The Kansas City Chiefs reminded the football world why they are the standard-bearers of the AFC with a methodical, physically imposing victory over the New Orleans Saints. In a primetime showdown at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, the New Orleans Saints vs Kansas City Chiefs match player stats highlighted a massive disparity in ball control and defensive execution. While Patrick Mahomes threw for a season-high 331 yards, it was the return of Kareem Hunt and a relentless Chiefs defense that wore down a Saints team that struggled to find its rhythm before losing quarterback Derek Carr to injury in the fourth quarter.
The Stakes: Momentum vs. Perfection
Entering Week 5, the Chiefs (4-0) were looking to maintain their perfect start despite a mounting injury list at skill positions. For the Saints (2-2), the stakes involved stopping a two-game skid and proving their high-flying offense from the first two weeks wasn’t a fluke. Fans and analysts scrutinized the new orleans saints vs kansas city chiefs match player stats to see if Alvin Kamara could puncture the Chiefs’ top-tier run defense. Instead, the game served as a clinical demonstration of the Chiefs’ “next man up” philosophy, as they dominated nearly every statistical category.
Game Flow Narrative: The Chiefs’ Slow Burn
Kansas City set the tone early with a 10-play, 78-yard opening drive capped by a Kareem Hunt touchdown. New Orleans responded with a flash of brilliance—a 43-yard bomb from Derek Carr to Rashid Shaheed—but they couldn’t sustain the momentum. The Chiefs’ defense held New Orleans to a mere 46 rushing yards all night, forcing the Saints into predictable passing situations.
The game’s most electric moment—and a statistical anomaly—came in the third quarter: Saints defensive tackle Khalen Saunders, a former Chief, intercepted Patrick Mahomes in the end zone and returned it 37 yards.1 This sparked a Saints drive that cut the lead to 16-13. However, the Chiefs responded with 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. The night ended on a somber note for New Orleans as Derek Carr exited with an oblique injury after a heavy hit, leaving the comeback attempt in the hands of backup Jake Haener.
Quick Game Facts
- Final Score: Kansas City Chiefs 26, New Orleans Saints 13
- Date & Location: October 7, 2024 | GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
- Weather: 72°F, Clear (Monday Night Football)
- Attendance: 73,400
- Time of Possession: Chiefs (39:56) | Saints (20:04)
The Statistical Core: New Orleans Saints vs Kansas City Chiefs Match Player Stats
Top Performers Comparison
| Category | New Orleans Saints | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Passer | Derek Carr (165 Yds) | Patrick Mahomes (331 Yds) |
| Rusher | Alvin Kamara (26 Yds) | Kareem Hunt (102 Yds) |
| Receiver | Rashid Shaheed (86 Yds) | JuJu Smith-Schuster (130 Yds) |
| Tackler | Paulson Adebo (10 Tot) | Nick Bolton (11 Tot) |
Team Efficiency Table
| Metric | New Orleans Saints | Kansas City Chiefs |
| First Downs | 14 | 28 |
| Total Yards | 220 | 460 |
| Passing Yards | 174 | 321 |
| Rushing Yards | 46 | 139 |
| 3rd Down Conv % | 36.3% (4/11) | 42.8% (6/14) |
| Red Zone Eff | 1-for-2 (50%) | 2-for-7 (28%) |
| Penalties | 5-70 | 6-55 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
The Quarterback Masterclass
Patrick Mahomes: The High-Volume Captain
Mahomes’ entry in the new orleans saints vs kansas city chiefs match player stats was his most prolific of the season in terms of yardage. Despite not throwing a touchdown pass and suffering a freak interception, he was the engine of an offense that gained 460 total yards. He targeted JuJu Smith-Schuster and Travis Kelce relentlessly, picking apart the Saints’ secondary with quick hitches and intermediate crosses that kept the chains moving.
Derek Carr: Efficiency Cut Short
Derek Carr was having a “tough-it-out” performance before his injury. He managed two touchdown passes despite a disappearing run game and heavy pressure. His 43-yard strike to Shaheed was a reminder of his deep-ball capability, but his night ended prematurely in the fourth quarter. He finished with 165 yards and a respectable 89.1 passer rating but was ultimately out-dueled by the Chiefs’ ability to stay on the field.
QB Stat Comparison
| Player | Comp/Att | Yards | TD/INT | Sacks | Rating | Rush Yds |
| Patrick Mahomes | 28/39 | 331 | 0/1 | 2 | 86.6 | 22 |
| Derek Carr | 18/28 | 165 | 2/1 | 1 | 89.1 | 0 |
Positional Deep Dives
The Ground War: Rushing Stats
The Chiefs welcomed back Kareem Hunt in a big way. His 102 yards provided the balance the Chiefs had been missing since Isiah Pacheco’s injury. Conversely, Alvin Kamara was held to his lowest output of the season.
| Player | Carries | Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
| Kareem Hunt (KC) | 27 | 102 | 3.8 | 1 | 8 |
| Alvin Kamara (NO) | 11 | 26 | 2.4 | 0 | 9 |
| Patrick Mahomes (KC) | 6 | 22 | 3.7 | 0 | 9 |
| Xavier Worthy (KC) | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 1 | 3 |
The Aerial Attack: Receiving Stats
JuJu Smith-Schuster had a massive “revenge” style game, leading all receivers with 130 yards. Travis Kelce also posted his best numbers of the early season.
| Player | Targets | Rec | Yards | TD | YPR |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster (KC) | 8 | 7 | 130 | 0 | 18.6 |
| Rashid Shaheed (NO) | 9 | 4 | 86 | 1 | 21.5 |
| Travis Kelce (KC) | 10 | 9 | 70 | 0 | 7.8 |
| Alvin Kamara (NO) | 8 | 6 | 40 | 0 | 6.7 |
Advanced Metrics & “The Why”
The new orleans saints vs kansas city chiefs match player stats show a staggering dominance in Time of Possession. Kansas City held the ball for nearly 40 minutes, effectively doubling the Saints’ time on the field. This “death by a thousand cuts” approach was fueled by the Chiefs’ success on first down, where they averaged 6.2 yards per play, keeping Mahomes in manageable third-and-short situations.
Read More Guide: Kansas City Chiefs Vs Steelers Match Player Stats
The Verdict
The Chiefs’ victory solidifies their position as the AFC’s most resilient team. Even without a passing touchdown from Mahomes, they found a way to win through ball security and a resurgent run game. For the Saints, the concerns are mounting. With three straight losses and an injury to Derek Carr, they must find a way to revitalize an offense that has suddenly gone stagnant.
FAQ Section
Who won the New Orleans Saints vs Kansas City Chiefs match?
The Kansas City Chiefs won the game 26-13, improving their record to 5-0.
What was the turning point of the game?
The turning point was the Chiefs’ fourth-quarter response. After the Saints cut the lead to 16-13 following a Saunders interception, the Chiefs orchestrated a 75-yard drive capped by a Xavier Worthy touchdown to reclaim a double-digit lead.
How many yards did Alvin Kamara have?
In a disappointing night for the Saints’ ground game, Alvin Kamara was held to just 26 rushing yards and 40 receiving yards, as seen in the new orleans saints vs kansas city chiefs match player stats.
Would you like me to analyze the impact of Derek Carr’s oblique injury on the Saints’ upcoming schedule, or perhaps look into JuJu Smith-Schuster’s target share moving forward?
