The lights at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium were blindingly bright for Week 5 of the 2024 season. Everyone expected a shootout. Instead, we got a clinic in ball control and a reminder that the Kansas City Chiefs don't always need Patrick Mahomes to throw five touchdowns to beat you. If you’re looking for the quick answer, the final Saints vs Chiefs score was 26-13 in favor of Kansas City.
But honestly? That score doesn't even begin to tell the whole story of how lopsided this game felt for about forty of the sixty minutes played.
Kansas City moved to 5-0. The Saints, meanwhile, plummeted to 2-3 after a hot start to the year that suddenly felt like a distant memory. It was a Monday Night Football game that left Saints fans worried about more than just the loss column, specifically the health of their quarterback.
The Numbers Behind the Saints vs Chiefs Score
Looking at the box score is kinda like looking at a crime scene. You see the result, but the evidence shows exactly how it went down. Kansas City basically lived on the field. They had the ball for nearly 40 minutes. 39:56 to be exact. That is an absurd amount of time to keep a defense out there.
New Orleans only had the ball for 20:04. You aren't winning many NFL games when the other team doubles your time of possession.
Kansas City racked up 460 total yards. The Saints? Just 220. It was a strangulation. Patrick Mahomes was efficient, if not explosive, finishing with 331 yards through the air. He didn't throw a touchdown, which is rare for him, but he didn't need to. Kareem Hunt, back in a Chiefs uniform like it was 2017, carried the rock 27 times for 102 yards and a touchdown.
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How the Game Unfolded
The Chiefs jumped out early. They led 7-0 after the first quarter and pushed that to 16-7 by halftime. It felt like every time New Orleans tried to breathe, the Kansas City defense—led by Chris Jones and a stifling secondary—shut the door.
Derek Carr did manage to find Rashid Shaheed for a massive 43-yard touchdown in the second quarter. It was one of those "maybe they have a chance" moments. Shaheed has that gear that most humans just don't possess. But that was about it for the highlight reel in the first half for the visitors.
The Big Interception and the "What If" Moment
Early in the third quarter, things got weird.
Patrick Mahomes threw a pass that was intercepted in the end zone by Khalen Saunders. Now, Saunders is a 324-pound defensive tackle. Seeing a man that size pick off a ball and rumble 37 yards down the sideline is why we watch football. It was pure chaos.
New Orleans turned that turnover into points. Carr hit Foster Moreau for a 6-yard touchdown. Suddenly, the Saints vs Chiefs score was 16-13. The stadium got a little quiet.
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But the Chiefs are the Chiefs. They don't panic. They responded with a methodical drive that ended with a 3-yard touchdown run by Xavier Worthy. The rookie's speed is a cheat code, and it basically put the game out of reach at 23-13. A late Harrison Butker field goal iced it.
The Derek Carr Injury
The worst part for New Orleans wasn't the loss. It was seeing Derek Carr walk off the field late in the game. He sustained an oblique injury on a fourth-down pass attempt and didn't return.
Before he left, he’d actually hit a few milestones:
- Passed 40,000 career passing yards.
- Threw his 250th career touchdown.
Small wins in a big loss. Jake Haener came in to finish the game, but by then, the energy had been sucked out of the Saints' sideline.
Key Player Performances
It’s worth noting that JuJu Smith-Schuster looked like his old self. He caught seven passes for 130 yards. With Rashee Rice out, someone had to step up, and JuJu was that guy. Travis Kelce also had a heavy workload, grabbing nine catches for 70 yards. He didn't find the end zone, but he was the chain-mover Mahomes needed.
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On the New Orleans side, Alvin Kamara was completely neutralized. The Chiefs held him to 26 rushing yards on 11 carries. When you take Kamara out of the equation, the Saints' offense becomes very one-dimensional, and that dimension usually involves throwing deep to Shaheed and praying.
Final Game Stats at a Glance
- Total Yards: Chiefs 460, Saints 220
- First Downs: Chiefs 28, Saints 14
- Turnovers: Both teams had 1 interception
- Rushing Yards: Chiefs 139, Saints 46
Why This Game Mattered
For Kansas City, this was about proving they could win ugly. They weren't "clicking" in the way people expect a dynasty to click, yet they were 5-0. They dominated the line of scrimmage and played elite defense.
For the Saints, it was the start of a tailspin. Losing three in a row is tough; losing your starting quarterback in the process is a nightmare. It exposed the lack of depth on the offensive line and the inability to establish a run game against top-tier competition.
If you’re tracking the Saints vs Chiefs score for historical purposes, this was the 13th time these teams met. Kansas City now leads the all-time series 8-5. The Saints haven't beaten the Chiefs since 2008. That’s a long drought.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're a bettor or a fantasy manager, there are a few things to take away from this performance:
- Watch the Injury Reports: Oblique injuries for quarterbacks are tricky. If Carr misses time, the entire Saints offense (especially Olave and Shaheed) takes a massive hit in fantasy value.
- Kareem Hunt is RB1: As long as Isiah Pacheco is out, Hunt is the engine of this rushing attack. 27 carries is a huge workload.
- Chiefs Defense is Legit: They are a "must-start" in most fantasy leagues regardless of the matchup. They held the league's top-scoring offense (at the time) to just 13 points.
- Next Matchups: Check the upcoming schedule for both teams. The Chiefs headed into a bye week after this, giving them time to get healthy, while the Saints had to prepare for a divisional clash with the Buccaneers.
You should keep an eye on the official NFL transaction wire for updates on the Saints' quarterback situation, as a move for a veteran backup often follows a primary starter's oblique injury. Additionally, review the "All-22" film if you have access to NFL+; watching how Steve Spagnuolo used his safeties to bracket Chris Olave explains why the Saints' passing game felt so stagnant after the first quarter.