It was a frustrating night for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Last week against the Carolina Panthers, it was penalties. Saturday night against the Vikings, it was turnovers. The Chiefs once again found ways to make life more difficult on themselves.
The Chiefs offense finished with three turnovers and surrendered five sacks.
After the game, Chiefs coach Andy Reid took some responsibility for the offensive performance on Saturday night.
"I've got to make sure that I put the guys in a better position to do things and then when given the opportunity, we've got to make sure we execute," Reid said. "Offensively, it clearly wasn't good enough. Whether it was protection or blocking we've got a seam and holes.
"Throwing the ball, there was just no rhythm. Again, that's my responsibility as the play-caller, to make sure we get the guys into rhythm. We need to execute better in the red zone. "
Alex Smith threw two interceptions in the red zone, which is uncharacteristic of him considering he threw just seven all last season.
Smith finished the game 14 of 24 for 140 yards and two interceptions, while also scrambling three times on the ground for 21 rushing yards.
Smith talked about the offense after the game.
"Tonight was disappointing," Smith said. "It was game week and we treated it as such. There was a little more game planning that went into this and preparation. The turnovers hurt. You'd love to get touchdowns all the time.
"In a game like today though, the field goals would've helped too especially going there into halftime. Going into halftime would've been a much different game if we could've walked away with points."
Smith spoke about his two interceptions.
"You know, really on the first one, it was just a matter of being late," Smith said. "He was open and I needed to see it a little sooner and cut it loose in there and tried to fit it in a little late. It cost me.
"Really disappointed in the second one—third down trying to make it happen trying to move the chains there to force an in and I didn't see the guy until the end. Bad decision, but I think they are two things that are very fixable. Need to be fixed certainly.
"With that, I think they are things we'll learn from. Mistakes I don't think I'll make again."
Photos from the Chiefs third preseason game against the Vikings
Switching over to the defensive side, the Chiefs first-team defense found a way to make some plays against the Vikings.
After surrendering a 53-yard touchdown pass from Cassel to second-year receiver Cordarrelle Patterson on the Vikings opening drive, the Chiefs first-team defense then forced two turnovers and two punts to go along with a field goal on their final five drives.
"I thought after the first series, the defense did a nice job," Reid said.
Cornerback Ron Parker made a nice interception deep down the field off former Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel.
Parker nearly had an interception right before that when he broke on a ball and laid out for it but wasn't able to control it once he hit the ground.
Defensive end Jaye Howard, who started in place of injured veteran Mike DeVito once again, made a nice play deep in Vikings territory. He was able to get pressure off the left side and knocked the ball out of Cassel's hands, which forced the ball out of the back of the end zone resulting in a safety.
Cassel finished the game 9 of 17 for 152 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Howard, along with veterans Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson, all had sacks for the Chiefs defense.
SCORING PLAYS
| Team/Quarter | Time | Play/Drive | Score |
| Vikings 1 | 9:56 | C.Patterson 53 yd. pass from M.Cassel (B.Walsh kick) (5-97, 2:55) | 7-0 |
| Chiefs 1 | 3:42 | M.Cassel fumble forced by J.Howard in end zone for a Safety | 7-2 |
| Chiefs 2 | 2:59 | C.Santos 21 yd. Field Goal (14-77, 7:43) | 7-5 |
| Vikings 2 | 1:07 | B.Walsh 41 yd. Field Goal (5-30, 0:29) | 10-5 |
| Vikings 3 | 4:40 | B.Walsh 32 yd. Field Goal (9-49, 4:33) | 13-5 |
| Vikings 3 | 2:08 | A.Reisner 8 yd. pass from T.Bridgewater (B.Walsh kick) (3-8, 0:55) | 20-5 |
| Vikings 3 | 0:24 | A.Reisner 5 yd. pass from T.Bridgewater (B.Walsh kick) (1-5, 0:05) | 27-5 |
| Vikings 4 | 4:16 | B.Walsh 28 yd. Field Goal (11-73, 5:45) | 30-5 |
| Chiefs 4 | 0:25 | A.Wilson 1 yd. pass from T.Bray (C.Santos kick) (9-80, 3:51) | 30-12 |
Other Notes:
KELCE CONTINUES STRONG PRESEASON:TE Travis Kelce recorded four receptions for 49 yards (12.2 avg.) in the game, including a long of 22 yards, leading all Chiefs pass catchers in receiving yards. He now has 10 receptions for 185 yards (18.5 avg.) with two touchdowns in preseason action to pace all receivers.
GRAY CONTINUES RUSHING PERFORMANCES:RB Cyrus Gray had five carries for 31 yards (6.2 avg.) in tonight's contest. Gray has 26 carries for 134 yards (5.2 avg.) with one rushing touchdown in the preseason to lead all Chiefs runners.
COLQUITT PUNTING:P Dustin Colquitt booted seven punts for 364 yards (52.0 gross, 40.6 net) in tonight's game. He put one punt inside the 20-yard line. Colquitt holds the franchise record with 285 career punts inside the 20-yard line. That mark ties him for 13th in NFL history. In the 2014 preseason, Colquitt has punted 14 times for 665 yards (47.5 gross, 41.4 net) with six inside the 20-yard line and a long of 71 yards.
