By Ross Jackson
The outlook of the New Orleans Saints’ season has shifted rapidly after their blazing hot start out of the gate this year.
This Week 5 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football could be an undeniable way to shift the narrative back to the positive. One defensive strength for New Orleans could be the key in getting that done.
While the Chiefs are a strong team, one of the two remaining undefeated clubs in the league, they have had some issues turning the ball over. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has thrown five interceptions over their first four games, with at least one in each. He is currently on pace to set his career high in interception percentage.
The Saints, on the other hand, have been excellent at taking the ball away. While the Chiefs have wrestled their way into a -4 turnover differential (tied for third-worst in the league), the Saints have produced a +3 count (tied for the third-best total). New Orleans also sits at No. 2 in interceptions forced while Kansas City is good for No. 2 in interceptions thrown.
If New Orleans finds a way to upset the Chiefs in primetime, this could be one of the largest contributing factors. In order to maximize this opportunity, getting star defenders like safety Tyrann Mathieu and linebacker Demario Davis back on the field healthy will be key. The Saints and Chiefs have not met much as of late, so their unfamiliarity with one another could lead to some extraneous play that tips the scales in the favor of a chaotic game. The Saints welcome that environment while eyeing an upset
The Saints and Chiefs have only met once since Mahomes was the starting quarterback for Kansas City. That 2020 game ended in a 29-32 loss for New Orleans. Saints signal caller Derek Carr has a lot of experience against the AFC West, but he holds a 3-14 career record against the Chiefs. Only one of those wins came against Mahomes.
The fact of the matter is that this win will be a tall task for New Orleans. But the Saints’ propensity to force turnovers could be a gamechanger in their favor when paired with the Chiefs issues giving the ball away. The Saints need to change the negative narrative that’s building about them, and this could be their best chance early in the season.
