New Orleans Saints vs Kansas City Chiefs Match Player Stats

On October 7, 2024, football fans were treated to an exciting game between the New Orleans Saints and the Kansas City Chiefs. It was a Monday Night Football match full of big plays, strong defense, and surprising moments. The Chiefs won the game 26–13, but the final score only tells part of the story.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the New Orleans Saints vs Kansas City Chiefs match player stats. We’ll break down what happened, which players stood out, and what the numbers really tell us about this matchup. Whether you missed the game or just want a full recap, this easy guide will give you everything you need to know.

Final Score and Quick Game Recap

The Kansas City Chiefs beat the New Orleans Saints with a final score of 26–13. The game took place at Arrowhead Stadium in front of over 73,000 fans. It was a cool, calm night—perfect for football.

The Chiefs were in control for most of the game. They moved the ball well, had long drives, and kept the Saints’ offense off the field. But even with 460 total yards, the Chiefs had trouble scoring touchdowns in the red zone. That gave the Saints a chance to stay close—until the fourth quarter.

The turning point came when Saints defender Khalen Saunders made a big interception near the goal line. That helped the Saints close the gap to 16–13. But the Chiefs answered right away with a quick touchdown drive that sealed the game.

Patrick Mahomes Leads with 331 Yards

Patrick Mahomes didn’t throw a touchdown in this game—but he still played great. He completed 28 of 39 passes for 331 yards. He kept the offense moving with smart throws and good decisions, even when the defense was tough.

One of Mahomes’ biggest skills is staying calm under pressure. He ran the ball six times for 22 yards when things broke down, helping his team convert on key plays. He also spread the ball to many different receivers, which made it hard for the Saints’ defense to focus on just one target.

Even though Mahomes had one interception—on a tipped pass at the goal line—he never lost control. His performance showed why he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the league, even on a night without any touchdown passes.

Kareem Hunt’s 100-Yard Comeback

Kareem Hunt had a special night. He rushed for 102 yards on 27 carries and scored the game’s first touchdown on a 5-yard run. This was his first 100-yard game in four years, making it a big personal comeback.

Hunt stepped in after starter Isiah Pacheco got hurt. And he made the most of it. He kept running hard, breaking tackles, and gaining yards even when space was tight. His runs helped the Chiefs eat up the clock and keep their drives alive.

Fans loved seeing Hunt back in action. After his touchdown, he gave a heart gesture to the crowd to show his thanks. His strong play gave the Chiefs a much-needed balance between the pass and the run.

Chiefs Receivers Share the Spotlight

One of the best things about Mahomes is how he spreads the ball around. In this game, eight different players caught passes, which shows how deep and smart the Chiefs’ offense really is.

JuJu Smith-Schuster had a huge game with 7 catches for 130 yards, including a 50-yard bomb in the second half. It was his first 100-yard game in nearly two seasons. He made big catches when the Chiefs needed them most.

Travis Kelce, Mahomes’ favorite target, caught 9 passes for 70 yards. He didn’t score, but he kept the chains moving with short, reliable catches. Rookie Xavier Worthy also made an impact—not just with 3 catches for 25 yards, but also by running the ball into the end zone for a short touchdown.

The Chiefs’ passing game looked sharp, even without scoring through the air. That’s a sign of a team that can win in many different ways.

Derek Carr’s Injury Changed Everything

The Saints’ quarterback, Derek Carr, started the game well. He completed 18 of 28 passes for 165 yards and 2 touchdowns. He kept the Saints close and even led a scoring drive in the fourth quarter that made the score 16–13.

But then something happened. Carr took a hard hit from a blitzing defender and suffered an oblique injury. He left the game with over 9 minutes left, and the Saints’ chances left with him. His backup, Jake Haener, struggled to move the ball and completed just 2 of 7 passes.

Before the injury, Carr hit a long 43-yard pass to Rashid Shaheed, and threw a short touchdown to Foster Moreau. He also passed a big milestone—250 career touchdowns and over 40,000 career yards. But sadly, those moments were lost in the bigger story of the loss and the injury.

Saints vs Chiefs: Passing Game Stats

Let’s break down the New Orleans Saints vs Kansas City Chiefs match player stats in the passing game.

