year we haven’t been so fortunate”.
“In the second half we put ourselves in a position to win the game and we didn’t finish it”, Reid said. “He plays extremely hard, and you’re going to get his best effort”.
And wouldn’t you know it?
Minnesota wide receiver Stefon Diggs, starting in place of injured Charles Johnson, went over the 100-yard mark for the first time in his career, catching seven passes for 129 yards. The Vikings hit the road in Week 7 for a division game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.
The fumble occurred at the Vikings’ 43-yard line with the Chiefs trailing 16-10 with 4:38 left in the game.
Reid has 3 potential replacements on his roster already and those 3 are incredibly different players. “No team has just one player”. “A fumble at that point of the game is crucial”. But the Chiefs are trying to stay positive.
‘It hurt me to the core to see my guy go down and in the opposite leg as well, ‘ Peterson said, making reference to the ACLtear Charles suffered in his left knee in 2011. “There’s going to be a game”. We will use this and now we just have to stick together. “The more plays and opportunities you get the better you do. The ball keeps moving”. It was an up-and-down day for Bridgewater, but when called upon, the second-year quarterback delivered to keep the Vikings ahead.
KC-A.Wilson 42 pass from A. Smith (Santos kick), 8:46.
Min-FG Walsh 45, 4:46. Peterson averaged 5 yards per carry and ranked eighth in rushing before Sunday, and he also was the Vikings’ third-leading receiver. Zimmer relied on his front four defensive linemen to pressure Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith, and the plan largely worked as Floyd and his teammates wreaked havoc in the backfield all without defensive end Everson Griffen, who was a late scratch due to an illness.
