NFL: The Vikings were no match for the Chiefs as Week 3 of the preseason wraps up
Kansas City, Missouri - The Kansas City Chiefs held on at home to beat the Minnesota Vikings for a perfect preseason, heading into the fast-approaching NFL regular season.
The Chiefs, who won the third and last exhibition game of the summer 28-25 over the Vikings to cap an undefeated preseason, appear primed to make another run at the Super Bowl this year.
Former NFL MVP and Super Bowl LIV champion Patrick Mahomes (25) shined in Friday night’s game, completing only eight passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns as the game’s highest-rated passer.
Not bad for a quarterback who didn’t even play past the first quarter!
His backup, rookie Shane Buechele, had a very good game as well going 20 for 33, with 231 yards and two touchdowns of his own, but one interception. Thanks to those two, Kansas City was sitting pretty for much of the game, until things got a little dicey in the fourth quarter.
The Vikings sat most of their starting lineup, as QB Kirk Cousins only played a couple of shifts, completing five passes for 57 yards and opening things up for reserve quarterback Kellen Mond. Mond played the majority of the game, completing 16 of 23 passes for 196 yards, but having one interception.
Minnesota’s ground game had to carry some of the offensive load as A.J. Rose, Jr. rushed for 41 yards and two scores, all from just six carries. The Vikings added another touchdown when Parry Nickerson picked off a pass from Buechele, midway through the fourth quarter.
Rose’s second touchdown came in the final minutes of the game, but it ended up being too little, too late for the Vikings. That was the last time they had the football as they couldn’t successfully recover the ensuing onside kick, allowing the Chiefs to run out the clock.
Both teams have to make all of their cut-downs for their 53-man regular-season rosters by 4:00 PM ET on Tuesday, August 31.
Cover photo: IMAGO / Icon SMI