This is the silver lining to the Saints three-point loss against the Chiefs

The Defensive Struggles

The Saints allowed Kansas City to get out to a 14-0 lead.

Highly unusual for a Saints team who has played great defense since week four of this season, the Saints allowed the Chiefs to rush for 179 yards in the game. We expected MVP candidate Patrick Mahomes to have a decent day against the Saints.

Mahomes showed why he’s probably the best QB in the game with sidearm passes, shovel passes, and throws into places that only he and maybe Aaron Rodgers today can fit footballs in.

Mahomes made spectacular plays, but the Saints honestly didn’t do a bad job against him. Mahomes passed for 254 yards and three touchdowns.

The yards were hard-earned and the Black and Gold did get to Mahomes for four sacks on the day. And this was from a very fatigued unit who faced Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, and company for 92 snaps on the day.

The issue for the defense all day seemed to be first down. KC did a lot of their damage on first downplays. The Saints were then trying to hold instead of dictate the rest of the downs. Tough way to play all game.