The Kansas City Chiefs achieved a decisive victory over the New Orleans Saints, winning 26-13 in “Monday Night Football.”
Despite entering the game with concerns regarding their receiving corps, wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster delivered his best performance of the season, catching seven passes for 130 yards. The Saints struggled to find their rhythm and faced further challenges when quarterback Derek Carr left the game in the fourth quarter due to an oblique injury.
This victory marked a significant change for the Chiefs, who had won their previous seven games by narrow margins. Kansas City’s win improved their record to 5-0, maintaining their streak of at least five consecutive victories in each of Andy Reid’s twelve seasons at the helm.
One notable aspect of the game was the performance of running back Kareem Hunt. In the absence of Isiah Pacheco, who is recovering from a leg injury, Hunt rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries, showcasing his value to the team. When Pacheco returns, the Chiefs will benefit from having two capable running backs on their roster.
The game featured some missed opportunities for the Chiefs, who converted only two of six chances for touchdowns inside the Saints’ 20-yard line. A key moment occurred when Smith-Schuster deflected a pass in the red zone that ended up being intercepted by New Orleans.
Smith-Schuster’s resurgence was unexpected, as he had caught only two passes in the Chiefs’ first four games before this matchup. He filled in for the injured Rashee Rice and managed to gain significant yardage after the catch, ending with 82 yards after contact.
The Saints came into the game dealing with numerous injuries and needed to perform flawlessly to keep up with the explosive Chiefs offense. However, they fell behind early after Carr’s interception on the team’s sixth play, which set up a touchdown for Kansas City. Although the Saints had a highlight in the form of a 43-yard touchdown pass from Carr to Rashid Shaheed, they were unable to replicate the offensive production seen in their earlier games, marking their third straight loss.
A key play came from Saints defensive tackle Khalen Saunders, who made a one-handed interception in the end zone, a moment even more special with family and friends in attendance, including his brother who is a backup dancer for Taylor Swift.
On the defensive side, cornerback Paulson Adebo struggled with penalties, adding to his troubled season with a late-game pass interference call that nearly cost the team a touchdown. He currently ranks among the league leaders for most penalties.
Offensively, the Saints struggled to establish a running game against the Chiefs, relying heavily on deep passing attempts rather than generating a consistent ground attack. Carr finished the night with 18 completions on 28 attempts for 165 yards, one touchdown, and one interception before leaving the game. Jake Haener took over in relief but struggled with only two completions on seven attempts for 17 yards.
The Chiefs will next face the San Francisco 49ers, while the Saints are set to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.