The Kansas City Chiefs approached their latest matchup with uncertainties surrounding their wide receiver corps. However, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster emerged spectacularly, delivering his finest performance of the season with seven receptions for 130 yards. In stark contrast, the New Orleans Saints found themselves struggling offensively, culminating in quarterback Derek Carr exiting the contest in the fourth quarter due to an oblique injury.
At long last, the Chiefs secured a decisive victory, overcoming the Saints with a score of 26-13. This win marked a departure from their previous seven outings, which had all been decided a single score. With this triumph, Kansas City improved its record to a flawless 5-0. Impressively, the Chiefs have now maintained a winning streak of five or more games in each of head coach Andy Reid’s twelve seasons at the helm.
A notable silver lining for Kansas City is the acquisition of Kareem Hunt, a move that might not have materialized had Isiah Pacheco not suffered a broken leg. In Pacheco’s absence, Hunt has stepped up admirably, racking up 102 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. His performance indicates that he should continue to receive substantial playing time even after Pacheco returns, bolstering the team’s depth.
In a game aptly summarized in two words: Seeing red. Kansas City struggled in the red zone, converting only 2 of 6 opportunities into touchdowns. One critical moment occurred when Smith-Schuster deflected a pass at the goal line, leading to an interception for New Orleans.
The most surprising revelation of the evening was Smith-Schuster’s transformation. After recording a mere two catches in the first four games, he exploded for five receptions against the Saints. He adeptly filled the role previously occupied Rashee Rice, who is sidelined with injury. Smith-Schuster’s ability to gain yards after the catch (82 yards after catch) showcased his skill, despite also contributing to a missed touchdown opportunity with his goal-line deflection.
With 9:38 remaining in the fourth quarter, Carr attempted a deep pass to wide receiver Mason Tipton on a crucial fourth down but rose slowly after the attempt fell incomplete. He exited the field while clutching his hip, underwent evaluation in the injury tent, and ultimately retreated to the locker room, further compounding the Saints’ woes.
Entering the game with a slew of injuries, the Saints needed a flawless performance to contend with the Chiefs’ formidable offense. Unfortunately, they fell behind early when Carr threw an ill-timed interception just six plays into the game, which set up Kansas City for their first touchdown. Despite some bright spots, including a 43-yard touchdown pass from Carr to Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans struggled to replicate the offensive success seen in their initial games, resulting in their third consecutive loss.
A pivotal moment unfolded when Saints defensive tackle Khalen Saunders, playing against his former team with family in attendance (including his brother Kameron, a backup dancer for Taylor Swift), made an incredible one-handed interception in the end zone, returning it 37 yards during the third quarter.
However, a troubling trend emerged in the form of penalties committed cornerback Paulson Adebo. After incurring a costly pass interference penalty against the Falcons last week that led to a game-winning field goal, Adebo added to his woes with another late-game PI call against the Chiefs, nearly resulting in a touchdown. With seven penalties thus far, he now ranks among the league’s top offenders.
The Saints’ biggest shortcoming lay in their inability to establish a consistent running game, hampered an injury-depleted offensive line. Their offensive strategy has relied heavily on effective rushing, which proved elusive against Kansas City. Instead, they resorted to low-percentage deep passes. Carr attempted nine throws with over 15 yards in the air, completing just two of nine for 64 yards, accompanied an interception and a touchdown.
In the quarterback department, Carr displayed a fluctuating performance before his injury, wrapping up with an 18-of-28 completion rate for 165 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. In his stead, Jake Haener stepped in for his first significant snaps of the season.
