Kansas City Chiefs vs. Minnesota Vikings: 2023 Week 5 Recap

Game story

In Week 5 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-10-08, the Kansas City Chiefs took care of business against the Minnesota Vikings, pulling away with a 27–20 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 25 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

K. Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) paced the passing game, with -2.19 total EPA, and -3.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +18.80 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+13.2% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Kansas City Chiefs changed the game: (10:13) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 4-R.Rice for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 P. Mahomes · Kansas City Chiefs · Passing · +18.80 total EPA · 43 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Addison · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +6.90 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Kelce · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +5.10 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.46 EPA/play
4. 4 Ju. Watson · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +4.10 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.37 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Rice · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +3.85 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Chandler · Minnesota Vikings · Rushing · +3.23 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.23 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Mattison · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +1.85 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.62 EPA/play
8. 8 B. Powell · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +1.84 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Kansas City Chiefs — I. Pacheco (Q1 55:06)
• Minnesota Vikings — J. Addison (K. Cousins pass) (Q2 31:43)
• Kansas City Chiefs — R. Rice (P. Mahomes pass) (Q3 25:13)
• Kansas City Chiefs — T. Kelce (P. Mahomes pass) (Q3 17:48)
• Minnesota Vikings — A. Mattison (K. Cousins pass) (Q4 12:15)

Field goals

• Minnesota Vikings — G. Joseph (Q1 49:06)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q2 42:49)
• Minnesota Vikings — G. Joseph (Q2 38:05)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q2 30:04)
• Kansas City Chiefs — unlisted player (Q2 30:00)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 7–3. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the MIN 1 (Q1 55:06) — (10:06) (Shotgun) 10-I.Pacheco up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on MIN-44-J.Metellus, Defensive Offside, declined.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the MIN 15 (Q1 55:00) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the KC 22 (Q1 49:06) — (4:06) 1-G.Joseph 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-14-R.Wright..

The second quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 16–9. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the MIN 20 (Q2 42:49) — (12:49) 7-H.Butker 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the KC 11 (Q2 38:05) — (8:05) 1-G.Joseph 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-14-R.Wright.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the KC 5 (Q2 31:43) — (1:43) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short left to 3-J.Addison for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the KC 15 (Q2 31:39) — 1-G.Joseph extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-14-R.Wright.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the MIN 22 (Q2 30:04) — (:04) 7-H.Butker 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal (Q2 30:00) — END QUARTER 2.

The third quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 14–0. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the MIN 8 (Q3 25:13) — (10:13) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 4-R.Rice for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the MIN 15 (Q3 25:10) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the MIN 4 (Q3 17:48) — (2:48) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 87-T.Kelce for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the MIN 15 (Q3 17:45) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend..

The fourth quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 7–0. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the KC 9 (Q4 12:15) — (12:15) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short left to 2-A.Mattison for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q4 12:11) — 1-G.Joseph extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-14-R.Wright..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 25:13) — (10:13) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 4-R.Rice for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.2% · EPA +2.96]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 28:45) — (13:45) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass deep left to 84-Ju.Watson to 50 for 33 yards (24-C.Bynum) [22-H.Smith]. MIN-21-A.Evans was injured during the play. [WPA +12.8% · EPA +4.19]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 6:21) — (6:21) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short left to 17-K.Osborn to KC 22 for 27 yards (38-L.Sneed). [WPA +12.4% · EPA +1.90]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 4:54) — (4:54) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass incomplete deep right to 3-J.Addison (22-T.McDuffie) [22-T.McDuffie]. [WPA -11.6% · EPA -3.35]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 35:06) — (5:06) (Punt formation) Direct snap to 44-J.Metellus. 32-T.Chandler right end pushed ob at KC 33 for 15 yards (23-D.Tranquill). [WPA +11.1% · EPA +3.23]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 60:00) — (15:00) 8-K.Cousins pass short right to 84-J.Oliver to MIN 40 for 15 yards (20-J.Reid; 50-W.Gay). FUMBLES (20-J.Reid), RECOVERED by KC-6-B.Cook at MIN 45. [WPA -2.0% · EPA -4.86]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 28:45) — (13:45) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass deep left to 84-Ju.Watson to 50 for 33 yards (24-C.Bynum) [22-H.Smith]. MIN-21-A.Evans was injured during the play. [WPA +12.8% · EPA +4.19]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 21:05) — (6:05) 77-L.Niang reported in as eligible. 15-P.Mahomes pass incomplete deep right to 11-M.Valdes-Scantling (22-H.Smith). PENALTY on MIN-22-H.Smith, Defensive Pass Interference, 31 yards, enforced at [WPA +9.3% · EPA +4.03]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 51:29) — (6:29) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short right to 3-J.Addison to KC 32 for 11 yards (6-B.Cook). [WPA +8.8% · EPA +3.66]

Quarterback report card

K.Cousins led all passers in efficiency for Minnesota Vikings, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• K.Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) · 53 dropbacks · 54.7% completion · -3.4% CPOE · -0.04 EPA/play · -2.19 total EPA
• P.Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) · 43 dropbacks · 72.1% completion · +10.0% CPOE · +0.44 EPA/play · +18.80 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Kansas City Chiefs generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.13 vs +0.02), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Kansas City Chiefs: 8 drives, +10.94 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Minnesota Vikings: 8 drives, +1.88 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Kansas City Chiefs leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• K. Cousins (MIN) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• P. Mahomes (KC) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q1 55:06 · MIN 1 · Score 6-0
   (10:06) (Shotgun) 10-I.Pacheco up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on MIN-44-J.Metellus, Defensive Offside, declined.
2. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q1 55:00 · MIN 15 · Score 7-0
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
3. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q1 49:06 · KC 22 · Score 7-3
   (4:06) 1-G.Joseph 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-14-R.Wright.
4. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 42:49 · MIN 20 · Score 10-3
   (12:49) 7-H.Butker 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
5. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q2 38:05 · KC 11 · Score 10-6
   (8:05) 1-G.Joseph 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-14-R.Wright.
6. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 31:43 · KC 5 · Score 10-12
   (1:43) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short left to 3-J.Addison for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Minnesota Vikings TD (+7) — Q2 31:39 · KC 15 · Score 10-13
   1-G.Joseph extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-14-R.Wright.
8. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 30:04 · MIN 22 · Score 13-13
   (:04) 7-H.Butker 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
9. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 30:00 · Score 13-13
   END QUARTER 2
10. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q3 25:13 · MIN 8 · Score 19-13
    (10:13) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 4-R.Rice for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q3 25:10 · MIN 15 · Score 20-13
    7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
12. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q3 17:48 · MIN 4 · Score 26-13
    (2:48) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 87-T.Kelce for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q3 17:45 · MIN 15 · Score 27-13
    7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
14. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q4 12:15 · KC 9 · Score 27-19
    (12:15) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short left to 2-A.Mattison for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q4 12:11 · KC 15 · Score 27-20
    1-G.Joseph extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-14-R.Wright.