by Monday Night Football! Just those three words make every NFL fan’s heart beat faster!
The new orleans saints vs kansas city chiefs match player stats would tell an amazing story about power, pressure, and playoff dreams on the line.
Arrowhead Stadium lit up like a Christmas tree. Over 73,000 fans screaming their lungs out. Two teams ready to battle under the bright Monday night lights!
The Kansas City Chiefs were undefeated and trying to keep their perfect season alive. They had won four straight games, all by tiny margins. Could they make it five?
The New Orleans Saints arrived with something to prove. They’d started the season hot with two wins, then lost two straight. This game could save their season or send them spiraling downward.
The weather was perfect for football — 70 degrees with barely any wind. The field looked pristine. The atmosphere was electric with anticipation!
Both quarterbacks were superstars. Patrick Mahomes for Kansas City, a two-time MVP who makes magic happen. Derek Carr for New Orleans, a veteran gunslinger trying to lead his new team to glory.
The Chiefs had a defense that was shutting down everyone. The Saints had weapons everywhere on offense. Something had to give!
Fans across America tuned in expecting fireworks. They’d get drama, big plays, injuries, and moments they’d remember for years. This wasn’t just another Monday night — this was a statement game!
New Orleans Saints vs Kansas City Chiefs Match Player Stats
Who would rise to the challenge? Who would crack under the pressure? The stage was set for an unforgettable night of football!
Also Check: Minnesota Vikings Vs Chicago Bears Match Player Stats
Game Overview and Energy at Arrowhead Stadium
When and Where:
- Date: October 7, 2024
- Location: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Time: Monday Night Football primetime
- Attendance: 73,592 screaming fans!
- Weather: Perfect — 70 degrees, light wind
Arrowhead Stadium is one of the loudest stadiums in the entire NFL. When the Chiefs play at home, opposing teams can barely hear their own play calls!
The crowd was absolutely electric from the opening kickoff. Red jerseys everywhere. Chiefs Kingdom was ready to support their defending champions!
This was Week 5 of the 2024 season. Kansas City was 4-0, riding high. New Orleans was 2-2 after a rough couple of weeks. They needed this win badly!
What Made This Game Special:
The Chiefs were going for 5-0, which is huge! Starting a season 5-0 puts you in a great position for the playoffs. Every game matters, but staying undefeated is special.
The Saints were desperate. Lose this game, and they’d be 2-3 with momentum going the wrong direction. Win it, and suddenly they’re back in business at 3-2!
Monday Night Football means the whole country is watching. No other games on TV. All eyes on you. That pressure can make players do amazing things or crumble completely!
The Atmosphere:
Imagine being in that stadium! The roar when the Chiefs run onto the field. The chants echo through the night. The smell of hot dogs and popcorn. The nervous energy before kickoff!
Both teams knew this was a measuring-stick game. Could the Saints hang with the best team in football? Could the Chiefs keep their perfect season alive against a desperate opponent?
The stage was set. The lights were on. Time to play football!
Also Check: Baltimore Ravens Vs Steelers Match Player Stats
Patrick Mahomes’ Magic Night
Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in football right now. Everyone knows it. He’s won Super Bowls. He’s made impossible throws. He’s the guy defenses fear most!
Mahomes’ Stats for the Night:
| Category | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Completions/Attempts | 28 out of 39 |
| Passing Yards | 331 |
| Touchdowns | 0 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Passer Rating | 86.6 |
| Rushing Yards | 22 |
Wait, Zero Touchdowns?
You read that right! Mahomes threw for 331 yards but ZERO touchdown passes! That’s really unusual for someone as good as him!
He spread the ball around to eight different receivers. He completed 28 of 39 passes. He moved the offense up and down the field. But they couldn’t punch it into the end zone through the air!
What Made His Night Special Anyway:
Even without touchdown passes, Mahomes controlled the game perfectly. He kept drives alive when they should’ve died. He scrambled for 22 rushing yards when receivers were covered.
When New Orleans’ defense pressured him, Mahomes escaped. When they dropped back in coverage, he found open receivers underneath. He always made the right decision!
His only interception wasn’t really his fault. He threw it to JuJu Smith-Schuster at the goal line, but the ball hit his receiver’s hands and bounced into a defender’s arms. Bad luck, not a bad throw!
Simple Explanation:
Think of Mahomes like a basketball point guard. He doesn’t always score himself, but he controls the game, makes great passes, and sets up his teammates for success. That’s what he did Monday night!
