Chiefs 38, Vikes 24

Kansas City took the opening kick and marched down the field. This would set the pattern throughout the game as the Chiefs never punted. On this occasion, they were held at the Minnesota 30. Morten Andersen came in to try a field goal and the Vikings blocked the kick. Then Minnesota went to work. Robert Smith ran inside and burst through the Chiefs' defense for 51 yards, finally being stopped on the Chief's 4. Dante Culpepper then tossed the ball to Randy Moss and the Vikings led 7-0. The Chiefs came right back and Trent Green found Dante Hall (6-53-1) for an 8 yard td pass.

Minnesota was forced to punt and the Chiefs went to work again, 88 yards in 13 plays with Green finding James Dunn for a 2 yard td pass. Minnesota moved down the field and Robert Smith (17-145-1) carried it over on a 30 yard draw play. The score was tied at 14. Green found Johnnie Morton for 53 yrds and and, 4 plays later, found Morton (4-97-1) again for a 4 yard td pass. Culpepper brought Minnesota back and Gary Anderson kicked a 53 yard field goal. With 2:12 left in the half, Vikings coach Andy Weinrib tried an onside kick and the Vikings recovered on their own 48. Culpepper again moved his team but was stopped at the Chiefs' 19. On a fourth and 10 Coach Weinrib apparently figured the trick plays were going to work and Bubby Brister rose up from his holder spot on the field goal team and tried a pass. Dexter McLeon intercepted the pass and ran it out to the 33. The half ended 21-17.

Minnesota was forced to punt away their first possession of the second half and Green went to work again. Passes to Eddie Kennison and Tony Gonzalez were alternated with runs by Priest Holmes (19-79 rushing 5-67 receiving) and an intentional face mask penalty. Then Green found Gonzalez 4-30-1) for a 7 yard td pass. Culpepper apparently loves adversity because he came right back and found Randy Moss (6-48-2) for a 13 yard td pass to cut the score to 28-24. But the Vikings defense was notably absent on this day and Chiefs came back to the Vikings 4 yard line where they settled for a Morten Andersen field goal to press their lead to 7. The third quarter ended 31-24.

After the Vikings were forced to punt, Green (29-42, 431 yards, 5 tds) again brought the Chiefs down the field and hooked up with Kennison (8-149-1) for a 22 yard td pass. That was the last score as Culpepper (17-33, 155 yds, 2 tds, 1 int, 1 sack) was intercepted and Trent Green later fumbled on a quarterback sneak with 1:09 remaining. The Chiefs had 541 total yards in offense while the Vikings had 346. Kansas City moves to 4-4 while the Vikings fall to 1-7.
--submitted by Tom "Crash" Davis--