- Kelce appeared to injure his ankle after sliding on the turf in the second quarter
- But he was able to return and exert his influence on the game in Minneapolis
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Travis Kelce battled back from an ankle injury to help the Kansas City Chiefs record their fourth straight victory in a 27-20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night.
Kelce, whose new love interest Taylor Swift decided not to attend the game in Minneapolis, was briefly forced out in the second quarter after appearing to slip on the turf and twist his ankle.
The Chiefs listed him as questionable to return, but he finally took the field again in the third quarter and went on to catch a crucial touchdown from Patrick Mahomes as the Super Bowl champions ran out victorious.
Most of the pregame anticipation centered around Swift, who attended Kelce and the Chiefs’ previous two games amid her budding new relationship with the former.
However, despite much excitement about her potential appearance in Minnesota, the pop sensation decided against a third consecutive NFL outing at US Bank Stadium.
Travis Kelce battled back from an ankle injury to help the Chiefs beat the Vikings on Sunday
Kelce was forced short in the second quarter after appearing to slip and twist his ankle
There was no sign of his new love interest Taylor Swift at the game, after the pop star attended the Chiefs’ previous two games
After the Swift frenzy fizzled out in Minneapolis, Mahomes completed 31 of 41 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns, while Rashee Rice and Kelce each had one touchdown reception. Isiah Pacheco contributed 55 yards and a touchdown.
Kirk Cousins completed 29 of 47 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns for Minnesota (1-4). Jordan Addison had six catches for 64 yards and a score.
The score was tied at halftime before the Chiefs surged to a 27-13 lead in the third quarter.
Mahomes broke the deadlock when he found Rice for an 8-yard score. It was the second touchdown of the season for Rice, a rookie second-round draft pick out of SMU.
Kelce put the Chiefs up 14 points when he hauled in a 4-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes with 2:45 left in the third quarter. He caught the pass just short of the goal line and dove into the end zone for his third touchdown of the season.
The sequence gave the Chiefs reason to breathe a sigh of relief over Kelce, who injured his right foot in the first half and headed to the locker room for X-rays. He returned to the sideline to start the second half with his foot wrapped with extra tape.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes completed 31 of 41 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns
Minnesota cut the deficit to 27-20 with 12:11 left. Alexander Mattison caught a 9-yard touchdown pass to cap a 14-play, 75-yard drive.
Kansas City took advantage of a fumble by Vikings tight end Josh Oliver to open the scoring. Pacheco threw in a 1-yard touchdown.
Minnesota pulled within 7-3 on a 40-yard field goal by Greg Joseph.
The Chiefs made it 10-3 on Harrison Butker’s 38-yard kick early in the second quarter.
The Vikings countered with another Joseph field goal, this time from 29 yards, on the next drive.
Minnesota grabbed its first lead with 1:39 left in the first half. Cousins connected with Addison for a 5-yard touchdown that made it 13-10.
Kansas City tied the score at 13-13 as time expired at the end of the first half. Butker made a 40-yard field goal to cap a drive that included Kelce’s foot injury.