Kansas City Chiefs Proved They Can Adapt: Remain Undefeated in Unique Win Over Saints

Andy Reid and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs definitely are adaptable.

The 2-time defending Tremendous Bowl champions received every of their first 4 video games, all of which had been one-score video games, regardless of the damage absences of operating again Clyde Edwards-Helaire and huge receiver Hollywood Brown and regardless of dropping operating again Isiah Pacheco to a damaged leg in Week 2. 

After main receiver Rashee Rice sustained a knee damage in Week 4, the resilient Chiefs stayed unbeaten by defeating the visiting New Orleans Saints 26-13 on Monday night time. 

Reid and his crew maintain getting the job completed whatever the necessities.

Patrick Mahomes did not miss all these unavailable weapons, and he did not have to throw a landing move as Kansas Metropolis ran 29 extra performs than New Orleans and had practically double the time of possession. 

Mahomes was environment friendly, finishing 28 of 39 passes, and Reid cobbled collectively a balanced offense: 139 speeding yards (102 by Kareem Hunt, who was unemployed three weeks in the past till Pacheco was injured), 321 passing yards, 460 whole yards and 28 first downs.

Hunt had one of many Chiefs’ two speeding touchdowns. The opposite got here when neither a quarterback nor a operating again touched the ball, as Travis Kelce took a direct snap and handed the ball to Worthy, who ran 3 yards for a rating.

Worthy, the Chiefs’ rookie first-round draft alternative, caught simply three passes for 25 yards, however Reid discovered unconventional methods to get the job completed on offense. The Chiefs’ protection additionally restricted their teammates’ wants on the opposite facet of the ball by holding the NFL’s No. 1 scoring offense to 13 factors and 220 yards.

Kansas Metropolis has struggled within the pink zone within the early season, and that continued Monday. The Chiefs scored on 4 of their 5 first-half possessions, however the final three ended with Harrison Butker area targets after drives reached the Saints 8-, 16- and 9-yard strains.

The Chiefs drove to the New Orleans 2 within the third quarter earlier than a Mahomes move was intercepted in the long run zone by defensive sort out Khalen Saunders.

The Saints finally pulled inside three factors, however Kansas Metropolis by no means trailed within the sport. 

JuJu Smith-Schuster was essential for the Kansas Metropolis offense, developing with seven receptions for 130 yards, and Kelce contributed 9 catches for 70 yards.

As for the Saints (2-3 after a 3rd consecutive loss), the presence of a makeshift offensive line led to an absence of spectacular offensive statistics. Twin-threat operating again Alvin Kamara completed with 26 speeding yards and 40 receiving yards, and Derek Carr handed for simply 165 yards (on 18-of-28 passing) earlier than leaving the sport due to an indirect damage sustained halfway via the fourth quarter.

Carr mentioned he would endure an MRI examination on Tuesday to evaluate his standing transferring ahead.

New Orleans reached the Kansas Metropolis 39 on the primary possession of the sport, however Carr, confronted with a heavy move rush, launched an off-balanced throw that was intercepted by Bryan Prepare dinner and led to the Chiefs’ first landing.

The Saints performed catch-up from there and by no means caught up.