Kansas City Chiefs (5-0) – New Orleans Saints (2-3): 26-13
The Chiefs are tinkering, but the Chiefs are winning. This was again the case this Monday evening against the Saints. Patrick Mahomes (28/39, 331 yards, 1 int) distributed the ball to veteran Travis Kelce (9 rec, 70 yards), returning JuJu Smith-Schuster (7 rec, 130 yards) and received help from Another returner, Kareem Hunt (27 races, 102 yards, 1 TD), to lead his team to victory.
But as since last season, it was above all the defense which played the main role in the victory. New Orleans was limited to 220 yards and Derek Carr (18/28, 165 yards, 2 TDs, 1 int) had to manage pressure on more than half of his pass attempts.
Kansas City had to wait until the last quarter to end the suspense, the fault of a clear lack of efficiency in the red zone. So it wasn't perfect, far from it, but it still wins.
The Chiefs start strong… and stall
It's difficult to get off to a better start than the Reds in this match. Derek Carr intercepted on the first possession, a 78-yard drive completed by Kareem Hunt on the ground, and the Chiefs were in the lead (7-0).
Yes, but now, Rashee Rice is injured, and the attack is still looking for the consistency and explosiveness of the Tyreek Hill years. So Kansas City stalls in the last 20 yards. Once, twice, three times before halftime. And even a fourth after the break. Result: three successful field goals, one missed. The locals lead 16 to 7, because the Saints managed to get closer on a flash from Rasheed Shaheed (4 rec, 86 yards, 1 TD), author of a 43-yard touchdown.
The Saints? Not better
Where did the New Orleans team go, which had scored more than 90 points in the first two weeks? Eaten by pressure. Unable to seize opportunities. Because there were some.
While the Chiefs have the opportunity to kill the match on the opposing 2 yards, Smith-Schuster releases the ball, which is caught by Khalen Saunders, 146 kilos, who is happy to return it. The Saints remain alive. And they even capitalized with a touchdown from Foster Moreau in the process to come back three lengths (16-13).
But Chiefs veterans aren't panicking. Smith-Schuster makes up for it with a 50-yard gain. And it was finally the rookie Xavier Worthy who scored on a direct snap. 23-13 with a dozen minutes to go before the buzzer. Then 26-13 after a defensive stop and a kick. The defense even provides a last stop for the road, because it is it that holds the Chiefs. The exit of Derek Carr with an oblique muscle injury around ten minutes from time also helped.
In terms of style, there is still plenty of room for improvement. But the observation is implacable: the Chiefs always find a way to win.
