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Chiefs 2023 schedule preview, Week 5: Vikings

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Chiefs 2023 schedule preview, Week 5: Vikings


The Kansas City Chiefs stay on the road in Week 5 to take on the Minnesota Vikings.

2022 was somewhat of a strange season for the Vikings. They finished with a very good 13-4 record, however, they were beaten by double-digits and outscored by a total of 89 points in their four losses. They were then upset at home by the New York Giants in the wildcard round of the postseason.

Minnesota was productive and consistent offensively, ranking in the top 10 of the NFL in passing, total yards, and scoring. Unfortunately, it had an Achilles heel in its offensive line. The Vikings ranked 28th in rushing and quarterback Kirk Cousins suffered the most hits (84) and third-most sacks (46) in the league.

Oddly enough, the Vikings didn’t do anything to fix their offensive line this offseason, re-signing their starting center as well as both starting guards. They didn’t make a significant offensive line free agent signing, nor did they spend a single draft pick on one.

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The Vikings then said goodbye to four-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook and two-time Pro Bowl receiver Adam Thielen, both due to declining production and the need for salary cap relief. Minnesota drafted receiver Jordan Addison with its first-round draft pick to replace Thielen.

The Vikings’ defensive unit wasn’t pretty in 2022. It ranked 31st in the NFL against the pass as well as total defense and 20th against the run. One silver lining was its ability to get turnovers, forcing a total of 25 on the season, good for fourth-most in the league.

The two biggest acquisitions for the Vikings this offseason were outside linebacker Marcus Davenport and cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. Both will instantly be starters and be expected to make an impact. Minnesota continued to revamp their secondary by drafting cornerback Mekhi Blackmon and safety Jay Ward in the third and fourth rounds, respectively.

Let’s take a look at some of the Vikings’ key players and their outlooks heading into the 2023 NFL season:

AP Photo-Reed Hoffmann

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Statistically, Cousins usually ranks among the top quarterbacks in the league. He has seven career 4,000-yard seasons and has thrown at least 25 touchdown passes eight times. In 2022 he had the fourth-most passing yards in the NFL and was considered an MVP candidate midway through the year.

Cousins also faced some adversity last season. As mentioned above, he took the most hits among all QBs and battled through rib injuries for most of the year. His offensive line couldn’t keep him upright, which could have contributed to him setting a career-high in interceptions with 14.

Cousins could be in for a similar fate in 2023 since the Vikings failed to invest in their offensive line this offseason. He has some nice weapons to work with, but it could be all for naught if he can’t stay upright. The big knock against Cousins is that he doesn’t win big games, which is a fair criticism as he has a 1-4 record in the postseason.

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AP Photo-Bruce Kluckhohn

After playing second fiddle to Dalvin Cook for the last four years, Mattison is taking over as the No. 1 running back in Minnesota. Mattison has performed well in games which Cook missed, including 13 career games with over 50 rushing yards and three over 100.

With Cook not missing any time last season for the first time in his career, Mattison’s workload dropped off quite a bit with a career-low 74 carries. However, not getting hit so much and preserving his legs could be a good thing. Mattison is a hard runner with good power and balance and shouldn’t have a problem handling a starting RB workload.

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Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

In 2022 Jefferson made a case for himself as the best receiver in the NFL. He led the league in targets (184), receptions (128), yards (1,809), and 100-yard games (10). Jefferson is a human highlight reel with his combination of physicality and speed and ability to win contested catches.

He has been named an All-Pro and Pro Bowler in each of his three NFL seasons, and last year Jefferson was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Still just 24 years old, the only thing that’s going to slow him down is if he suffers an injury. He and Kirk Cousins have one of the best QB/WR rapports in the league.

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Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Hockenson has quietly been one of the better tight ends in the NFL over the last three seasons. In 2022 he caught 86 passes for 914 yards and six touchdowns, all new career highs. He did it for two different teams as he was traded midway through the season from the Detroit Lions to the Vikings.

Hockenson has drawn comparisons to the Chiefs’ Travis Kelce for his athletic ability and separation burst. He is a natural fit for coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense and should continue to be productive for the foreseeable future. Hockenson’s run blocking improved tremendously in O’Connell’s offense, going from ranking 58th among TEs in run blocking with Detroit to ranking ninth with Minnesota.

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AP Photo-Reed Hoffmann

Hunter rebounded in a big way in 2022 after an injury-riddled 2021. He reached double-digit sacks for the fourth time in his career with 10.5, while also recording 65 total tackles and a forced fumble. Hunter is an explosive pass rusher with great length and a high motor.

Hunter is one of the more underrated pass rushers in the league, and he definitely realizes that as he enters the last year of his contract in 2023. The Vikings are up against the cap and don’t seem to have an urgency to re-sign him, fueling rumors that he could be traded. Those rumors have calmed down as of late and it’s possible he plays out his final year in Minnesota. If he does, he could have a career year as he looks to secure another big-time contract.

