Vikings vs. Chiefs 2021: game time, TV schedule and how to watch live online

The Game

The Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings close their preseason schedules with a game at Arrowhead Stadium on Friday evening. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on NFL Network — locally on KSHB/41.

Coming off a superb 2020 season, the Chiefs fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV — their second consecutive appearance in the championship game. Seeking to upgrade an offensive line that had been riddled with injuries to close out the year, the Chiefs used both free agency and the draft to make a complete overhaul for 2021. Veterans Orlando Brown Jr. and Joe Thuney, along with rookies Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith and Lucas Niang — all of whom did not play for the team last season — are now clearly identified as the regular season’s Week 1 starters.

The Chiefs will have significant decisions to consider when they make their final roster cutdown to 53 players before Tuesday afternoon — not only with offensive line depth, but also with wide receiver and cornerback groups (now without Sammy Watkins and Bashaud Breeland) that are crowded with young players. Friday night’s game — in which starters are expected to play through the first half — should provide some additional clarity on where the team’s roster is headed.

Two former Vikings — cornerback Mike Hughes and running back Jerick McKinnon — are both likely to see plenty of playing time. Former Chief Breeland now plays with Minnesota.

In 2020, Minnesota finished with a 7-9 record that put them into third place in the NFC North. In the offseason, they acquired highly-rated Virginia Tech offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw with the NFL Draft’s 23rd overall pick. Then they snagged Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond, North Carolina linebacker Chazz Surratt, Ohio State guard Wyatt Davis and Pittsburgh defensive end Patrick Jones II — all of them in the third round.

In free agency, the Vikings lost players like tackle Riley Rieff, tight end Kyle Rudolph and linebacker Hardy Nickerson — but signed cornerback Patrick Peterson, safety Xavier Woods and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson. In addition, they re-signed former Vikings cornerback Mackensie Alexander — who spent the 2020 season with the Cincinnati Bengals — and defensive end Stephen Weatherly, who was with the Carolina Panthers last season.

Nuts and bolts

• Location: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
• Playing surface: Natural grass
• Game time: 7 p.m. Arrowhead Time, Friday, August 27, 2021
• Weather forecast: Sunny and 89, winds south at 12 mph
• Matchup history: 7-5 Chiefs (regular season)
• Odds: Chiefs -4
• Officials: Referee Shawn Hochuli (83), umpire Terry Killens (77), down judge Ed Camp (134), line judge Greg Bradley (98), field judge Tom Hill (97), side judge Chad Hill (125), back judge Rich Martinez (39), replay official Tyler Cerimeli and replay assistant Mark Bitar.
• Pageantry: Colors: UMKC ROTC Honor Guard. National Anthem: Miss USA 2020 Asya Branch. Drum Deck Honoree: MOCSA board member Jessi Bixler. Spirit Leader: MOCSA board member Trish Mitchell.
• NFL Network television broadcast: Live at kickoff. Replay Saturday at 9 a.m. Arrowhead Time.
• Chiefs television broadcast: with Ari Wolfe, Trent Green, Kay Adams and Matt McMullen on KSHB (NBC/41-Kansas City), Chiefs Mobile App, KQTV (ABC/2-St. Joseph), KMOV (CBS/4-St. Louis), KTUL (ABC/8-Tulsa), WIBW (CBS/13-Topeka), KWCH (CBS/12-Wichita), KSNF (NBC/16-Joplin), KODE (ABC/12-Joplin), KOLR (CBS/10-Springfield, MO), KMIZ (ABC/17-Columbia), KQFX (Fox/22-Columbia), KPTM (Fox/42-Omaha), KDSM (FOX/17-Des Moines), KNWA (NBC/51-Fayetteville, AR), KFTA (Fox/24-Fort Smith, AR) and KFVE (Telemundo/6-Honolulu)
• Vikings television broadcast: with Paul Allen, Pete Bercich, Greg Coleman and Ben Leber on KMSP (Fox/9-Minneapolis)
• Online Stream: Fubo.TV
• Chiefs radio broadcast: with Mitch Holthus, Danan Hughes and Josh Klingler on WDAF (106.5 FM-Kansas City) and Chiefs Radio Network affiliates
• Chiefs Spanish radio broadcast: with Enrique Morales, Oscar Monterroso and Hannah Bassham on KPRS (103.3 FM-Kansas City)
• Vikings radio broadcast: with Paul Allen, Pete Bercich, Greg Coleman and Ben Leber on KFAN (100.3 FM--Minneapolis), KTLK (1130 AM-Minneapolis) and Vikings Radio Network affiliates.
• Enemy SB Nation site: The Daily Norseman
• Twitter: Arrowhead Pride
• Facebook: Please like us!

What you need to know in the stadium

• Parking lots open: 2:30 p.m.
• Stadium gates open: 5 p.m.
• COVID-19: Per Kansas City, Missouri city ordinance, masks are required in public indoor spaces — regardless of vaccination status. Unless actively eating or drinking, stadium guests will be asked to wear masks on the CommunityAmerica Club Level, in the Ford Founder’s Club, Foolish Lounge, Broadcast Lounge, Signature Suite Lounge, Locker Room Club, Tickets for Less Penthouse, Draft Room and Chiefs Pro Shop.
• Masks are not required outdoors — but they are encouraged for guests who have not been fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated stadium staff — and all those working inside enclosed public areas — are directed to wear masks. A complete list of the stadium’s health and safety protocols is available at www.Chiefs.com.
• Parking passes: All parking passes must be purchased in advance at www.Chiefs.com; payments will not be accepted at the parking toll gates.
• Cashless Arrowhead: All concession stands and retail points of sale are completely cashless. Fixed points of sale offer traditional scan and chip reader options for credit/debit cards and mobile tap or scan payment options — including Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. In-stadium hawkers and vendors accept credit cards only.
• Clear bags, permitted items: The NFL’s clear bag policy is in place for all Arrowhead Stadium events. Fans may visit www.Chiefs.com for important information on the clear bag policy and a complete list of permitted and prohibited items.