Chiefs Have Last Say in Wild Finish

After taking a 21-0 lead, the Kansas City Chiefs never envisioned they would later boast about not giving up.

It was that kind of game. One win away from tying Seattle for the AFC West lead, the Chiefs needed Eric Hicks’ 44-yard fumble return for a touchdown and Pete Stoyanovich’s 38-yard field goal in a wild fourth quarter Sunday night to defeat the Minnesota Vikings, 31-28.

“Mentally, very draining. For both teams it was a playoff situation,” said Elvis Grbac, who completed five of six passes in the final minute to set up Stoyanovich with three seconds left for his second game-winning field goal in three weeks.

Seemingly out of the playoff picture after losing three in a row, the Chiefs (8-5) have won three in a row while the Seahawks have lost their last three.

The Vikings (7-6) have lost two in a row after a five-game winning streak. They also lost standout receiver Cris Carter to a serious ankle injury while the Chiefs led 21-7 in the second quarter.

But Minnesota came back to tie the score at 21-21 on Jeff George’s touchdown passes to Matthew Hatchette--Carter’s replacement--and Randy Moss, and set the stage for a fourth quarter that had wild momentum swings.

With 8:01 to go--after the teams exchanged possession with fumbles on consecutive plays--Hicks returned George’s fumble 44 yards for a touchdown to put the Chiefs ahead 28-21.

Moss, making up for two fourth-quarter fumbles, returned Daniel Pope’s punt 64 yards to tie it at 28-28 with 1:38 left.

“The way we lost was tough,” said George, who had not completed a pass when the Chiefs led 21-0 early in the second quarter. “We have three games left. We have to continue to work hard.”