• Patrick Mahomes: 331 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT

• Derek Carr: 165 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

• Jake Haener: 17 yards, 0 TD

Mahomes clearly had more yards, but Carr had more touchdowns. Still, Mahomes’ ability to move the ball up and down the field gave the Chiefs more scoring chances.

On the receiving side:

• JuJu Smith-Schuster: 130 yards

• Travis Kelce: 70 yards

• Rashid Shaheed (Saints): 86 yards and 1 TD

• Chris Olave (Saints): Just 10 yards

The Chiefs’ wide receivers had a big night. The Saints had a few big plays, but not enough to match KC’s consistency. And once Carr went out, their passing game faded fast.

Alvin Kamara Gets Shut Down

Alvin Kamara is usually one of the Saints’ most dangerous players. But in this game, the Chiefs’ defense made sure he didn’t do much. Kamara had just 26 rushing yards on 11 carries, with an average of only 2.4 yards per run.

Every time Kamara got the ball, defenders were already there. He didn’t have much space to move. He also caught 6 passes for 40 yards, which helped a little, but it wasn’t enough to make a real difference.

The Chiefs have done this before. They already stopped big-name runners like Derrick Henry and Bijan Robinson earlier in the season. Kamara became just another name on that list. These kinds of matchups are what make the New Orleans Saints vs Kansas City Chiefs match player stats so interesting to follow.

Chris Jones and Chiefs Defense Dominate

One name that really stood out on defense was Chris Jones. He didn’t have flashy numbers—only 2 tackles—but he completely took over the middle of the field. He had 9 quarterback pressures, which means he kept getting close to the QB and forcing bad throws.

Chris Jones made life hard for the Saints’ offensive line. The center and guard couldn’t stop him, and that meant Derek Carr had no time to throw. According to PFF (a football stats site), Jones got a top grade for his performance in this game.

The Chiefs’ defense also had help from Nick Bolton, who made 11 tackles. They pressured the Saints on half of their passing plays. That kind of pressure often leads to turnovers or sacks. It’s one of the big reasons Kansas City stayed in control.

Big Defensive Plays from Both Sides

Even though the Chiefs had the stronger defense overall, the Saints had one big moment. It came from Khalen Saunders, a former Chiefs player now playing for New Orleans.

He picked off Mahomes at the goal line and ran the ball back 37 yards. That play gave the Saints a spark of hope and led to a touchdown that made the score 16–13.

But after that, the defense couldn’t stop Mahomes again. They gave up a long pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster and then allowed Xavier Worthy’s rushing touchdown. That quick answer by the Chiefs took the energy away from the Saints.

New Orleans Saints vs Kansas City Chiefs Match Player Stats Breakdown

Let’s look at the full team stats from the game. These numbers show how the Chiefs were better in almost every area.

The Chiefs had more plays, more time with the ball, and more first downs. Even though they struggled in the red zone, they still managed to score 26 points. The Saints just didn’t have enough chances to keep up.

Red Zone and Third Down Performance

Red zone plays are when the offense is inside the 20-yard line. These are great chances to score touchdowns, but the Chiefs had trouble turning them into 7 points. They got inside the red zone seven times but only scored two touchdowns. They had to settle for four field goals.

Still, they kept getting close enough to score something. The Saints? They had only one red zone trip, and they did score a touchdown—but it wasn’t enough.

Third downs are also important. They keep drives alive. The Chiefs converted 6 out of 14, which is pretty solid. The Saints were just 4 of 10. Every failed third down made things harder for the Saints’ offense.

Bottom-Line

So, what do the New Orleans Saints vs Kansas City Chiefs match player stats really tell us?

The Chiefs looked like a complete team, even though they didn’t play perfectly. Mahomes didn’t throw a touchdown, but they still won by 13 points. Their defense stepped up, their run game was solid, and they made big plays when it mattered.

For the Saints, the injury to Carr hurt them badly. The backup wasn’t ready. Their run game failed. And their top wide receiver, Chris Olave, was almost invisible. Even though the defense had some good moments, it wasn’t enough to stop a deep and talented Chiefs team.

This game showed that the Chiefs know how to win, even without playing their best. And the Saints? They have some work to do—especially on offense—if they want to compete with top teams in the league.

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