Kansas City is just what the doctor ordered for the Saints, who end their winless streak on the road defeating the Chiefs 30-20. The win puts the Saints even at 5-5 and back in contention for the playoffs, QB Drew Brees led the Saints with 266 passing yards a touchdown and a interception.

The game started out well for the Chiefs, they held the Saints to a punt and a interception on their first two drives and took the lead 7-0 on their second drive with a six yard Thigpen to Bowe touchdown pass. The Saints answered back with a 9 play 47 yard drive that was finished off with a 30 yard Garrett Hartley field goal. The Chiefs started their next drive deep in their own territory which set up New Orleans with nice field position at the K.C. 43.

The Saints would take advantage of the short porch finding the end zone three and a half minutes later on a Deuce McAllister one yard touchdown run, giving the Saints the lead at 10-7. The lead would not hold for long as Tyler Thigpen directed a 14 play eight minute drive highlighted by a 42 yard Will Franklin reception.


The Chiefs would move the ball all the way to the one yard line but were unable to punch it in with three opportunities and had to settle for a 20 yard Connar Barth field goal. The field goal marathon would continue on the very next drive as the Saints took the took the rest of the 2nd quarter to answer back with a three pointer of their own to put them back on top 13-10.

The Chiefs started out the 2nd half out with a three and out that set the Saints up with great field position once again as they started out on their own 48. Turk McBride would jump off sides on the Saints first play giving them 2nd and five from the K.C. 47.

Brees took advantage of the situation hitting Lance Moore for a 47 yard touchdown and gave the Saints their first 10 point lead of the game at 20-10. K.C. would come back to pull within a possession as Thigpen led the Chiefs back inside the five yard line but again would be stopped with three shots, the Chiefs would settle for a 21 yard Connar Barth field goal. The Saints would extend their lead to 14 points at 27-13 after a one yard Pierre Thomas touch down dive set up by his own 21 yard reception the previous play.

Unfazed by the 14 point defect, Thigpen calmly led the Chiefs down the field going four for five passing and ran for a 32 yard scramble on fourth and three. The drive was culminated in a five yard touchdown catch by Dwayne Bowe to pull the Chiefs back within a score at 27-20.

After holding the Saints to three and out the Chiefs had their chance to tie the ballgame but would come up short when on third an two from the Saints 40 yard line Mark Bradley dropped a Tyler Thigpen pass that hit him right between the numbers. The Saints next drive would put the nail in the coffin with a 35 yard Garret Hartley field goal to give them the advantage 30-20. On the ensuing drive in a fit of desperation on 4th down Thigpen would throw his first interception in over 160 attempts and the Saints would run out the clock to finish it off 30-20.


Grading the Keys to the Game


Work L.J. back into the lineup:

I credit offensive coordinator Chan Gailey with developing a new wrinkle to the spread offense he has been running to incorporate L.J. The “Pistol” formation consisted of L.J. lining up behind Thigpen in the shotgun as opposed to either side of the QB. Larry did well early and even took some direct snaps out of the wildcat formation. He finished with 19 carries for 67 yards which does not look that impressive but he ran hard made some people miss and did not get a lot of playing time after the chiefs fell down by 10.

Grade: C+

Shutdown the Saints passing attack:

The Chiefs were unable to get any kind pass rush all game long and allowed Drew Brees to sit in the pocket and pick the Chiefs apart all day. The defense also gave up the big play again on the 47 yard Lance Moore touchdown and the missed tackle bug also showed up again today. The defense did come up with one turnover on a Jarrod Page interception but it was on a route in which receiver Devery Henderson fell down. The D did not give up a ton of yards thru the air but were unable to get the stops when they needed them.


Grade: D+

Eliminate the unnecessary mistake:

Six penalties, a interception, dropped passes, turnovers, blown coverages, muffed kickoffs that led to poor field position. The Chiefs made their fair share of mistakes in this ball game but were still able to keep it close. Easily their sloppiest game since Tennessee routed them the Chiefs had their chances and this game would have been a lot closer had the mistakes been eliminated.

Grade: D-