Week 5 of the NFL season wraps up with a dandy of a matchup between the Saints and the Chiefs on Monday Night Football. Will Kansas City stay undefeated amidst a slew of injuries, or will the Saints pull off the road upset?
We'll answer those questions and more. Check out our betting guide below for all of the info you need to make an informed decision on Saints vs. Chiefs! Good luck with all of your plays!
Oddsmakers opened this line at Kansas City -6.5, but the line was bet down to Kansas City -5.5 after the injury to star wide receiver Rashee Rice. There has been good two-way action on this game ever since that line move. The Chiefs are 4-0, but they've not blown anyone out so far this season.
As for the total, it's been sitting in the 42.5 to 43 range since being posted. While that number may look low at first glance, we have to remember that these are two very capable defenses. Both teams also have some injuries to key offensive players.
After starting out 2-0, New Orleans has dropped back-to-back games by a combined total of 5 points. The Saints are eager to get back in the W column, and what better way to do that than on Monday Night Football against the defending Super Bowl champs?
Alvin Kamara continues to be the main man on the Saints' offense, as he's racked up over 500 yards as a runner and receiver out of the backfield. The former Tennessee Vol played last week with broken ribs and is listed as questionable for this game. Most folks expect the star running back to suit up for this one.
The Saints' defense has been very good so far this season. They've only allowed 17.5 points per game and their secondary has done a great job of limiting big plays. New Orleans will have to bring its A-Game on defense against this Andy Reid-led Chiefs offense.
What's most impressive about the Chiefs' undefeated season is that they've done it despite a ton of injuries to key players. The receiving corps has been decimated by the losses of Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice. Star RB Isiah Pacheco is also on IR.
The injury list may be long, but Patrick Mahomes has already proven that he can win games no matter who he's throwing the ball to. Kansas City's offensive numbers aren't eye-popping, but they should be able to get some chunk plays with Kareem Hunt and Noah Gray.
As for the defense, Chris Jones continues to be a human wrecking ball along the KC defensive line. He already has 3 sacks this season, even with all of the double teams he's faced. Jones could make Derek Carr's life very uneasy on Monday night in Arrowhead.
I hate to lay this many points, but it's the only way I can look in this one. Sure, Kansas City has a ton of injuries, but New Orleans isn't exactly the picture of health either. The Saints have several offensive linemen who could miss this game, which means they'll have even more trouble containing Chris Jones.
I'm just not that sold on New Orleans yet. They're 2-2, but who have they beaten? They beat an awful Carolina squad in Week 1 and then blew out a highly overrated Dallas team in Week 2. This is a giant step up in class for New Orleans.
The Chiefs are the more battle-tested squad in this one. Kansas City has played the 11th toughest schedule so far, while New Orleans has only played the 25th toughest. Let's lay the points with Mahomes and Co.
Prediction: Chiefs 27 - Saints 17