4 worst Vikings from their Week 5 loss to the Chiefs

Player No. 4

Byron Murphy - CB

Byron Murphy looked like a steal after two weeks for the Vikings. He shut down A.J. Brown in Week 2 and was looking like the lockdown defender the Vikings have been missing since Xavier Rhodes departed. Since then, however, Byron Murphy has been tough to watch.

He opened the week with some words towards Travis Kelce, only for Kelce to beat him for a touchdown that would be the difference in the game. As Kelce opened up for the game-sealing score, Murphy was in zone and covering nothing but space and was backing off of Kelce, opening a clear path for a score.

Earlier in the game, Murphy put together one of the more demoralizing drives a defensive back could imagine. He was put on his back by a Marquez Valdez-Scantling stiff-arm to set the Chiefs up with a goal-to-go in the third quarter.

They capped the drive off with a Rashee Rice touchdown over the middle. The defender in coverage was once again Byron Murphy, who was beat inside, and Rice, a rookie receiver, was strong at the catch point and walked in for a score.

Byron Murphy has quickly become a problem on defense. Mekhi Blackmon is playing very well for a third-round rookie and should be given more of an opportunity over the next few weeks.