The Kansas City Chiefs achieved a solid victory against the New Orleans Saints, winning 26-13 on “Monday Night Football.”
With uncertainties surrounding their wide receiver position, JuJu Smith-Schuster stepped up, delivering his standout performance of the season with seven catches for 130 yards. Conversely, the Saints faced difficulties in scoring, and quarterback Derek Carr left the game in the fourth quarter due to an oblique injury.
This match marked a change for the Chiefs, who had been narrowly winning their previous seven games by single-digit scores. This time, they enjoyed a comfortable win at Arrowhead Stadium, improving their record to 5-0. Under head coach Andy Reid, the Chiefs have maintained a winning streak of five games or more for all 12 seasons.
A positive development for Kansas City came with the emergence of Kareem Hunt, who stepped in after Isiah Pacheco’s leg injury. Hunt rushed for 102 yards and one touchdown on 27 carries and is expected to bring added depth when Pacheco returns.
However, the game also highlighted some struggles in the red zone for the Chiefs, as they converted only 2-of-6 opportunities into touchdowns. Smith-Schuster, despite his successful night, deflected a pass that resulted in an interception at the goal line.
Smith-Schuster’s performance was unexpected, considering he had only two receptions in the first four games of the season. He stepped up significantly after Rashee Rice’s injury, gaining 82 yards after the catch but also inadvertently contributing to an interception.
Looking ahead, the Chiefs will face the San Francisco 49ers next on October 20.
In the fourth quarter, Carr’s night took a turn for the worse when he attempted a long pass to Mason Tipton and left the field nursing a hip injury; he was later evaluated for an oblique injury. The Saints, burdened with injuries, needed an almost flawless game to compete against the Chiefs but quickly fell behind after Carr threw an interception early on.
While Carr managed a late touchdown pass to Rashid Shaheed, the Saints were unable to replicate their previous offensive success, marking their third consecutive loss.
A key moment included a remarkable play from Saints defensive tackle Khalen Saunders, who intercepted a pass in the end zone with one hand and returned it 37 yards.
The Saints’ offensive line struggles impeded their rushing game, forcing them to rely on risky deep passes, with Carr completing just 2-of-9 for 64 yards on such attempts.
Carr’s performance before his injury showed inconsistency, as he completed 18 of 28 passes for 165 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Jake Haener took the reins for his first snaps of the season, completing 2-of-7 for 17 yards.
The Saints will next face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.