He completed 72% of his passes (28 out of 39). That’s excellent accuracy! Most NFL quarterbacks would love to complete 70% of their throws in any game!
Mahomes also got sacked only twice. New Orleans’ defense was coming after him hard, but he either threw quick passes or scrambled away from trouble!
Also Check: Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Match Player Stats
Eight Receivers, One Quarterback
Mahomes didn’t just throw to one or two guys. He spread the ball around to EIGHT different receivers! That makes it impossible for defenses to focus on stopping just one player!
Top Receivers for Kansas City:
| Player | Catches | Yards | Long | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JuJu Smith-Schuster | 7 | 130 | 50 | 0 |
| Travis Kelce | 9 | 70 | 21 | 0 |
| Mecole Hardman | 4 | 33 | 15 | 0 |
| Xavier Worthy | 3 | 25 | 18 | 0 |
| Noah Gray | 2 | 29 | 15 | 0 |
JuJu Smith-Schuster’s Big Night:
JuJu caught 7 passes for 130 yards! This was his first 100-yard game in almost TWO FULL YEARS! He’d gone 24 games without reaching 100 yards — that’s a long drought!
His longest catch went for 50 yards! Picture him catching the ball, breaking a tackle, and sprinting downfield with defenders chasing him! That play set up a crucial score later!
Travis Kelce, the Reliable:
Kelce caught 9 passes on 10 targets! That means Mahomes threw to him 10 times, and he caught 9 of them! That’s 90% — incredible hands!
Kelce is Mahomes’ safety blanket. When plays break down and nothing’s working, Mahomes looks for Kelce. And Kelce always seems to get open!
He gained 70 yards, moving the chains consistently. Not flashy, just steady, reliable football. That’s what makes great tight ends special!
Xavier Worthy’s Big Moment:
Worthy is a rookie (first-year player). He only caught 3 passes for 25 yards. But he scored the touchdown that sealed the win!
He ran the ball on an end-around play for 3 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter. That score put Kansas City up big and essentially ended the game!
Why Spreading the Ball Matters:
When eight different guys catch passes, defenses can’t just double-team one receiver. They have to defend everyone, which creates more opportunities!
It’s like playing basketball against a team where everyone can shoot. You can’t just guard one player — you have to guard them all!
Also Check: Philadelphia Eagles vs Los Angeles Rams Match Player Stats
Kareem Hunt’s Big Comeback
This was an emotional night for Kareem Hunt!
Hunt used to play for Kansas City years ago. They released him. He played for other teams. Then this season, when the Chiefs’ starting running back got hurt, they brought Hunt back!
Hunt’s Performance:
| Category | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Carries | 27 |
| Rushing Yards | 102 |
| Average Per Carry | 3.8 |
| Touchdowns | 1 |
| Long Run | 8 yards |
His First 100-Yard Game in Four Years!
Hunt rushed for 102 yards! That’s huge! He hadn’t rushed for 100 yards in a single game since 2020 — four full years!
He carried the ball 27 times. That’s a LOT of carries! It means Kansas City trusted him to handle the heavy workload!
The Emotional Moment:
After Hunt scored his touchdown in the first quarter, he made a heart gesture with his hands toward the crowd. He was showing Kansas City fans how much their support meant to him!
The crowd went absolutely crazy! They loved seeing one of their old heroes come back and succeed!
Why His Performance Mattered:
Hunt averaged 3.8 yards per carry. That’s not spectacular, but it’s solid. He consistently gained 3-4 yards on first down, which kept drives moving.
Think of it this way: If you gain 4 yards on first down, you only need 6 more yards on the next two plays to get a first down. That’s manageable!
Hunt’s physical running style wore down New Orleans’ defense. By the fourth quarter, they were tired from tackling him 27 times! Tired defenses make mistakes!
Also Check: Cleveland Browns vs Denver Broncos Match Player Stats
Derek Carr’s Effort and Injury
Derek Carr is a tough veteran quarterback who’s been in the NFL for years. He played for the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders for a long time before joining New Orleans!
Carr’s Stats Before Getting Hurt:
| Category | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Completions/Attempts | 18 out of 28 |
| Passing Yards | 165 |
| Touchdowns | 2 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Passer Rating | 89.1 |
What Happened:
Carr was playing decent football despite getting pressured constantly. Kansas City’s defense was in his face on almost every throw!
He threw two touchdown passes, which kept New Orleans in the game. One went 43 yards to Rashid Shaheed — a beautiful deep ball! The other went to Foster Moreau for 6 yards!
