In a battle between two of the NFL’s premier teams, the Kansas City Chiefs traveled to New Orleans to battle the Saints. Exchanging blows all game long, the reigning Super Bowl champions jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead in a defensive-filled first half. Battling back in the game’s final 30 minutes thanks to the return of Drew Brees, the Saints were able to pull within a field goal late in the game. Finding running backs Latavius Murray and Alvin Kamara for scores in the second half, the 41-year-old was ultimately too sporadic to knock of Patrick Mahomes and company on this day. Kansas City advanced to 13-1 and look to capture the top seed in the AFC for a second straight season. In a game that featured 49 first downs and nearly 700 yards of total offense, here’s what happened in this one.
Why the Saints Lost
Sluggish in the opening 30 minutes of the game, the high powered New Orleans passing attack was unable to find any rhythm early on. Beginning the game with four straight punts, the team managed just 16 total yards in the first quarter as they struggled to fill the absence of star receiver Michael Thomas. Finishing the game with 234 passing yards and two scores, Brees was able to shake off the rust in the second half. However, the 41-year-old completed less than half his passes while tossing his fourth interception of the season in the process. Steve Spagnuolo’s group was able to hold star running back Kamara to just 54 yards on the ground. His unit also harassed a New Orleans receiving core that struggled to get open down the field.
On the field for an extended period over the first two quarters of the game, Dennis Allen’s group allowed passing scores to both Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. Making Mahomes and company feel it all game long, the group sacked the reigning Super Bowl MVP four times. They were led by defensive end Trey Hendrickson who registered two quarterback takedowns. However, after star pass rusher Cameron Jordan was ejected from the game with 13:50 remaining in the game’s final quarter for throwing a punch, the Saints defense could not get the Chiefs off the field in crucial moments. Ultimately proving to be too much, Mahomes finished the day 26-47 for 254 yards and three touchdowns. Rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire led the way on the ground with 79 rushing yards on 14 carries before leaving the game due to injury.
Why the Chiefs Won
Maintaining their lead atop the AFC, the Chiefs were able to limit the possessions of Brees and the Saints offense by keeping them off the field. Winning the time of possession battle 41:14-18:46, the Chiefs ran the ball over 40 times. Efficient in the red zone after struggling to cash in drives over the past few weeks, Mahomes found Hill and Kelce for scores in the first half before finding speedster Mecole Hardman late in the third quarter for a five-yard score.
At their best, after a strip-sack by Hendrickson on Mahomes pulled the Saints to within seven, the team would orchestrate one of their best drives of the day. Using ten plays and bleeding more than five minutes off the clock, Kansas City was able to move the ball deep into New Orleans territory and get a Harrison Butker 22-yard field goal to put the game out of reach.
The defense was a bright spot for Kansas City all game long despite the number of points they allowed. The Chiefs played bend-don’t-break defense and kept Brees off the field for a large portion of the game. Led by young cornerbacks L’Jarius Sneed and Charvarius Ward, the team set the tone early in the secondary after an interception of the Saint’s star quarterback on the game’s fourth drive. Finishing the game allowing 15 first downs, Spagnuolo’s group held New Orleans to 1-11 on third downs in one of their finest showings of the season.
Highlights
.@PatrickMahomes to @Cheetah to open the scoring in New Orleans. #ChiefsKingdom
📺: #KCvsNO on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/4dWJuGxOxQ pic.twitter.com/yb2aLFXIN3— NFL (@NFL) December 20, 2020
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Don’t blink or you’ll miss this @PatrickMahomes TD pass. #ChiefsKingdom
📺: #KCvsNO on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/4dWJuGxOxQ pic.twitter.com/6kFPmPqB91— NFL (@NFL) December 20, 2020
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Latavius Murray takes the short pass to the HOUSE.#Saints take the lead!
📺: #KCvsNO on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/4dWJuGxOxQ pic.twitter.com/oH9e4R9iGE— NFL (@NFL) December 20, 2020
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With just two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Chiefs will return home next week to battle Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons. Losers in week 15, the Falcons have struggled all season long to put teams away, leading to a 4-10 record. Able to lock up the number one seed in the AFC with a victory, expect Andy Reid‘s group to come out all business in a game they should be heavily favored in. Remaining in the hunt for a bye in the NFC, the Saints head home to battle the Minnesota Vikings on a short week as they square off in a rare Christmas day game in the NFL.
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Main Credit Image: Embed from Getty Images
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