Chiefs show why they’re the biggest Patriots’ threat
The Kansas City Chiefs were able to beat one of the NFC’s best teams despite starting Matt Moore at quarterback, cementing their status as the New England Patriots biggest threat come January.
After coming agonizingly close to defeating the Green Bay Packers last week in primetime with Matt Moore under center, the Kansas City Chiefs were able to score a huge win over another playoff team in the NFC North this week. The Chiefs defeated the Minnesota Vikings 26-23 at home and have now established themselves as the New England Patriots top challenger in the AFC.
Once the Chiefs get Patrick Mahomes back from a dislocated knee, there’s no telling how good this team can be. They have really stepped it up in Mahomes’ absence, first blowing out the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football behind a dominant defensive performance before this big win over Minnesota in Week 9. And while they couldn’t beat the Packers last week, that narrow loss certainly qualified as a moral victory.
Against the Vikings, Kansas City’s big playmakers showed up to make life easy for Moore at quarterback. Tyreek Hill had a pretty touchdown grab in a 140-yard performance, Sammy Watkins had a highlight-reel catch of his own, and Damien Williams busted open a ridiculous 91-yard touchdown run. Those big plays proved to be the difference in a three-point game against a Vikings team that looked like Super Bowl sleepers coming into Week 9.
After facing the Tennessee Titans, Oakland Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers in their next three games, the Chiefs will get to test themselves against those very Patriots on Dec. 8. By then, Kansas City should have Mahomes back in the lineup, and they should also be riding a four-game winning streak started by this win over Minnesota. Those three teams on the road to the Patriots game should not be able to beat this Kansas City team.
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The offense is clicking under Andy Reid’s guidance even with Moore at quarterback, as the Chiefs biggest weapons are healthy and rolling. Defensively, the Chiefs held Kirk Cousins to a 50% completion percentage and forced the NFL’s leading rusher, Dalvin Cook, to just 3.4 yards per carry and fewer than 75 total rushing yards.
This team has stepped up in a huge way since Mahomes’ injury, and Bill Belichick’s Patriots should be quietly nervous about the challenge this improved Kansas City team poses. After all, the Chiefs were one coin toss – and later one penalty – away from beating New England in last year’s AFC Championship Game.