Breaking down the Vikings: Here comes another playoff-worthy opponent for the Chiefs
The Chiefs’ tour of the NFC North continues with a visit from the Minnesota Vikings Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. Kickoff is noon.
Kansas City has already met the Lions and Packers. The Chiefs and Vikings will be forever linked by Super Bowl IV, and this year they share Super Bowl aspirations. Both appear playoff-worthy and the prognostication website fivethirtyeight.com puts their chances of making the postseason at 84 percent for the Chiefs and 74 percent for the Vikings. The Chiefs have already played four teams — the Ravens, Colts, Texans and Packers — projected to be in the playoffs.
Coach
Mike Zimmer is in his sixth season and has had two playoff appearances in that time, including a turn in the NFC Championship Game. The Vikings are 6-2, the record they owned at the midway point in 2017 when they finished 13-3. Like that team, this Vikings edition in well-balanced, ranking in the NFL’s top five in yards gained (third) and fewest yards allowed (fifth). A difference between the 2017 and 2019 Vikings? Kirk Cousins is an upgrade over Case Keenum, the Vikes’ quarterback that season.
Offense
Cousins is on a roll. Over the past four games, he’s averaged 315 passing yards with 10 touchdowns and one interception that bounced off Stefon Diggs’ hands. Cousin has had four of his top 10 career passer-rating games this season and is leading the NFL in completion percentage at 72.1. His 115.2 passer rating entering Sunday’s showdown is the highest in team history through eight weeks. Running back Dalvin Cook is having an MVP-type season. He leads the NFL with 823 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. The addition of offensive adviser and former Broncos and Texans head coach Gary Kubiak has paid off. Diggs is getting plenty of attention from Cousins. He has caught 21 passes and averaged 151 yards in his last three games.
Defense
As good as the Vikings’ offense has been through the first half of the season, their defense has been just as good. Minnesota ranks third in points allowed (16.5) and fifth in yards allowed (313.9). Defensive ends Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen have combined for 12.5 sacks. Three times this season the Vikings have held opponents to fewer than 270 total yards. Linebacker Eric Kendricks is having the best season in his five-year career and is headed toward a Pro Bowl year. This is a team that’s doing many things right.
This story was originally published November 1, 2019 at 5:00 AM.