Then, with 9 minutes and 30 seconds left, disaster struck!
The Injury:
On a fourth-down play, a Chiefs defender blitzed (rushed) free and crashed into Carr. He hurt his oblique muscle (that’s in your side/torso area).
An oblique injury makes it incredibly painful to throw a football. You use those muscles to twist and generate power on throws. Carr tried to play through it but couldn’t!
Backup quarterback Jake Haener came in. He went 2-for-7 for only 17 yards. He wasn’t ready for that moment!
Carr’s Milestones:
Even though New Orleans lost, Carr hit some career milestones:
- His 250th career touchdown pass!
- He passed 40,000 career passing yards!
Those are huge achievements! But they got buried under the loss and injury. That’s football — individual success doesn’t matter if the team loses!
Simple Explanation:
Imagine playing with a pulled muscle. Every movement hurts. That’s what Carr was dealing with. He’s tough for even trying to keep playing, but quarterbacks need to be healthy to throw accurately!
Saints’ Passing Game Struggles
Without Carr at full health, New Orleans’ passing attack struggled to move the ball consistently!
Top Saints Receivers:
| Player | Catches | Yards | Average | Touchdowns | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rashid Shaheed | 4 | 86 | 21.5 | 1 | 43 |
| Alvin Kamara | 6 | 40 | 6.7 | 0 | 14 |
| Juwan Johnson | 5 | 31 | 6.2 | 0 | 11 |
| Foster Moreau | 2 | 13 | 6.5 | 1 | 7 |
| Chris Olave | 2 | 10 | 5.0 | 0 | 6 |
Rashid Shaheed Was the Bright Spot:
Shaheed caught 4 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. His 43-yard touchdown catch was gorgeous! He beat his defender deep and Carr dropped a perfect pass into his hands!
He averaged over 21 yards per catch! That’s explosive! When you average that much, you’re a home-run hitter!
Where Was Chris Olave?
Chris Olave is New Orleans’ best receiver. He caught only 2 passes for 10 yards! Kansas City’s defense took him completely out of the game!
When your best weapon disappears, your offense becomes predictable. Defenses can focus on stopping everyone else!
Alvin Kamara Couldn’t Run:
Kamara is one of the NFL’s best all-around backs. He can run AND catch passes!
He only rushed for 26 yards on 11 carries. That’s 2.4 yards per carry — terrible! Kansas City’s defensive line dominated the line of scrimmage!
But Kamara did catch 6 passes for 40 yards. At least he contributed something in the passing game!
Total Team Rushing:
New Orleans rushed for only 46 yards on 15 carries as a team. That’s 3.1 yards per carry!
Simple math: When you average 3 yards per carry, you can’t sustain drives. You’re always facing third-and-long (needing lots of yards for a first down). That’s when defenses pin their ears back and rush the passer!
Chris Jones: The Defensive Star
Chris Jones is a defensive tackle for Kansas City. That means he plays on the defensive line, usually in the middle!
The stat sheet says Jones only made 2 tackles. But that doesn’t tell the real story!
Jones’ Real Impact:
According to Pro Football Focus (a company that grades every player on every play), Jones had 9 quarterback pressures!
What’s a pressure? That’s when a defensive player gets close to the quarterback and disrupts his throw. Even if you don’t sack him, you make him uncomfortable!
Jones earned a 93.2 grade from Pro Football Focus. That was the HIGHEST grade for any defensive lineman in Week 5 across the entire NFL!
How He Dominated:
Jones was beating up New Orleans’ center (Lucas Patrick) and guards all night long!
The center got graded 28.1 by PFF. The guard got graded 32.2. Those are AWFUL grades! Jones destroyed them on almost every play!
Why This Matters:
When you create pressure up the middle (not from the edges), quarterbacks can’t step up in the pocket. They have to bail out sideways or backward. That ruins their throwing motion!
Carr had to rush throws. His timing routes got disrupted. He couldn’t plant his feet and fire accurate passes!
Other Chiefs Defenders:
| Player | Tackles | Solo | Sacks | QB Hits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Bolton | 11 | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| Jaylen Watson | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Drue Tranquill | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Trent McDuffie | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Nick Bolton made 11 tackles! He was flying around making plays everywhere! He also earned a 90.8 grade from PFF — excellent performance!
The entire Kansas City defense pressured Saints quarterbacks on 50% of dropbacks! That means every other time Carr dropped back to pass, someone was in his face!
