SportsOctober 8, 2024

Patrick Mahomes shines with 331 yards as Chiefs defeat Saints 26-13. Derek Carr exits with injury. Chiefs' defense stifles Saints' offense, while Taylor Swift cheers from the stands.

DAVE SKRETTA, Associated Press
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)ASSOCIATED PRESS
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Mason Tipton (84) is stopped by Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna (51) during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Mason Tipton (84) is stopped by Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna (51) during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws over New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Bryan Bresee (90) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws over New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Bryan Bresee (90) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) runs pas New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) runs pas New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)ASSOCIATED PRESS
New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (50) intercepts a pass in the end zone during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (50) intercepts a pass in the end zone during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) is forced out of bounds by New Orleans Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo after catching a pass during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) is forced out of bounds by New Orleans Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo after catching a pass during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kansas City Chiefs running back Samaje Perine, left, is stopped by New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Samaje Perine, left, is stopped by New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)ASSOCIATED PRESS
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws over Kansas City Chiefs nose tackle Mike Pennel (69) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws over Kansas City Chiefs nose tackle Mike Pennel (69) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, right, scrambles away from New Orleans Saints defensive tackle John Ridgeway III during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, right, scrambles away from New Orleans Saints defensive tackle John Ridgeway III during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)ASSOCIATED PRESS
New Orleans Saints Rashid Shaheed, left, is congratulated by wide receiver Chris Olave after scoring during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
New Orleans Saints Rashid Shaheed, left, is congratulated by wide receiver Chris Olave after scoring during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)ASSOCIATED PRESS
New Orleans Saints Rashid Shaheed, left, catches a touchdown pass as Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook (6) defends during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
New Orleans Saints Rashid Shaheed, left, catches a touchdown pass as Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook (6) defends during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)ASSOCIATED PRESS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 331 yards, Kareem Hunt ran for 102 yards and a touchdown, and the Chiefs overcame more red-zone woes Monday to beat the New Orleans Saints 26-13 on a big night for Kansas City's professional sports teams.

Just as the Chiefs were moving to 5-0 behind another defensive gem, the Royals were beating the Yankees in Game 2 of their AL Division Series in New York. There were frequent chants of “Let's go Royals!” throughout the game, and when the Royals finished off a 4-2 victory to send the series back to Kansas City tied a game apiece, a roar ripped through Arrowhead Stadium.

There were plenty of roars for the Chiefs, too. Rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy scored another touchdown, and their defense shut down old Raiders rival Derek Carr while dealing the Saints (2-3) their third consecutive defeat.

Carr threw for 185 yards with two touchdowns and a pick before leaving with an oblique injury. It occurred with about 9 1/2 minutes left, when Carr was hit on a fourth-down incompletion as he tried to rally New Orleans from a 23-13 deficit.

The Saints' Alvin Kamara managed 26 yards rushing on 11 carries, becoming the latest high-profile running back to struggle against the Chiefs. They held the Ravens' Derrick Henry to 46 yards rushing, Zack Moss of the Bengals to 34, Falcons star Bijan Robinson to 31 and J.K. Dobbins to 32 in last week's win over the Chargers.

The first half Monday night featured a bit of everything: Hunt's first TD since returning to Kansas City, where his once-promising career was derailed by an off-the-field incident; a 43-yard touchdown pass from Carr to Rashid Shaheed, the shortest of the three Shaheed has caught this season; and yet another lateral by Travis Kelce, which came on the most bizarre of drives.

The Chiefs were leading 10-7 when a fumbled pitch and a holding penalty left them facing second-and-34. They got some of it back on a pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster, and then Mahomes hit Kelce over the middle. Kelce lateraled to Samaje Perine, who got within a yard of a first down, and Kansas City converted the fourth-and-short play to set up an eventual field goal.

It was exactly that — field goals — that kept New Orleans in the game, though. The Chiefs have struggled to score TDs in the red zone all season, and they were forced to let Harrison Butker kick a trio of chip shots to lead 16-7 at the break.

Their red-zone woes continued in the third quarter. On second-and-goal, Smith-Schuster had a pass bounce off his hands at the goal line and into the arms of 324-pound former Chiefs defensive tackle Khalen Saunders, who made his first career interception.

The Saints promptly marched 65 yards with Foster Moreau's TD catch getting them within 16-13 with 14:16 to play.

But unlike every other game for the Chiefs, which had been decided in the final minutes — if not the final play — they answered the blow by delivering one of their own. Smith-Schuster hauled in a 50-yard pass moments later, and Worthy took a handoff on first-and-goal at the 3 for a touchdown that extended their cushion early in the fourth quarter.

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After the Chiefs stopped the Saints on fourth down, they tacked on another field goal with 3:03 left.

Tay-Tay returns

Taylor Swift was back at Arrowhead Stadium to see Kelce and the Chiefs after missing her boyfriend's previous two road games. She resumes her record-setting Eras Tour on Friday night with the first of three shows in Miami.

Injuries

Saints: CB Will Harris hurt his hamstring in the first half. C Lucas Patrick left briefly in the third quarter with a collarbone injury,

Chiefs: LT Wanya Morris left in the first half with a lower leg injury but returned to the game.

Up next

New Orleans hosts Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Kansas City has a week off before visiting San Francisco on Oct. 20.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

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