KC Chiefs vs. Minnesota Vikings: NFL Week 5 Preview and Predictions

Can the Chiefs secure their fourth win in a row with a road victory over the Vikings? Arrowhead Report predicts how Week 5 will unfold.

The Kansas City Chiefs will soon take the field on the road once again, this time hitting up Minneapolis for a Week 5 showdown against the Minnesota Vikings.

In a game featuring two 2022 playoff squads, this outing has teams with opposite records four games into the 2023 campaign. Andy Reid's Chiefs lost their season opener but have since rattled off three wins in a row, with Kevin O'Connell's Vikings losing three in a row before emerging victorious in Week 4. The home team desperately needs a win in order to generate some momentum, although the road club also has every incentive to take care of business on Sunday afternoon. 

How will today's game unfold? The Arrowhead Report crew makes their predictions.

Joshua Brisco: The Chiefs may be facing their toughest opposing offense so far, but the Vikings’ defense will be the most telling unit in this game. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores loves to blitz. Patrick Mahomes loves to be blitzed. Will Flores change his stripes for the KC offense, and if he does, can the Vikings get pressure without sending extra rushers? Even if the Chiefs’ defense is appropriately challenged by a solid Vikings offense, the Chiefs’ offense needs to break 23 points against a team other than the Bears.

Prediction: Chiefs 34, Vikings 24

Jordan Foote: Some will see Minnesota's 1-3 record and assume that the Chiefs are a shoo-in to win this game. That shouldn't be the case, though, as this is largely the same squad that won 13 games in 2022 and one that still has an excellent offense that has merely played sloppy football through four weeks. The Chiefs' offense matches up well against a blitz-happy Brian Flores defense, although this game could be a test for the other side of Kansas City's attack. In the end, Mahomes and company do enough to get the win and Steve Spagnuolo's defense helps get a late stop to seal a fourth win in a row for Kansas City. 

Prediction: Chiefs 28, Vikings 24

Mark Van Sickle: The Chiefs are finishing a back-to-back road stretch that looked like it could be very daunting before the season. The Vikings were a playoff team last year, but haven’t got off to the best start this year. Despite having one of the best receivers in the NFL in Justin Jefferson, the wins haven’t come for the Vikings as they sit at 1-3. Meanwhile, the Chiefs' offense hasn’t really scratched the surface of their best football and they are 3-1. The Vikings' defense is not one of the better units in the league, and it feels like this one could be a higher-scoring affair.

Prediction: Chiefs 34, Vikings 27

Zack Eisen: When will the Chiefs' offense wake up from their funk? Will any wide receiver step up? Which weapon besides Travis Kelce will gain Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid’s complete trust? I could go on and on with questions about Kansas City’s offense at this point of the season, but it’s time we get some answers. A Minnesota defense that is susceptible through the air is on the horizon and could help the unit gain confidence in themselves. I have my eye on Kadarius Toney and Rashee Rice’s usage throughout the game. They are the realistic candidates to take a step forward into being difference-makers for the Chiefs moving forward.

Prediction: Chiefs 33, Vikings 24

Conner Christopherson: The Chiefs need another get-right week after they supposedly had a get-right week against the Chicago Bears. The worries over the Chiefs' wide receivers as they currently stand is, in my opinion, valid. The lack of chemistry and trust between Mahomes and the pass catchers outside Kelce is leading to serious issues in the passing game. The wide receivers are not separating against man coverage and aren't finding the spots in zones that Mahomes is looking at. 

The Vikings will be a great barometer of if this is improving due to the blitz-happy nature of the Flores defense. Will someone, such as Rashee Rice, step up and have a truly impressive game? The Chiefs really need it, as the offense is the reason the team is floundering right now. The Chiefs' defense against the Vikings' offense should be a fun matchup and who covers Justin Jefferson will be a storyline to follow (I'd guess L'Jarius Sneed). All in all, I don't expect some offensive question marks preventing the Chiefs from leaving Minny with a win... though it might take a weird game to get there.

Prediction: Chiefs 30, Vikings 23

Marlow Ferguson Jr.: Sunday’s matchup is a fascinating one on a few different levels. The Vikings’ greatest defensive strength — an NFL-high 57% blitz rate — might not work against Mr. Patrick Mahomes. The conservative way that they play defense should force Kansas City to be patient working down the field, which could limit points. On the other side, there’s the battle of the game’s (statistically) best WR in Justin Jefferson against an up-and-coming star in Trent McDuffie. Despite being 1-3, Minnesota’s star-studded offense should test KC in a competitive game, likely with a fun finish.

Prediction: Chiefs 27, Vikings 22

Read More: Five Players to Watch in Week 5's Chiefs vs. Vikings Matchup