The spotlight returns to Monday Night Football as the New Orleans Saints (2-2, 3-1 ATS) face off against the Kansas City Chiefs (4-0, 3-1 ATS). Their last meeting was in 2020, where the Chiefs narrowly claimed victory with a score of 32-29. Recently, the Saints suffered a close 26-24 loss in Atlanta, managing to cover the spread as 2.5-point underdogs. Meanwhile, the Chiefs secured a hard-fought 17-10 win over the Chargers, just covering a 6.5-point spread. Currently, Kansas City is favored by 5.5 points at home. Fans can catch the action starting at 8:15 PM from Arrowhead Stadium, broadcast on ESPN.
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Saints Struggle to Regain Momentum
The Saints kicked off the season with an impressive start, scoring 47 points against the Panthers and following it up with a 44-point effort against the Cowboys. However, they have since stumbled, losing their last two games. In their latest match, New Orleans held the lead until the final moments when the Falcons managed a 58-yard field goal, snatching victory from defeat. Taysom Hill contributed two rushing touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win.
Head coach Dennis Allen expressed his disappointment, stating, “Those are the kind of losses that rip your heart out. I know we’ve got a good football team in that locker room. Now, we have to play better. We can’t spot a team 14 points — a good team — and expect to win those type of games.” Quarterback Derek Carr has averaged 206 passing yards, maintaining a 72.0% completion rate, with a 6-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio. In the loss to Atlanta, he threw for 239 yards but failed to reach the end zone, adding one interception to his tally. Alvin Kamara remains the focal point of the Saints’ offense, leading with 362 rushing yards and 174 receiving yards, with seven total touchdowns to his name. His standout performance came against the Cowboys, where he rushed for 115 yards and three touchdowns. Chris Olave has emerged as the top wide receiver with 20 receptions for 265 yards, while Rashid Shaheed is close behind with 252 yards on 15 catches.
New Orleans currently leads the league in scoring with an average of 31.8 points per game, while their defense ranks sixth, allowing just 17.5 points. However, linebacker Demario Davis is listed as questionable for the game due to a hamstring injury. Safety Tyrann Mathieu has contributed significantly with two of the team’s six interceptions and 16 tackles. Carl Granderson stands out as their top edge rusher with three sacks, and cornerback Alontae Taylor leads the team with 3.5 sacks from corner blitzes.
Injury Report:
Questionable: TE Taysom Hill, C Cesar Ruiz, LB Demario Davis, LB Willie Gay, S Tyrann Mathieu.
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Chiefs Maintain Undefeated Streak
As Week 5 approaches, only two teams remain unbeaten in the NFL: the Kansas City Chiefs and the Minnesota Vikings. The Chiefs, who are two-time defending champions, have had a challenging road, winning all four matches by a margin of seven points or less. They are dealing with injuries among key players, with Isiah Pacheco and Rashee Rice on the injured reserve, and Mecole Hardman and Kareem Hunt listed as questionable. Last week, Kansas City edged out the Chargers on the road, thanks in part to Travis Kelce’s standout performance, where he recorded 89 yards on nine receptions.
In his eighth season, quarterback Patrick Mahomes continues to impress, averaging 226.0 yards per game with a completion rate of 68.6% and a 6-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Notably, Mahomes has thrown at least one interception in each game this season. Carson Steele may see an increased role, as he has gained 105 yards at an average of 3.8 yards per carry. If Kareem Hunt is ready to play, he is expected to start after rushing for 69 yards against the Chargers. With Rashee Rice sidelined, Xavier Worthy has stepped up as the primary receiver, achieving 154 yards and two touchdowns in just his fifth career game. Meanwhile, Travis Kelce has 14 receptions for 158 yards but is still seeking his first touchdown of the season.
The Chiefs rank 14th in the league for scoring, averaging 23.0 points per game, while their defense is ranked seventh, allowing 18.0 points per game. Defensive lineman Chris Jones leads the team with three sacks and has forced one fumble. The defense has recorded eight sacks so far but has only one interception, courtesy of safety Chamarri Conner. Linebacker Nick Bolton leads the team in tackles with 27.
Injury Report:
Questionable: RB Kareem Hunt, WR Mecole Hardman, DE Mike Danna.
Isiah Pacheco and Rashee Rice have recently been added to the injured reserve, while Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Hollywood Brown have been on the injured reserve throughout the season.
Smart Bets for Saints vs. Chiefs Showdown
The Chiefs remain undefeated, but all their victories have been closely contested. Their inability to dominate opponents suggests that betting on the Saints to cover the spread might be wise. Despite the belief that Kansas City boasts a formidable offense due to Patrick Mahomes, the statistics tell a different story. The Saints have emerged as the league’s top-scoring team, while the Chiefs sit at 14th in scoring. Mahomes is currently without his top offensive weapons, leading to uncharacteristic play and five interceptions alongside six touchdown passes this season. While Chris Jones is a top-tier pass rusher, the best strategy against such a player is utilizing screen passes, an area in which Alvin Kamara excels. Kamara is likely to contribute significantly both on the ground and through the air, opening up opportunities for Carr and his wide receivers. Given that the Saints scored over 40 points in their first two games, it’s unlikely they will be stifled by the Chiefs’ defense, especially with Mahomes lacking the necessary support to dominate this matchup.
