KANSAS CITY, Mo. — If Sunday's game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New Orleans Saints was a Super Bowl preview, football fans might be in for a treat.
In a physical game in which Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was sandwiched in a hard hit and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire had to be helped off the field with a lower body injury, the Chiefs persisted in knocking off the Saints, 32-29.
With the win, the Chiefs maintained their control of the top seed in the AFC and moved to 13-1 on the season. The road win capped a perfect 8-0 season away from Arrowhead Stadium.
The Chiefs return home for the final two games of the season, which includes a game next Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.
Regarding Edwards-Helaire's injury, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters after the game that the rookie running back's x-rays came back negative.
Mahomes finished the day with three touchdowns, going 26-47 for 254 yards. After throwing three interceptions last week against the Miami Dolphins, Mahomes avoided any interceptions Sunday, though did fumble the ball in the fourth quarter as part of the Saints' pass rush.
UPDATE, 6:55 p.m. | GAME UPDATE: The Kansas City Chiefs held off the New Orleans Saints 32-29 Sunday to move to 13-1 on the season.
UPDATE, 6:46 p.m. | SCORE UPDATE: The Saints have responded with a touchdown to cut into the Chiefs lead. The Chiefs now lead 32-29.
UPDATE, 6:40 p.m. | SCORE UPDATE: The Chiefs add to their lead following a Butker field goal. They now lead 32-22 late in the 4th.
UPDATE, 6:37 p.m. | INJURY UPDATE: Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is assisted off the field following an injury.
UPDATE, 6:28 p.m. | SCORE UPDATE: A Chiefs turnover leads to a Saints touchdown. Chiefs maintain 29-22 lead halfway through the 4th quarter.
UPDATE, 6:15 p.m. | SCORE UPDATE: The Chiefs convert to open the 4th quarter with a Travis Kelce touchdown. The extend their lead to 29-15 over the Saints.
UPDATE, 6:08 p.m. | GAME UPDATE: The Chiefs maintain a 21-15 lead entering the 4th quarter.
UPDATE, 5:41 p.m. | SCORE UPDATE: A Mahomes to Hardman touchdown has given the lead back to the Chiefs. They lead the Saints 21-16 halfway through the 3rd quarter.
UPDATE, 5:31 p.m. | SCORE UPDATE: Saints march down the field to open the second half scoring and take a 15-14 lead over the Chiefs.
UPDATE, 5:08 p.m. | Game day: Chiefs lead 14-9 heading into halftime.
UPDATE, 4:33 p.m. | SCORE UPDATE: The Saints are on the board with a touchdown. The Chiefs lead is 14-7 early in the second quarter.
UPDATE, 4:15 p.m. | SCORE UPDATE: The Chiefs add 7 more thanks to a touchdown pass between Mahomes and Kelce. They take a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter.
UPDATE, 4:11 p.m. | The Chiefs lead the Saints 7-0 after one quarter of play.
UPDATE, 3:54 p.m. | SCORE UPDATE: The Chiefs are first on the board, turning a Saints INT into a Mahomes to Hill touchdown. Chiefs 7-0 in the first quarter.
UPDATE, 3:25 p.m. | The game has started with the Chiefs receiving the ball first.
UPDATE, 2:30 p.m. | The Chiefs have announced their inactive players for today's game:
CB BoPete Keyes
RB Darwin Thompson
LB Damien Wilson
OT Mike Remmers
TE Ricky Seals-Jones
DE Tim Ward
DT Khalen Saunders
EARLIER | When the Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints kickoff at 3:25 p.m. today, it won’t be in primetime, but it’s most certainly big time.
A game that could be a Super Bowl preview will be seen across nearly all of the country, as the Chiefs (12-1) try to cap off a perfect 2020 road schedule against the Saints (10-3).
The Chiefs are winners of eight in a row, and thanks to last week’s win over the Miami Dolphins, pocketed yet another AFC West division crown. The Chiefs lead the pack in trying to secure the top seed in the AFC.
The Saints meanwhile are looking to regain momentum after failing to the Philadelphia Eagles last week.
In this week’s 4th and 1 Podcast, host Tod Palmer and analyst Nick Jacobs outline the steps the Chiefs will need to take to leave New Orleans with their 13th win of the season.
On Saturday, the Chiefs announced that offensive lineman Mike Remmers won’t play in today’s game, joining linebacker Damien Wilson, who was ruled out on Friday. Tackle Eric Fisher was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report, but was listed as a full participant in Friday’s practice.
Also on Saturday, Deandre Baker, Emmanuel Smith and Stefen Wisniewski were activated from the practice squad, and wide receiver Byron Pringle was active from injured reserve.
The Saints’ hopes were buoyed this week as starting quarterback Drew Brees returned to the practice field after several weeks of recovery from a rib injury. However, the team also learned that star wide receiver Michael Thomas won’t play again in the regular season.
Sunday’s game marks the first time that Chiefs rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire returns to Louisiana, where he played college football for LSU.
Edwards-Helaire told the media on Friday that it “means everything” for him to be able to return.
Sunday’s game gives Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce another chance to add to his record breaking performance this season. Kelce is 128 yards away from setting the single-season record for most receiving yards by a tight end.
Earlier this week, 41 Action News sports anchor Hayley Lewis had a one-on-one interview with linebacker Anthony Hitchens about what it takes to lead the defense under second-year defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
