5 Saints who need to thrive in Week 5 vs. Chiefs

The New Orleans Saints are in a tough situation entering Week 5. They lost their last two games, and absolutely need a win, but they’re set to play a road game against the back-to-back defending champion Kansas City Chiefs. Going into Arrowhead is the last thing you want when you need a get-right game.

However, those are the cards that’ve been dealt to New Orleans, so the team needs to put together a complete game and get the job done. While the Chiefs are 4-0, they have played in all one-score games, and look a bit vulnerable. So the Saints can definitely pick up a win, but it’s going to take some big performances.

3. Saints need Alontae Taylor to thrive against the Chiefs

Alontae Taylor has been one of the best players for New Orleans to start the season and the team will need that to continue in Week 5. Taylor will likely draw the responsibility of covering Travis Kelce, and the Kansas City tight end can be a handful.

Kelce got off to a slow start this season, catching eight passes for 69 yards in the first three games combined. In Week 4, though, he looked more like his old self, catching seven passes for 89 yards.

Him rounding into form is exactly what the Chiefs need, as they are dealing with multiple injured receivers. With a thin wide receiver group, Kelce will likely be a big part of Kansas City’s offensive plan, and Alontae Taylor will be tasked with preventing a classic Travis Kelce performance.

2. Saints need big games from Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed in Week 5

One thing Kansas City has excelled at to start the season is stopping the run. After four games, the Chiefs are allowing just 99 yards a game, and 3.8 yards a carry, which is tied for third best in the league. They’ll be challenged in Week 5 with New Orleans’ productive run game.

If Kansas City can slow down Alvin Kamara and company, the Saints will need the wide receivers to step up. That means Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed will need to get open and make catches. The shouldn’t be a problem, though, because both third-year receivers have been doing just that already this season.

1. Saints need Carl Granderson and Chase Young to be good against the Chiefs

When people talk about how dangerous the Chiefs are, they often talk about Mahomes Magic. Mahomes Magic is just Patrick Mahomes escaping the pocket to extend the play. Typically, once he breaks contain, he can run around long enough until something good happens for his team.

Like many magic tricks, though, if you look closely enough, you can see how it works. Mahomes capitalizes off bad defensive line play. Once opposing defensive lines allow him to break contain, the defense is in trouble.

Saints defensive ends Carl Granderson and Chase Young must be ready to keep Mahomes in the pocket, and either get him down on the ground or get the ball quickly out of his hand. If they can’t apply pressure, or be disciplined in their rush lanes, it’ll be a long day for New Orleans’ defense.

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