Leads mean littleIn Week 1, the Vikings fell behind the Chargers for the first time with 5:01 to play, losing 24-17. The following week, Tampa Bay took its first lead with 31 seconds left in a 24-20 win. Last week, the Lions surged ahead for the first time with 2:35 to play en route to a 26-23 overtime victory. Today, perhaps we'll get a glimpse of how the Vikings react when trailing early. But even on the road at Arrowhead, the Vikings will be good enough to avoid an 0-4 start.
Five keys for the Vikings-Chiefs game
Are they really that bad?
The Chiefs looked absolutely overwhelmed in losing their first two games to Buffalo and Detroit by a combined 89-10 score. But don't put all the blame on the defense. Of the 11 touchdown drives the Chiefs gave up against the Bills and Lions, seven began inside Kansas City territory. Also in those first two blowouts, nine Chiefs turnovers resulted in 51 points for the opposition. Last week, when the Chiefs took care of the ball (only one turnover), they hung with San Diego into the final minutes before losing 20-17.
Yep, they're really that bad
As much criticism as the Vikings' offense has drawn, the Chiefs have been even more impotent. Donovan McNabb's ugly 5.9 yards per attempt average? Kansas City's Matt Cassel has been worse (5.2 yards per attempt). The Vikings' inability to find a big play receiver? The Chiefs have only one wideout with more than 100 receiving yards. That's Dwayne Bowe with 11 catches for 185 yards. Overall, Kansas City has averaged 19.8 yards per possession this season and has more than three times as many turnovers (10) as touchdowns (three).
All Day hopes for big day
A sore calf kept Vikings star Adrian Peterson out of practice Wednesday but is unlikely to slow him today. Peterson should see the ball early and often. He wants more touches and offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave is vowing to grant that wish. That means Peterson could be primed for a big day against a Chiefs defense that has had trouble stopping opposing tailbacks. Buffalo's Fred Jackson rushed for 112 yards against Kansas City in Week 1 and San Diego's Ryan Mathews piled up 149 total yards with two touchdowns last weekend.
Allen's matchup
Vikings defensive end Jared Allen will go against Chiefs left tackle Branden Albert. Allen played his first four seasons in Kansas City, where he collected the first 43 of his 87.5 career sacks. Albert made 47 career starts and anchors a Chiefs line that has allowed just five sacks through three games, seventh best in the NFL. If Allen plays with same fire and purpose he showed last week, Albert -- and by extension Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel -- won't have a chance. Detroit's Matthew Stafford wasn't sacked in Weeks 1 and 2 but then last weekend, Allen corralled him three times.
DAN WIEDERER
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Mike Conley was in Minneapolis, where he sounded the Gjallarhorn at the Vikings game, on Sunday during the robbery.