Kansas City, Mo.— Quarterback Patrick Mahomes delivered a stellar performance, Travis Kelce was a reliable target, and Kareem Hunt made a triumphant return to the end zone as the Kansas City Chiefs secured a 26-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Monday night.
In a nostalgic reunion, Mahomes, Kelce, and Hunt showcased their skills together for the first time in years, as injuries had forced the Chiefs to lean heavily on this trio. Mahomes finished with 331 passing yards, Kelce led the team with nine receptions for 70 yards, and Hunt, returning after a brief hiatus, rushed 27 times for 102 yards and a touchdown.
“It felt amazing to get back in the end zone. I’ve missed it a lot,” said Hunt, who celebrated his touchdown with a heart gesture to show his love for Kansas City. “It was a special moment.”
Arrowhead Stadium buzzed with excitement, not just for the Chiefs’ performance but also as the Kansas City Royals were competing against the New York Yankees in the AL Division Series. Fans erupted in chants of “Let’s go Royals!” and erupted with joy when the Royals clinched a 4-2 victory, tying the series at one game apiece.
“There was a bit of a lull toward the end, and I was worried the Yankees might have come back,” Mahomes remarked, who has a stake in the Royals. “But they pulled it off, and it was super exciting.”
Defensively, the Chiefs stifled Saints quarterback Derek Carr, limiting him to 185 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception before he exited the game with an oblique injury. Carr was injured late in the fourth quarter when Chiefs defensive back Chamarri Conner hit him during a fourth-down play.
“I just couldn’t perform the way I needed to,” Carr said, adding that he would undergo an MRI on Tuesday.
The Saints struggled offensively, with star running back Alvin Kamara managing only 26 yards on 11 carries, continuing a trend of top backs being held in check by the Chiefs’ defense. Kansas City had previously limited notable players like Derrick Henry and Bijan Robinson to low yardage.
“We got outplayed tonight,” acknowledged Saints coach Dennis Allen. “We really struggled to get anything going.”
The first half was a mix of emotions, featuring Hunt’s first touchdown since returning to the Chiefs, a 43-yard touchdown pass from Carr to Rashid Shaheed, and an unusual lateral play from Kelce during a chaotic drive. The Chiefs, leading 10-7, faced a daunting second-and-34 after a fumble and a holding penalty. However, they regrouped, with Mahomes connecting with Kelce, who lateraled to Samaje Perine, keeping the drive alive and eventually leading to a field goal.
While the Chiefs found ways to stay in front, they struggled to convert red-zone opportunities into touchdowns, resulting in three field goals from Harrison Butker that kept the score at 16-7 by halftime.
In the third quarter, the Saints began to claw back. After an interception by former Chiefs defensive tackle Khalen Saunders, who picked off a pass that bounced off JuJu Smith-Schuster’s hands, New Orleans drove 65 yards for a touchdown, narrowing the gap to 16-13.
But the Chiefs responded decisively. Moments later, Mahomes connected with Smith-Schuster for a 50-yard gain, setting up a touchdown from Xavier Worthy, pushing the lead to 23-13 early in the fourth quarter.
After the Chiefs defense stopped the Saints on fourth down, they sealed the game with another field goal, bringing the final score to 26-13.
“It’s amazing to have the band back together,” Smith-Schuster said, reflecting on the camaraderie within the team. “There’s truly no place like this. What we have here is special, and it’s unreal.”
Up Next:
New Orleans plays Tampa Bay on Sunday at home.
Kansas City has a week off before visiting San Francisco on Oct. 20.
