Chiefs Showcase Dominance Against Saints
The Kansas City Chiefs showcased their status as two-time defending Super Bowl champions with a commanding 26-13 victory against the New Orleans Saints on Monday night. They wasted no time, converting a Derek Carr interception into a touchdown during their opening offensive drive. Kansas City found its rhythm quickly, scoring on four of their first five possessions before halftime.
Injury Strikes Saints Quarterback
During the game, Saints quarterback Derek Carr suffered an oblique injury, adding to his struggles against Patrick Mahomes, who has a 1-9 record against him—his disappointing run with the Raiders seems to be following him to New Orleans. Unfortunately for Carr, his night ended prematurely due to a hip injury sustained while trying to extend a drive on fourth down. The impact forced him out of the game, allowing Jake Haener to take over.
Kelce Takes Center Stage
Kansas City sealed their victory when Travis Kelce lined up as quarterback near the goal line, handing off to Xavier Worthy, who rushed in for a 3-yard touchdown. Patrick Mahomes heavily utilized Kelce throughout the game; although he didn’t find the end zone, Kelce recorded nine receptions on ten targets for a total of 70 yards.
JuJu Smith-Schuster Shines
Veteran wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was a standout performer, making seven catches for 130 yards. This marked his first 100-yard receiving game since 2022, when he played against the San Francisco 49ers, and it was also his inaugural season with the Chiefs. Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes completed 28 of 39 passes for 331 yards, finishing the game with one interception and no touchdown passes.
Kareem Hunt’s Contribution
Kareem Hunt contributed significantly with a touchdown and 102 rushing yards during the game. For a moment, it appeared the Saints were finding their rhythm, as Derek Carr connected with Rashid Shaheed for a 43-yard touchdown in the second quarter, narrowing the score to 10-7. However, New Orleans struggled to find the end zone again until early in the fourth quarter when Carr hit Foster Moreau for another touchdown.
Saints Struggle with Injuries
Rashid Shaheed had a solid performance, recording four receptions for 86 yards. Meanwhile, the Chiefs improved to 5-0 as they head into their bye week. This marks their first five-win start since 2018, the year Mahomes was the full-time starter, although that season ended with a loss in the AFC Championship.
Looking Ahead for Both Teams
New Orleans fell to 2-3 after beginning the season with high hopes. They now face an early divisional clash at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.