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Monday Night Football delivers a marquee matchup as the New Orleans Saints visit the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, with kickoff set for 8:15 PM ET on ESPN. Both teams come into this contest with questions to answer after recent performances and injuries. The Chiefs, sitting at 4-0, continue to find ways to win despite their victories being by seven points or fewer each time. KC looks to continue their unbeaten run, while the Saints are searching for answers after back-to-back losses that dropped them to 2-2.
This showdown will come down to how each team handles key injuries, particularly in the trenches, and whether the Saints can slow down a well-rounded Chiefs team at home.
One of the most pivotal aspects of this game will be how the Saints’ injury-riddled offensive line handles the relentless pressure from the Chiefs’ defensive front. The Saints will be without center Erik McCoy and right guard Cesar Ruiz, which has made their offensive line vulnerable in recent weeks. This is a concern for New Orleans as they face a Kansas City defense that has been dominant, especially up front, led by the ever-disruptive Chris Jones.
The Chiefs’ defensive line was a key factor in their 17-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4, applying consistent pressure and collapsing the pocket. Derek Carr, the Saints’ quarterback, has struggled when facing pressure this season, and the numbers back it up. In a clean pocket, Carr is efficient and effective, but when the pocket collapses, his performance drops significantly. Look for the Chiefs’ front seven to take advantage of the Saints’ weakened line and make life difficult for Carr, forcing quick throws and limiting the effectiveness of New Orleans’ playmakers.
While the Chiefs remain undefeated, they’ve suffered injuries on the offensive side of the ball. Wide receiver Rashee Rice is feared to have suffered an ACL tear, ending his season. This follows the loss of star running back Isiah Pacheco, who fractured his fibula two weeks ago and is expected to be out for at least 4-6 more weeks.
Despite these setbacks, the Chiefs’ offense continues to perform. Rookie WR Xavier Worthy showcased his speed and explosiveness in Week 4, scoring a long touchdown while Travis Kelce appears to be shaking off the offseason rust, hauling in seven catches for 89 yards in his best game of the season against the Chargers. Kareem Hunt, recently re-signed by the Chiefs, also had a solid outing, rushing for 69 yards and adding two catches for 16 yards. Even with the injuries, Kansas City’s offense remains dangerous, thanks to their depth and the presence of stars like Kelce and Patrick Mahomes.
The Saints enter this game after a frustrating 26-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4. Despite not allowing an offensive touchdown, New Orleans had multiple critical mistakes, including a fumble recovery in the end zone and a pick-six. The Saints did manage to hold the Falcons offense in check, but they allowed an alarming 6.2 yards per play.
The previous week, the Saints lost a close game to the Philadelphia Eagles, 15-12, despite allowing 460 yards of total offense. The “bend but don’t break” approach has been in full effect for New Orleans, but the yardage totals they’ve surrendered are concerning. Although they’ve limited scoring, the Chiefs’ high-powered offense will be tough to contain, especially in front of a raucous Arrowhead Stadium crowd.
With the Saints’ offensive line dealing with injuries and their defense struggling to stop big plays, it’s hard to see New Orleans keeping pace with Kansas City. Derek Carr must rely on short, quick throws to his playmakers like Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, but the Chiefs’ defensive line should keep him under pressure throughout the game.
Despite injuries to key players, the Chiefs offense has enough firepower to put points on the board, especially with Patrick Mahomes under center and Travis Kelce finding his form. Expect a low-scoring affair similar to Kansas City’s Week 4 victory, with the Chiefs controlling the tempo and keeping the Saints in check.
Our Pick: Chiefs to win by 6+ points against the Saints.
Zach has been a published sports writer since 2018 specializing in college football & basketball, MLB and NFL content for multiple publications.