Chiefs at Vikings: Writers picks and predictions for Week 5

How is it the same temperature in Kansas City and Minnesota on Sunday? Only three degrees Fahrenheit separate the two cities' high temperatures. Hopefully, the gridiron's scoreboard shows a Kansas City Chiefs team much hotter than the hosting Minnesota Vikings.

The Chiefs weathered the storm in New York, but can the Vikings coll down a tepid Chiefs offense? We will find out in a few hours. In the meantime, the Arrowhead Addict crew has their picks and predictions in for the week. Who is picking against the Chiefs for the first time this season? Find out here!

Tyler Brown
I do not think this is a trap game, given how poorly the Chiefs played against the Jets, but the Vikings will be desperate because they'll move to 1-4 with a loss. The Vikings have the 19th-ranked defense, so the Chiefs can get right this game. Kansas City’s defense will get 3 to 4 sacks and take the ball away a time or two, as Minnesota is prone to giving those up.
Chiefs 30, Vikings 23

Matt Conner
Their record says they’re not good and should be on the verge of selling, but no one is really admitting the Vikings have lost by an average of 4 points per game—keeping it very close against the Eagles, Bucs, and Chargers. Meanwhile, the Chiefs have allowed every team but the Bears to hang around far too long. This feels like a game that will shock everyone to remind us that the Chiefs need to learn to play clean and that the Vikes are not this bad.
Vikings 27, Chiefs 26

Josh Fann
Everyone is worried about the Chiefs offense and while they're not wrong to complain, but the Minnesota Vikings rank dead last in pass defense so far in 2023. With that said, I expect the receivers to have a solid performance. You can't underestimate the Vikings, though, because of their passing attack that features Justin Jefferson who is arguably the best receiver in the league. Ultimately, the Chiefs pull out the victory.
Chiefs 30, Vikings 20

Greg Florkowski
Week 5 will be a high-scoring affair where the Chiefs receivers come out of their funk, and Patrick Mahomes has a big day. The Chiefs win with McDuffie holding Jefferson to 3 catches for 40 yards.
Chiefs 35, Vikings 28

Lyles Graversen
The Chiefs offense floundered against the Jets defense last week and it almost cost them the game. I'm guessing that will lead to a very motivated Patrick Mahomes. The Vikings defense is a great unit to "get right" against and I'm betting KC will take full advantage. The Vikings will put up a few points, but the Chiefs roll.
Chiefs 34, Vikings 23

Jacob Milham
I know how poorly the Vikings are starting their season, but being winless at home does not scare me in the slightest. These Vikings rely heavily on the blitz, and even that does not yield incredible results. There are enough weaknesses in this secondary to fuel a wide receiver bounceback game, I am looking for Travis Kelce to record his first 100-yard game this season in this favorable matchup.
Chiefs 33, Vikings 20

Greg Morse
I like Kirk Cousins, I really do. He and Mahomes really made the first season of Quarterback, and I have a lot more respect for him now than ever before. That being said, he’s just not on Mahomes’ level, and neither are the Vikings. I expect this one to be close, but the Chiefs to eke out the win (and hopefully move Minnesota one step closer to trading Cousins to the Jets.)

Chiefs 31, Vikings 27

Charles Robinson
As for Sunday, Minnesota finally got their first taste of victory over the Carolina Panthers last week and look to continue that trend against a Kansas City team that looked weak in places that are typically strengths against the Jets. I look for the Chiefs offense to bounce back in a big way against a Vikings defense that was giving up 27+ points per game in the season's first three weeks, and their opportunistic defense to take advantage of a team with 11 offensive giveaways this season. I like the Chiefs big in this one for some reason
Chiefs 34, Vikins 17

Stacy Smith
The Kansas City Chiefs square off against the 1-3 Minnesota Vikings in the late-window on Sunday. The Vikes are dead last in rushing defense, surrendering 4.6 yards per carry. That's bad news one week following Isiah Pacheco posting a career-best 115 rushing yards on just 20 carries (at 5.75 yards per clip). Minnesota can score, but defensively they give up nearly 24 points per game. The Chiefs defense should be licking its chops at that Vikings offensive line. Kirk Cousins has been dumped 10 times already in 2023. This game plays closer than Chiefs fans want, but ultimately the good guys add another digit to the left column.
Chiefs 30, Vikings 21

Lucas Strozinsky
I think this is an ideal week for the Kansas City offense to get back on track. Although the Minnesota defense isn't terrible by any stretch, their pass rush is abysmal and Patrick Mahomes should be under little to no pressure in this game. On defense, the Chiefs obviously need to limit Justin Jefferson, but also pressure Kirk Cousin. Cousins has already fumbled four times this season, losing three of them, so that's another thing to look out for. As long as the Chiefs don't fool around too much in this game, they'll win, but that's never a guarantee with them.
Chiefs 30, Vikings 21

Grant Tuttle
Kansas City has had some struggles offensively but they have not faced as bad a defense this year as they will face this week with Minnesota. Gimme Mahomes slinging it for 400 yards and 3 touchdowns and the Vikings being an embarrassment.
Chiefs 31, Vikings 23