Chiefs (3-1) at Vikings (1-3)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EDT, US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis TV: CBS
Spread (BetMGM):
Chiefs by 5.5
Chiefs’ keys to victory: Kansas City’s receivers and QB Patrick Mahomes haven’t played their best this season. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is known for his aggressive nature and blitzing quarterbacks like crazy, but doing that to Mahomes can be a recipe for disaster. Will Flores bring a lot of pressure on Mahomes? If he does, handling it will be the biggest key to victory for the Chiefs.
Vikings’ keys to victory: QB Kirk Cousins has passed for the third most yards in the NFL so far and Minnesota will lean on him heavily. With the defense likely to get caught in no-man’s-land than with its blitzing, the Vikings offense is going to have to carry the game. Cousins has been very indecisive this season, which has led to him being late on throws and also causing turnovers. If Cousins can find a way to make quicker and better reads against the Chiefs, his team has a chance at home.
Matchup to watch: Chiefs DT Chris Jones vs. Vikings’ interior offensive line. Jones is one of the best defensive linemen in the league, and the Vikings have major question marks on the offensive line. If Jones dominates like he should, he could be the deciding factor in the game.
Who wins? The Vikings need wins after a 0-3 start to the season, but the Chiefs are one of the best teams in the league, even when they are playing at their worst. The game likely will be competitive, but the weak Minnesota secondary is just what Mahomes needs to get back on track after throwing two interceptions in Week 4. He should torch it.