The Vikings are looking to keep the Chiefs on their toes in Week 5, pulling put some trickery from the playbook in order to get an edge on their opponents.
On a fourth-and-two in the second quarter, Minnesota lined up to punt, but surprisingly went for the fake, which was executed to perfection.
Josh Metellus received the direct snap before quickly handing the football off to Ty Chandler, who reversed fields and was able to secure a first down on a 15-yard rush. The unsuspecting Kansas City special teams unit wasn’t able to make the crucial fourth down stop, having been caught off guard the fake punt and subsequent misdirection.
FAKE PUNT WORKS! @Vikings
— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
📺: #KCvsMIN on CBS
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The fake punt proved to be important, too, as Minnesota scored its first touchdown of the game on that same drive, via a five-yard touchdown pass from Kirk Cousins to rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison.
The Chiefs would have had good field position if the Vikings failed to execute their trick play on special teams, but Chandler found a lane to run through and picked up the first down and plenty more.
