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Chiefs, Vikings keep perfect start to NFL intact

Staff WritersAP
Patrick Mahomes and Xavier Worthy have combined to lead the Chiefs to victory over the LA Chargers. (AP PHOTO)
Camera IconPatrick Mahomes and Xavier Worthy have combined to lead the Chiefs to victory over the LA Chargers. (AP PHOTO) Credit: AAP

Travis Kelce has not only showed that rumours of his demise were a little exaggerated, he became the Kansas City Chiefs' career receptions leader.

Kelce had seven receptions for 89 yards as the Chiefs rallied for a 17-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. With his second catch, he passed Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez for the franchise mark.

Even though Kelce, who turns 35 on Saturday, was off to a slow start statistically during his first three games this season, making only eight catches for 69 yards, coach Andy Reid didn't put any additional emphasis on Kelce needing a breakout game.

"I really don't care what anybody thinks, to be honest with you," Reid said.

"I watch what the defence does and how they respect him, and so I take it off of that. And I watch Trav every day, so I get to see him in how he works, how he never wants to come out in practice, in the game."

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who attributed Kelce's slow start to the extra attention he was receiving from opposing defences, also wasn't losing much sleep over his favourite target's early lack of receptions.

"I mean, the whole Kelce thing in general hasn't been a worry to me," Mahomes said.

"I know whatever we need, he's going to make plays. And that's what he did today."

The nine-time Pro Bowl tight end made a 38-yard reception on the third play of Kansas City's opening drive to tie the record of 916 catches set by Gonzalez over 12 seasons from 1997 to 2008. Kelce then caught a five-yard pass on the Chiefs' (4-0) fourth drive to break the record early in his 12th season with the team. He now has 922 receptions.

Taylor Swift wasn't in attendance at SoFi Stadium to see the latest achievement by her boyfriend, who is fourth in NFL history for receptions by a tight end.

Sam Darnold and Minnesota keep proving sceptics wrong while maintaining early control of the NFC North race.

Darnold threw three touchdown passes and Jordan Addison scored twice as the undefeated Vikings built an early 28-point lead and hung on down the stretch to beat the Packers in Green Bay, 31-29.

Picked by many to finish last in the division, the Vikings (4-0) are off to their best start since 2016, when they won their first five games before slumping to an 8-8 finish. They've trailed for less than three-and-a-half minutes all season.

Elsewhere, Buffalo and Pittsburgh were beaten for the first time this season while Cincinnati recorded their first victory of the campaign.

San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago, Tampa Bay and Houston all enjoyed success at home and there were away wins for Denver, Washington and Atlanta.

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