The Kansas City Chiefs take on the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football in Week 5. Patrick Mahomes and company look to stay undefeated on the year against the 2-2 Saints. With both teams looking like Super Bowl contenders early on, it is surely the NFL’s game of the week.
The Chiefs are dealing with injuries and will be up against a motivated Saints team in Week 5. Here are three keys to victory that could help the Chiefs beat the Saints in their primetime matchup.
Chiefs vs. Saints Preview: 3 Keys to Victory for the Chiefs in Week 5
Chiefs Can Rely On Kareem Hunt in Run Game
Kareem Hunt has only been with the Chiefs for two weeks. However, he is arguably one of their best players on offense heading into Week 5. The former first-round pick returned to Kansas City after Isiah Pacheco fractured his fibula in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Last week’s performance against the Los Angeles Chargers suggests that Hunt can carry the load while Pacheco recovers.
Hunt rushed 14 times for 69 yards, averaging nearly 5 yards a carry. He also had two catches for 16 yards. On a day when the offense struggled, Hunt was one of the few consistent contributors who helped the Chiefs secure the win last Sunday.
The Chiefs will need an uptick in offense to keep up with the Saints on Monday night. The Saints enter the game as the NFL’s highest-scoring offense, while the Chiefs’ offense has struggled the past two weeks. With such a thin receiving group, establishing the run is essential. Fortunately, Kareem Hunt has already proven he can be trusted with a heavy workload.
Can Chiefs Rookies Step Up in Week 5?
Injuries have forced rookies Xavier Worthy and Carson Steele into starting roles much earlier than expected. Although they have shown great playmaking potential, their inconsistency has hurt the Chiefs’ offense. Worthy and Steele will need to step up and contribute more if the team is to have success on Monday Night.
Xavier Worthy will be the Chiefs’ #1 receiver against the Saints in Week 5. The first-round rookie is capable of making huge plays in the passing game. He caught a 54-yard touchdown from Patrick Mahomes against the Chargers, showing off his record-breaking 4.23 speed.
On the other hand, Worthy had a lackluster day outside of that play. He caught just two other passes for 19 yards and was targeted just four times during the game. In fact, Worthy has yet to catch more than three passes in a game so far this season. That number will need to be doubled if the Chiefs get into a shootout with the Saints. If Travis Kelce continues to struggle, Worthy will be counted on to be Patrick Mahomes’ primary target.
Carson Steele got the starting nod in Week 3 and performed well against the Atlanta Falcons. However, he had an abysmal day against the Chargers, fumbling for the second time this season. This is clearly an issue Steele needs to address before he can be relied on in important situations.
Ruin the Homecoming Celebration
Several former Chiefs players who are now with the Saints return to Arrowhead on Monday Night. Tyrann Mathieu, Khalen Saunders, and Willie Gay all played for the Chiefs at some point during the team’s recent success. After winning Super Bowls in Kansas City, they’ll receive a warm homecoming from the Arrowhead fans.
The Chiefs can’t welcome them back with the same energy. The Saints’ defense will be especially motivated to shut down Andy Reid’s offense and celebrate their return trip with a win. The Chiefs can’t get wrapped up in the emotions surrounding the game and must treat the Saints like any other opponent.
Another player making his return to Arrowhead is Saints quarterback Derek Carr. The former Oakland and Las Vegas Raider went 1-8 in divisional road games against the Chiefs. Carr now leads the #1 scoring offense in the NFL to Kansas City for his first game back since joining the Saints.
The Chiefs and Saints Week 5 matchup is one of the most important games of the early season. Not only are there huge playoff implications, but it is also a potential preview of Super Bowl LIX.
Main Image: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