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Goalie Nicole Hensley stars as league-leading Minnesota Frost top New York Sirens in shootout | CBC Sports

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Goalie Nicole Hensley stars as league-leading Minnesota Frost top New York Sirens in shootout | CBC Sports


Nicole Hensley made back-to-back saves in the shootout and the Minnesota Frost earned their fourth straight victory with a 4-3 win over the New York Sirens on Sunday in Newark, N.J.

It was the fourth time in seven all-time meetings that a game between the teams was decided in OT and the second this season. New York won the season opener in St. Paul, Minn.

Kendall Coyne Schofield scored two first-period goals to stake the Frost to the early lead and Taylor Heise beat Kayle Osborne, who relieved starter Abigail Levy in the New York net to start the second period, two minutes in to make it a 3-0 lead.

WATCH l Heise scores shootout winner:

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Minnesota captures shootout win over New York to remain on top of PWHL standings

Taylor Heise’s fourth round shootout goal turned out to be the difference as the Minnesota Frost defeated New York Sirens 4-3 Sunday in New Jersey.

But Osborne did not allow another goal in regulation and wasn’t seriously challenged in overtime while the Sirens staged a comeback. Brooke Hobson and Elizabeth Giguere each scored in the second period and Alex Carpenter pounced on a loose puck and lifted a shot over Hensley’s shoulder from deep in the face-off circle to tie the game midway through the third period.

Hensley was brilliant in overtime, turning away four close-in, open shots by the Sirens (2-1-1-1), two of them on breakaway chances.

Minnesota (4-0-1-0) got goals from Denisa Křížová, Grace Zumwinkle and Heise in the shootout. Noora Tulus and Carpenter each converted in the shootout for New York, but Hensley came up with a save on Sarah Fillier before stopping the final two shooters for the Sirens.

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Hensley finished with 33 saves on 36 shots to earn the win. Osborne made 18 saves on 19 shots over her 45 minutes in goal for New York. Carpenter’s two-goal effort lifted her past Coyne Schofield and into the league lead with four goals in her first five games and she now has a league-leading seven points.

WATCH l Sirens’ Fillier, Carpenter test their off-ice chemistry:

New York Sirens’ Sarah Fillier, Alex Carpenter test their off-ice chemistry

Host Anastasia Bucsis puts newest teammates and linemates to the test to determine if their chemistry on the ice, translates off it.



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Unique northern Minnesota border airport closing after 70 years

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Unique northern Minnesota border airport closing after 70 years


A northern Minnesota airport with an unusual claim to fame is closing after 70 years of operation.

The Piney-Pinecreek Border Airport near Roseau is the only airport with a paved runway crossing the U.S.-Canada border.

The border airport opened in 1953 to expedite customs processing for air travelers and was regularly used by hunters and anglers flying to Canada.

The Piney Pinecreek airport has the only paved runway crossing the US Canada border.

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Initially, the airport had a grass runway that ended at the border, but in 1978 a runway expansion added a paved runway that extended into Canada.

Customs agents would meet travelers on either side of the border.

But declining usage and significant impending repair costs led to the decision to close the one of a kind operation, said Ryan Gaug, director of the Minnesota Department of Transportation aeronautics office.

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“We know that the pavement condition has declined significantly over the years and will need a reconstruct most likely in the next one to three years,” said Gaug.

Short-term costs to bring the facility up to safety standards is estimated at $3.8 million.

Piney-Pinecreek is the only airport owned by MnDOT, and it is operated in collaboration with the Rural Municipality of Piney, Manitoba.

A Canadian official said the local government could not raise the money to pay its share of the planned improvement costs and Piney officials ended the joint operations agreement.

Gaug said an estimated 200 airplanes a year use the facility, far lower than traffic at similar sized facilities.

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There are six airports on the U.S.-Canada border, but Piney-Pinecreek is the only one with a paved runway.

“It’s always been the No. 1 fun fact that I’ve shared with friends, family, coworkers, colleagues here at MnDOT,” said Gaug.

“It’s a tough decision to close an airport ever, but the evidence was all there that now was the time,” he said.

concrete with black stripes

MnDOT officials said the runway at Piney Pinecreek border airport needs a costly reconstruction.

Courtesy MnDOT

There are no local airplanes based at the airport.

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“It’s very sad for the community to lose its airport,” said Marlin Elton, a local resident who served on the airport commission and helped maintain the facility for 30 years.

Elton said the closure hasn’t raised concerns in the community because “if you don’t fly, it won’t affect you. The ones who will be affected are the pilots who use it.”

Gaug said MnDOT reached out to pilots and aviation groups to gauge support for keeping the airport open but found “there just isn’t a strong user base for this airport and that also led to not a strong local support fighting to keep this airport.”

The final day of operations for the Piney-Pinecreek airport is Dec. 26.



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NEXT Weather: 10 p.m. report for Minnesota from Dec. 21, 2024

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NEXT Weather: 10 p.m. report for Minnesota from Dec. 21, 2024


NEXT Weather: 10 p.m. report for Minnesota from Dec. 21, 2024 – CBS Minnesota

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Saturday was our last cold day for a while, with a warm-up arriving Sunday and lasting through the holiday week.

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