Saints’ Defense: Good But Not Enough
New Orleans’ defense actually played pretty well for most of the game! They made big plays and kept their team close!
Top Saints Defenders:
| Player | Tackles | Solo | Sacks | QB Hits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demario Davis | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Anfernee Orji | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Johnathan Abram | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Khalen Saunders | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Khalen Saunders’ Amazing Interception:
This was the play of the game for New Orleans!
Khalen Saunders is a HUGE defensive tackle — 324 pounds! That’s massive! Most guys that big can barely run!
Mahomes threw toward the goal line. The ball was tipped. Saunders caught it and started running!
He ran 37 yards before getting tackled! A 324-pound man running 37 yards is hilarious and awesome!
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Saunders reached a top speed of 15.79 miles per hour! That’s the third-fastest speed ever recorded by a player over 320 pounds since they started tracking in 2016!
Why This Play Mattered:
The interception saved a touchdown! Instead of Kansas City scoring and going up big, New Orleans got the ball back!
They drove down the field and scored a touchdown to make it 16-13. Suddenly, it was a close game again!
The Problem:
After that big play, New Orleans’ defense couldn’t get another stop when they really needed one!
Kansas City answered right back with a touchdown. Then the Saints’ offense couldn’t do anything after Carr got hurt!
The defense only sacked Mahomes twice all game. That’s not enough against one of the best quarterbacks ever!
Red Zone Struggles for Chiefs
Kansas City had a weird problem Monday night. They moved the ball easily between the 20-yard lines. But once they got close to the end zone, they couldn’t score touchdowns!
Red Zone Stats:
| Team | Trips Inside 20 | Touchdowns | Field Goals | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 7 | 2 | 4 | 29% |
| Saints | 1 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
What This Means:
Kansas City got inside the 20-yard line (the “red zone”) seven times! That’s a lot of chances to score!
But they only scored touchdowns on 2 of those 7 trips. The other 4 times, they kicked field goals!
Simple math: Touchdowns are worth 7 points (with the extra point). Field goals are only worth 3 points. Kansas City left a lot of points on the field!
The Worst Red Zone Failure:
In the third quarter, Kansas City drove all the way to New Orleans’ goal line (the 1-yard line!). They were about to score!
Mahomes threw to JuJu Smith-Schuster in the end zone. The ball hit Smith-Schuster’s hands but bounced off. Khalen Saunders caught it for the interception!
That was a disaster! Instead of scoring 7 points, Kansas City gave the ball to New Orleans near midfield!
Why Field Goals Add Up:
Even though they struggled in the red zone, Kansas City kicker Harrison Butker made 4 field goals. That’s 12 points from field goals alone!
Those 12 points proved important. If Kansas City had failed on all those red zone trips, New Orleans might’ve won!
Key Moments That Changed the Game
Every football game has 3-5 plays that decide the outcome. Here are the biggest moments from Monday night:
- 1. Bryan Cook’s Opening Drive Interception
Kansas City safety Bryan Cook picked off Derek Carr on New Orleans’ opening drive! They hadn’t even finished one possession before turning it over!
Why it mattered: This put New Orleans behind immediately. Playing from behind changes everything — you can’t run the ball as much, you take more risks, and the defense knows you’re passing!
- 2. Kareem Hunt’s First Quarter Touchdown
Hunt scored on a 5-yard run to give Kansas City a 7-0 lead. The crowd went crazy! The Chiefs had early momentum!
Why it mattered: Scoring first in football is huge. It forces the other team to play catch-up all game!
- 3. Khalen Saunders’ Goal Line Interception
We already talked about this one! Saunders’ pick gave New Orleans life when they were getting dominated!
Why it mattered: This saved a touchdown and led directly to New Orleans scoring to make it 16-13!
- 4. Blake Grupe’s Missed Extra Point
After New Orleans scored to make it 16-13, kicker Blake Grupe missed the extra point!
Why it mattered: Missing that kick kept it 16-13 instead of 16-14. That one point seemed small but became huge later!
- 5. Xavier Worthy’s Touchdown Run
After New Orleans cut it to 16-13, Kansas City needed an answer. Rookie Xavier Worthy ran for a 3-yard touchdown to make it 23-13!
Why it mattered: That score essentially ended the game! New Orleans couldn’t come back from 10 points down with their backup quarterback playing!
New Orleans Saints vs Kansas City Chiefs Match Player Stats Summary Table
Let’s look at all the important numbers side by side!
