2023 Week 5

Minnesota Vikings vs Kansas City Chiefs

By Mark Martin

 

A quarter of the season is gone and I’ve still no idea who the 2023 version of the Purple are.

We could be 4-0 or 0-4, but we sit at 1-3. So, it was week five and it was possibly the most anticipated game of the season. This was the game I wanted to go to. But with a road trip already in the works for late summer from the Keys to NYC, this was not really viable, so I opted for week one and Tampa. With the idea that I would continue my record of never seeing the Purple beaten in a regular season game, well…. that did not go to plan!

Expectations

What I expected from this game was a narrow loss and us slipping to 1-4. It’s not a must win game because it’s an AFC opponent, but the conference boost within the team would have been massive, as we move on to play several NFC teams who we must beat to have a realistic chance.

What I find fascinating is you’ve the best WR of this generation against the best QB, who’s coming out on top? From the psychological side, depending on which side of the fence you are on, a win and a good performance would have given Cousins and the team hope that the season is back on track.

Week 5

Moving on to Week 5’s game…they did not disappoint despite the result. As we feared it was another one score loss making four on the season so far. The Vikings first play is a lost fumble, because, well, it’s what we do this season. Shot ourselves in the foot. Mahomes said ‘thank you very much’ and led his team down the field for a KC TD. To be fair the Purple fought valiantly but ended up losing the game.

The Flores defense continues to improve! They did a very good job pressuring Mahomes and kept him contained. Mahomes made plays, but that was always going to happen. Unlike last year’s defense, this defense made him earn every inch. Offensively the team could not put up the points needed; Cousins played a solid game. But once again it came down to the red zone and being unable to drive home for 7 points, on two occasions, which ultimately caused the defeat.

More hope for week 6?

Right now, the Vikings sit at 1-4 with even less hope for a playoff spot than they had going in. They face the fellow 1-4 Bears in Chicago next week and I don’t see that as a given win.

 

 

Written by: Mark Martin
Edited by: Tommy Beauchene, Richard Dawson, Jacqui Melrose