As the Kansas City Chiefs returned home to Arrowhead for a Monday Night matchup against the New Orleans Saints, they finally got their big win. It's been clear that the Chiefs' offense has not been on the same page for weeks. The offense finally showed that it could make a defense pay for its mistakes and even came without its biggest playmaker.
From the beginning of the game, the Chiefs established dominance and never let go of their lead. While there were certainly times when the team could have done more, this was the first win in a while that allowed Chiefs fans to exhale and relax.
The Streak is Over
Throughout the season, the Chiefs' defense has made headlines several times. While they have been the reason the team is still undefeated, they have massively struggled on opening drives. In each of the first four games, the Chiefs gave up points on the opening drive. However, that streak ended on Monday.
In the first plays of the game, the Saints were able to push into KC territory. While it might've seemed like the streak would continue, Bryan Cook intercepted a pass from Derek Carr intended for Rasheed Shaheed.
The Chiefs' defense dominated against the Saints, allowing Carr to only throw for 165 yards.
New Faces Showing Up
After the losses of Rashee Rice and Isiah Pacheco, many fans wondered if the Chiefs could replicate their offensive production. After a lackluster year last year and a less-than-perfect start to the season, these concerns were valid. On Monday, two players who were absent last season stepped up to help the Chiefs defeat the Saints.
Juju Smith-Schuster was brought back to the team in the summer to act as depth in the wide receiver's room. This signing proved extremely important after the injuries to Marquise Brown and Rice. Against the Saints, Smith-Schuster had seven receptions for 130 yards, the most on the team for this game.
Kareem Hunt is another player who has had a big impact after his injury. When Pacheco went down, it was clear the team could not operate with what they had. Going out and getting Hunt has been very beneficial so far, and he has shined in both of his games so far. In this game, he had 27 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown.
Still Undefeated
Although this game was not pretty, the Chiefs go into their bye week with another win. Although the offense and defense have had clear problems during the streak, the team is continuously finding a way to win games and stay afloat.
Patrick Mahomes has had a very unlucky year when it comes to his passes, especially with his six interceptions (tied for most among starting quarterbacks). At this point, it's looking like he will end the season with numbers worse than last. However, all of this can be overlooked because the Chiefs are still succeeding, unlike last season before the playoffs. Only time will tell if he can improve statistically as the season progresses.
The Chiefs are one of two teams still undefeated. While it might not have been expected that the Minnesota Vikings would have more commanding wins going into the sixth week of the season, that seems to be the case so far. However, the Chiefs have a better chance of continuing to be undefeated in the long run.
More Than it Seemed
While the Chiefs did win, their score is not even close to how much they dominated the game. In this game, the Chiefs doubled the Saints in first downs, more than doubled in total yards and almost doubled in time of possession.
The Chiefs lacked one thing in this contest: their red zone offense. They found themselves in the red zone six times but only scored touchdowns on two drives. Mahomes also threw a red zone interception on one drive and Harrison Butker's missed field-goal attempt.
The offense's performance should be the blueprint for each week moving forward. Although the drives did not always end in touchdowns, this can be a way for the offense to take some pressure off of the defense. By keeping the defense off the field for as much time as possible, they will be better rested and ready to dominate against better teams.
Up Next: Bye Week
The Chiefs exited Monday's game with an entire week ahead of them off. Going into the bye gives the front office enough time to examine the trade market and those still left in free agency to determine how to better the team. This time off also gives the team better insight as to how Rice's injury will impact the rest of the season. And, of course, Kansas City fans get the week to focus on the Royals and their MLB playoff push.
Final Score: Chiefs 26, Saints 13
Jones' Three Stars
1st Star - Juju Smith-Schuster
7 receptions, 130 yards
2nd Star - Kareem Hunt
27 carries, 102 yards, 1 TD
3rd Star - Patrick Mahomes
28/39, 331 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
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