Complete Game Stats:
| Category | New Orleans Saints | Kansas City Chiefs |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 220 | 460 |
| First Downs | 14 | 28 |
| Plays Run | 51 | 80 |
| Time of Possession | 20:04 | 39:56 |
| Third Down % | 40% (4/10) | 43% (6/14) |
| Fourth Down % | 0% (0/2) | 100% (1/1) |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Penalties | 5-70 | 6-55 |
What Jumps Out:
Kansas City had 460 total yards! New Orleans only had 220 yards! That’s more than DOUBLE!
The Chiefs ran 80 plays compared to only 51 for the Saints! More plays mean more chances to score!
Kansas City controlled the ball for almost 40 minutes! New Orleans only had it for 20 minutes! That’s a 2-to-1 advantage!
Why These Numbers Matter:
When one team dominates time of possession like this, it means their defense stays fresh (they’re not on the field much) and the opponent’s defense gets exhausted (they’re on the field constantly)!
Both teams turned it over once, so turnovers were even. But Kansas City capitalized on theirs while New Orleans couldn’t!
New Orleans failed BOTH fourth-down attempts! Kansas City succeeded on their one try! Those crucial downs often decide games!
What This Game Means Going Forward?
For Kansas City (Now 5-0):
The Chiefs proved they can win even when not playing perfectly! They had red zone struggles but still dominated the game!
What they learned:
- Their defense is elite (held Saints to 220 yards!)
- Kareem Hunt can carry the load at running back
- They can win grinding games, not just shootouts
What they need to fix:
- Red zone offense must improve for the playoffs
- Can’t rely on field goals forever
- Need to score touchdowns inside the 20
For New Orleans (Now 2-3):
The Saints learned some harsh lessons on Monday night. They got dominated in almost every way!
What went wrong:
- The offensive line couldn’t protect Carr or create running lanes
- Lost their starting quarterback to injury
- Couldn’t stop Kansas City’s offense at all
What they need to do:
- Get Carr healthy ASAP (backup wasn’t ready)
- Fix offensive line problems immediately
- Find ways to get Chris Olave the ball more
The Bigger Picture:
Kansas City stayed undefeated and looked like Super Bowl favorites again. They control games, make fewer mistakes, and have championship experience!
New Orleans fell to 2-3 and faced an uphill battle. With Carr hurt, their playoff hopes were in danger!
The next week, New Orleans had to host Tampa Bay in a crucial division game. Lose that one, and their season might be over at 2-4!
Kansas City just kept rolling, building confidence and momentum toward another playoff run!
Conclusion: Football Is More Than Just Winning
The New Orleans Saints vs Kansas City Chiefs Match Player Stats tell the story of one team dominating another in almost every way!
Kansas City controlled the ball, racked up 460 yards, and won comfortably. Patrick Mahomes didn’t throw any touchdown passes, but he controlled the game perfectly anyway!
Kareem Hunt came back and gave Chiefs fans a moment they’ll never forget — his first 100-yard game in four years and that heart gesture to the crowd!
New Orleans fought hard despite being outmatched. Derek Carr threw two touchdowns before getting hurt. Khalen Saunders made an incredible interception. The defense tried their best!
But sometimes in football, one team is just better on that particular night. Kansas City was better — in the trenches, in the coaching booth, and in execution!
What We Learned:
Football teaches us about perseverance. Kareem Hunt kept grinding for four years to get another chance. He took it!
It teaches us about adversity. Derek Carr got hurt but tried to keep playing through pain. That’s toughness!
It teaches us about teamwork. Kansas City had eight different receivers catch passes. Everyone contributed!
The Heart of the Game:
Yes, the Chiefs won easily. Yes, the stats were lopsided. But both teams left everything on the field!
Football isn’t always fair. Injuries happen. Bounces don’t go your way. Missed field goals and dropped passes change outcomes!
But that’s why we love it! Every week brings new drama, new heroes, and new lessons about fighting through tough times!
Kansas City moved to 5-0 and looked unstoppable. New Orleans fell to 2-3 and had to regroup quickly. That’s the NFL — one week you’re up, the next you’re down!
Both teams would face bigger challenges ahead. Both would need to grow and improve. That’s the beautiful thing about football — there’s always another game, another chance, another opportunity to show what you’re made of!
The New Orleans Saints vs Kansas City Chiefs Match Player Stats showed one team’s dominance, but they also showed both teams’ heart, effort, and determination to compete at the highest level! 🏈
