The Sports Xchange

MINNEAPOLIS — Consecutive scoring drives to start the fourth quarter gave the Kansas City Chiefs a chance for a road win against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

But running back Charcandrick West’s critical fumble on the Vikings’ half of the field spoiled a potential game-winning drive as Minnesota held on for a 16-10 win at TCF Bank Stadium.

For three quarters, the Vikings looked like they would cruise to an easy win.

The Chiefs couldn’t find their way offensively, gaining just two first downs before halftime, and getting one more via penalty.

Minnesota’s defense held Kansas City to just 57 yards on the ground on 18 carries.

The Vikings left points on the board in the first quarter. Bridgewater threw his first interception in the end zone on Minnesota’s opening drive. Its second drive also stalled inside the Kansas City 15, as kicker Blair Walsh drilled a 24-yarder to open scoring.

“I thought in the first half we were fairly dominating and that’s the kind of game you worry about; when you’re winning a game you give them a chance to hang around,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. “Then you saw what happened.”

The Vikings led by 13 after 45 minutes, thanks for a 4-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to tight end Kyle Rudolph and a pair of Walsh field goals.

But Cairo Santos’ 48-yard field goal got the Chiefs on the board two minutes into the fourth quarter, and quarterback Alex Smith connected with receiver Albert Wilson on a 42-yard middle screen for a touchdown to make it a three-point game.

All of the sudden, Minnesota’s 13-point lead was down to just three.

“Fifty one yards in total offense and 50 yards in penalties (in the first half); that’s completely unacceptable,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “The second half, we were able to move the ball and the defense continued to play good. We put ourselves in a position to win the game but we didn’t finish it.”

The Vikings drove 53 yards on 10 plays, killing four minutes off the clock and setting up Walsh for his third field goal of the day from 45 yards out.

The Chiefs’ potential winning drive got off to a good start, with Smith connecting on a 37-yard pass to tight end Travis Kelce, but West’s fumble on the next play was recovered Minnesota defensive end Brian Robison at the Vikings 38-yard line.

“The fumble killed everything,” West said. “We were very confident in everything that we did. Fumbles at any point in the game are going to affect your team. That stopped any momentum we had.”

Bridgewater finished 17-of-31 through the air for 249 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions. Kansas City held Minnesota to just 84 yards on the ground, including 60 yards on 26 carries by running back Adrian Peterson.

Minnesota wide receiver Stefon Diggs, starting in place of injured Charles Johnson, went over the 100-yard mark for the first time in his career, catching seven passes for 129 yards.

Smith was 22-of-37 through the air with 282 yards and a score.

Kelce hauled in five passes for 88 yards.

What we learned about the Vikings:

–Asked to carry a bigger share of the load, Teddy Bridgewater did just enough to lead the Vikings to a win. In their previous two home games, both wins, Bridgewater played second fiddle to a dominant ground attack. Running back Adrian Peterson torched the Chargers and Lions for more than 100 yards in each game, but the Chiefs chose to put their focus on the future Hall-of-Famer. Bridgewater threw an interception on the first drive, but finished with a touchdown pass on a nice slant to tight end Kyle Rudolph, and positioned the Vikings for three field goals.

–Minnesota’s defense was playing short-handed up front, with defensive end Everson Griffen a late scratch because of an illness. Despite that, and the uncertainty surrounding the Chiefs backfield issues, the Vikings held Kansas City to 57 yards on the ground on 18 carries. A nine-yard run by Charcandrick West in the second quarter was the longest ground play of the day. But 10 tackles from rookie linebacker Eric Kendricks, getting extended playing time with the trade of Gerald Hodges during the bye week, highlighted an, at times, dominant effort on that side of the ball.

–Another rookie, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, looks like he could be on the verge of emerging as a big part of the Vikings offense. After debuting two weeks ago against Denver with six catches and 87 yards, Diggs went over the century mark for the first time in his career, hauling in seven passes for 129 yards. He also presents Bridgewater with a different kind of element; he’s not big, but is one of the shiftiest and fastest players on the roster. He also has the ability to make the big play, as he showed on his 31-yard completion in the first quarter.

Etc.:

–DE Everson Griffen was a late inactive because of illness. With Griffen out, the Vikings had only three defensive ends active. Griffen leads the team with three sacks this season and entered play on Sunday as the only Viking with more than one.

–WR Charles Johnson did not play because of an injury to his ribs. Johnson, who has six catches for 46 yards this season, was replaced in the starting lineup by rookie Stefon Diggs.

–WR Stefon Diggs made seven catches for 129 yards, leading Vikings receivers in both categories. In two games this season, Diggs has hauled in 13 passes for 216 yards and has been targeted 19 times.