Chiefs’ keys vs. Saints: With sudden OL concerns, protecting Mahomes a renewed priority
An NFL heavyweight showdown is set for Week 15 when the Chiefs travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints (10-3) at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
The matchup marks the 12th regular-season meeting between the two teams, with the Chiefs (12-1 this season) holding a slight 6-5 edge in the all-time series against the Saints (10-3). Their most recent meeting occurred in Week 7 of the 2016 season, when the Chiefs secured a 27-21 win at Arrowhead Stadium.
Sunday’s game might provide a preview of what’s to come this postseason ... and arguably what should’ve happened in 2018. Unfortunately, questionable officiating in the NFC and AFC title games doomed a potential Chiefs-Saints Super Bowl LIII.
Both teams provide a who’s-who of All-Pros, Pro Bowlers and NFL record-holders to set the table for one of the league’s most anticipated games of the year.
Here are four key areas to monitor for the Chiefs as they chase the AFC’s No. 1 seed for the playoffs.
PROTECT THE FRANCHISE
There’s nothing wrong with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is 100 percent healthy. The same, however, can’t be said about Mahomes’ offensive line, where both starting tackles missed practices late this week.
Eric Fisher and Mike Remmers are dealing with back ailments, and their availability for Sunday is unclear. The depth behind them? Suspect, at best.
In the event Remmers can’t play, the Chiefs could turn to rookie Yasir Durant, who filled in at right tackle in Week 14 after Remmers left the game. Outside of Durant, a Mizzou Tigers product, the Chiefs might have to get creative if Fisher can’t play, perhaps by moving right guard Andrew Wylie to tackle, or starting a reserve offensive lineman such as Martinas Rankin.
The state of the Chiefs’ O-line is extra-important because of the opponent. The Saints’ defense ranks at or near the top of numerous statistical categories, including total yards allowed per game (second), rushing (second), yards allowed per play (third), points allowed per game (fourth) and, of course, sacks.
Led by pass rushers Trey Hendrickson, who has a team-high 10.5 sacks, and five-time Pro Bowler Cam Jordan, the Saints rank seventh as a team with 36.
“This is probably one of the best defenses that we have faced all season long,” Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy said. “And I mean, they’re deep at every position, so this is going to be a very unique challenge.”
For Mahomes to run the Chiefs’ high-powered offense effectively, he will need time in the pocket with ample protection from his tackles, especially on his blind side.
PACK THE BOX
With Drew Brees to start, get ready for pinpoint accuracy. The future Hall of Famer holds numerous all-time passing records.
The Saints also have an All-Star cast at their skill positions, in running backs Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray, wide receivers Michael Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders and tight end Jared Cook.
Saints coach Sean Payton collected those weapons with Brees in mind. In Weeks 1-10, before Brees was sidelined for a month with rib and lung injuries, the Saints averaged 30.1 points per game.
From Weeks 11-14 with backup Taysom Hill under center, they averaged 24.2.
“They’ve got talent really all over the place,” Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu said.
CAPITALIZE ON RED-ZONE TRIPS
The Chiefs’ woes in the red zone are well-documented: They currently score TDs on just 57.1 percent of their trips inside an opponent’s 20-yard line.
While most of their red-zone issues can be easily erased by Mahomes and Co.’s big-play abilities, the Chiefs might actually catch a break in Week 15 if they find themselves knocking on the door of the end zone.
The Saints rank 26th in red-zone touchdown percentage (66.7), which could set up well for running backs Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Le’Veon Bell near the goal line.
Yes, the Saints rank second against the run, allowing just 89.2 yards per game. But the Chiefs shouldn’t shy away from their ground game, especially if the Saints’ defense sells out to stop the pass.
PACK THE A-GAME
On paper, there really aren’t many glaring weakness for the Saints, especially with Brees back in action. On special teams, New Orleans boasts kicker Wil Lutz and punter Thomas Morstead, two of the best in the league..
Worse, the Chiefs are catching an angry Saints team that’s coming off an upset loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. That defeat dropped the Saints into a tie with the Green Bay Packers in the race for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The Packers currently own the tiebreaker edge over the Saints, so Sunday is a must-game game for New Orleans.
It’s a big one for KC too, of course — in the race for the AFC’s No. 1 seed, the Chiefs are clinging to a slim one-game advantage over the Pittsburgh Steelers (11-2).
In recent weeks, the Chiefs have jumped out to big leads only to be forced to hang on for dear life in the fourth quarter. That simply can’t happen Sunday against a dangerous and playoff-bound Saints team.
This story was originally published December 18, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
