Just In: Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes will Thrives Without Rashee Rice

Just In: Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes will Thrives Without Rashee Rice

Just In: Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes will Thrives Without Rashee Rice

The Chiefs improved to 5-0 with a 26-13 win over the Saints (2-3) that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score indicated.

Here are five takeaways from Kansas City’s dominant win.

Travis Kelce is all right

For all the handwringing over Kelce’s slow start to the season, he showed the Chiefs have nothing to worry about with a strong first half against the Saints. He had eight receptions for 67 yards by halftime. The eight catches were as many as he had in Weeks 1-3 combined.

He was responsible for arguably Kansas City’s best offensive play, catching a pass on a third-and-22 late in the second quarter and pitching it to running back Samaje Perine, who gained enough yards to allow the Chiefs to go for it on fourth down, which they converted.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes spread the ball around more in the second half, but Kelce’s performance is a sign that Kansas City can rely on him when it needs him the most.

Injuries have derailed once-promising Saints season

New Orleans was a solid playoff contender after two weeks. However, injuries have threatened to turn their once-promising season into a lost one. Unless they find whoever’s been sticking pins in their Voodoo doll, the Saints might be cooked.

The offense sorely missed do-it-all weapon Taysom Hill (rib), while center Erik McCoy’s absence (groin) has been just as catastrophic. The Saints haven’t been able to run the ball successfully since McCoy was injured early in Week 3 against the Eagles.

 

For a team that predicates itself on running the ball — per ESPN’s “MNF” broadcast, New Orleans ranked first in run rate (55 percent) through Week 4 — its inability to manufacture offense on the ground has directly led to its offensive struggles.

Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo is on thin ice

Adebo’s penalties have become a major liability.

He’s been flagged seven times already in 2024, including last week against the Falcons to set up Atlanta’s game-winning field goal.

Adebo made up for his pass interference against Chiefs rookie wideout Xavier Worthy with a nice pass breakup on Khalen Saunders’ goal-line interception, but his inconsistencies are maddening.

With Marshon Lattimore, Alontae Taylor and 2024 second-round pick Kool-Aid McKinstry, the Saints have depth at the position. Head coach Dennis Allen has been stubbornly patient with Adebo, but if he continues taking two steps back with every one step forward, he might force Allen’s hand.

Patrick Mahomes will be fine without wide receiver Rashee Rice

Plenty was made this past week about how the Chiefs offense might struggle without second-year wideout Rice, who has become integral to Kansas City’s passing attack but is expected to miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury.

Instead, Mahomes looked better than he has all season.

He finished the win 28-of-39 for 331 yards and an interception on Saunders’ incredible play.

As ESPN’s Benjamin Solak noted, Mahomes’ 216 first-half passing yards were his most in a first half since Week 7 of the 2023 regular season.

Against the Saints, Mahomes made wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who wasn’t good enough to earn a roster spot on the talent-deficient Patriots, look like a legitimate No. 1 option. He had seven receptions for 130 yards, his first game with at least 130 receiving yards since 2018.

Chiefs have a Jawaan Taylor problem

Mahomes’ brilliance masks most of Kansas City’s deficiencies. But even he can’t cover the stench emanating from the right side of the line. Taylor had a bad first half, being flagged twice. His first was for a false start, and his second-quarter hold took a touchdown off the board, contributing to Kansas City’s unsightly 2-of-7 finish in red zone offense.

“He’s got to fix it,” head coach Andy Reid said of Taylor’s penalty issues before Week 5.

After Monday night, Taylor remains a work in progress.

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