Minnesota Vikings: 5 Key Matchups To Watch Against the Kansas City Chiefs

The Minnesota Vikings are going into Kansas City this Sunday to take on the hapless Chiefs. Both teams have yet to win a game, which means one fanbase is finally going to have something to cheer about this week. 

Which team wins this game is going to depend on a few key matchups. Which Viking linebacker needs to step up? What player from the Chiefs secondary could Minnesota hope to exploit? Read on to find out the answers to these questions and more.

5) Percy Harvin vs. Brandon Flowers

Minnesota's passing attack has been dreadful so far this year. Donovan McNabb is currently averaging under 150 yards per game. He might have a chance to turn it around this week though, because cornerback Brandon Flowers is coming off of an ankle injury that is making him a game-time decision on Sunday.

If he's able to play, it would stand to reason that he won't be completely back to full strength and could be suspect to being burned by a deep ball or two. In addition, Eric Berry, the Chiefs star safety, is out, which leaves the secondary grasping at straws trying to replace their best player.

I put Percy Harvin on the title because he's the Vikings best deep threat with Sidney Rice gone and Bernard Berrian unable to play well, but if his migraines and illnesses continue into this week you could easily replace him with Michael Jenkins. 

Jenkins has really stepped up lately, almost surpassing the 100 yard mark last week against the Lions; Harvin did make some big plays last week before he was forced to the sideline because of vomiting. Look for one or both of them to have a big day against this banged up and fairly weak Chiefs secondary.

4) Thomas Jones and Dexter McCluster vs. Chad Greenway

Kansas City's top 10 ranked rushing attack is a two-headed monster with Thomas Jones and Dexter McCluster taking over for the injured Jamaal Charles. They've needed both these guys to play well so they can stay competitive because, currently, quarterback Matt Cassel is playing worse than Donovan McNabb.

Jones is the starter on the depth chart and rightfully so considering the long, successful career he's enjoyed, but McCluster might be the more dangerous player. He has yet to score a touchdown, but is averaging 6.6 yards per carry to Jones' 2.6. His speed and play-making ability should soon translate to big touchdown runs for the Chiefs.

The Vikings need someone who can contain McCluster's speed, but still be able to step up in the box and tackle the less elusive Jones. Chad Greenway is that guy. He's amazingly stout in run support and has the lateral speed to keep McCluster from gaining the edge. Plus, he'll have the help of the NFL's best tackling corners in Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin.

In 2011, the Vikings have been very good against the run even though they lost key members of the defensive line in Ray Edwards and Pat Williams. Look for them to keep Jones from racking up too many yards in the middle while the ball-hawking Greenway keeps either running back from breaking big runs outside the tackles. 

3) Jared Allen vs. Brandon Albert

I feel bad for Brandon Albert, I really do. He's not a bad tackle, in fact, if I was looking for a solid young guy to put on my line, I wouldn't mind picking him up. However, this week he gets one of the toughest matchups in the NFL going against Jared Allen.

Allen is always tough for anyone to block, but this week he's going back to Kansas City for the first time since they traded him for four draft picks. He's already gone on record to say that he was more than displeased with the team when they traded him, which could lead to an even more hyped up Allen than usual. That's a scary thought.

Regardless of whether Allen is playing to prove the Chiefs made a mistake or not, Brandon Albert is going to be in for a long day. Allen was dominant last week against the Lions and there's no reason to believe he won't be in the quarterback's face all day again this Sunday. 

2) Tamba Hali vs. Charlie Johnson

Tamba Hali has yet to have a break out game this season, but he does have a respectable two sacks through three games. Today might be the day he finally gets the quarterback and has a multiple sack day. 

In fact, you might go as far to say that the odds are fairly good. The Vikings let long time left tackle Bryant McKinnie go this offseason and have been starting Charlie Johnson in his place. Johnson is smaller than McKinnie, which lets him be a little more mobile and better able to guard rush ends, but he's still not anywhere close to elite.

This would be a different story if Donovan McNabb was a few years younger, but he can't keep a breaking down pocket alive like he used to. It's of utmost importance that he stay as comfortable as possible because of his poor play lately. The Vikings don't want to see him get rattled early and then have an even worse performance than they've grown used to.

That could very well happen if Hali gets loose. Look for him to dominate at the point of attack and force the Vikings to send extra men his way or risk him getting to McNabb early and often.

Adrian Peterson vs. Leslie Frazier

I want to start by saying that I like Leslie Frazier and think he's a great coach, but take a look at the provided picture. Does there seem to be anything wrong with it to you? If you answered Adrian Peterson doesn't have the ball in his hands you win a special prize.

The Vikings have gone into halftime leading every game this season, only to see the game fall out of their grasp in the second half. Usually when a team has a halftime lead, you see their star running back tote the rock earlier and often in the second half to try to kill the clock. 

Considering Minnesota has the best running back in the league, you would think they would want to give him the ball as much as possible with a lead, but you would be thinking wrong. Peterson is currently averaging about five carries in the second half of games, that's ridiculous.

When you have a guy like AD going out and getting you 5.1 yards per carry you need to ride him in the second half. It's well documented that Peterson seems to get stronger as the game carries on, while defenses get slower from having to stop him so often. If there's one thing Minnesota needs to do this week it's listen to Keyshawn Johnson and "give (Peterson) the dang ball."