New Orleans Saints vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 2024 Week 5 Recap

Game story

In Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season on 2024-10-07, the Kansas City Chiefs took care of business against the New Orleans Saints, pulling away with a 26–13 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 19 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) paced the passing game, with +8.43 total EPA, and +10.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +8.43 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-12.6% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (12:04) 4-D.Carr pass deep right intended for 22-R.Shaheed INTERCEPTED by 6-B.Cook at KC 22. 6-B.Cook to KC 22 for no gain (22-R.Shaheed).

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 P. Mahomes · Kansas City Chiefs · Passing · +8.43 total EPA · 47 snaps · +0.18 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Kelce · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +5.15 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.52 EPA/play
3. 3 F. Moreau · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.69 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.85 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Hardman · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +2.43 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.61 EPA/play
5. 5 K. Hunt · Kansas City Chiefs · Rushing · +2.38 total EPA · 28 snaps · +0.09 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Kamara · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.99 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.25 EPA/play
7. 7 N. Gray · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +1.88 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.94 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Johnson · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.45 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Kansas City Chiefs — K. Hunt (Q1 51:40)
• New Orleans Saints — R. Shaheed (D. Carr pass) (Q2 38:43)
• New Orleans Saints — F. Moreau (D. Carr pass) (Q4 14:22)
• Kansas City Chiefs — X. Worthy (Q4 12:00)

Field goals

• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q2 42:42)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q2 31:35)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q2 31:32)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q2 30:09)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q4 3:07)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q4 3:03)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 7–0. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the NO 5 (Q1 51:40) — (6:40) (Shotgun) 29-K.Hunt right guard for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q1 51:34) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza..

The second quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 12–7. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the NO 8 (Q2 42:42) — (12:42) 7-H.Butker 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the KC 43 (Q2 38:43) — (8:43) (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass deep middle to 22-R.Shaheed for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN [51-M.Danna].; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q2 38:36) — 19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-43-M.Hayball.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the NO 16 (Q2 31:35) — (1:35) 7-H.Butker 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the KC 35 (Q2 31:32) — 7-H.Butker kicks 66 yards from KC 35 to NO -1. 21-Ja.Williams to NO 21 for 22 yards (48-C.Christiansen).; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the NO 9 (Q2 30:09) — (:09) 7-H.Butker 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza..

The fourth quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 13–6. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the KC 6 (Q4 14:22) — (14:22) 4-D.Carr pass short right to 87-F.Moreau for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the NO 3 (Q4 12:00) — (12:00) (Shotgun) Direct snap to 87-T.Kelce. 1-X.Worthy right end for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q4 11:56) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the NO 20 (Q4 3:07) — (3:07) 7-H.Butker 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the KC 35 (Q4 3:03) — 7-H.Butker kicks 65 yards from KC 35 to landing zone to end zone, Touchback to the NO 20..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• New Orleans Saints (Q1 57:04) — (12:04) 4-D.Carr pass deep right intended for 22-R.Shaheed INTERCEPTED by 6-B.Cook at KC 22. 6-B.Cook to KC 22 for no gain (22-R.Shaheed). [WPA -12.6% · EPA -4.33]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 16:54) — (1:54) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle intended for 9-J.Smith-Schuster INTERCEPTED by 50-K.Saunders (29-P.Adebo) at NO -2. 50-K.Saunders to NO 35 for 37 yards (62-J.Thuney). [WPA -9.1% · EPA -7.74]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 13:35) — (13:35) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 9-J.Smith-Schuster pushed ob at NO 14 for 50 yards (24-J.Abram). [WPA +8.5% · EPA +3.41]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 38:43) — (8:43) (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass deep middle to 22-R.Shaheed for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN [51-M.Danna]. [WPA +8.4% · EPA +4.62]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 25:18) — (10:18) 7-H.Butker 51 yard field goal is No Good, Hit Right Upright, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza. [WPA -6.6% · EPA -2.88]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 16:54) — (1:54) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle intended for 9-J.Smith-Schuster INTERCEPTED by 50-K.Saunders (29-P.Adebo) at NO -2. 50-K.Saunders to NO 35 for 37 yards (62-J.Thuney). [WPA -9.1% · EPA -7.74]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 38:43) — (8:43) (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass deep middle to 22-R.Shaheed for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN [51-M.Danna]. [WPA +8.4% · EPA +4.62]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 57:04) — (12:04) 4-D.Carr pass deep right intended for 22-R.Shaheed INTERCEPTED by 6-B.Cook at KC 22. 6-B.Cook to KC 22 for no gain (22-R.Shaheed). [WPA -12.6% · EPA -4.33]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 13:35) — (13:35) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 9-J.Smith-Schuster pushed ob at NO 14 for 50 yards (24-J.Abram). [WPA +8.5% · EPA +3.41]

Quarterback report card

P.Mahomes led all passers in efficiency for Kansas City Chiefs, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• P.Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) · 47 dropbacks · 59.6% completion · +10.1% CPOE · +0.18 EPA/play · +8.43 total EPA
• D.Carr (New Orleans Saints) · 30 dropbacks · 60.0% completion · +9.4% CPOE · -0.03 EPA/play · -0.82 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Kansas City Chiefs held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.09 vs -0.09), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Kansas City Chiefs: 10 drives, +9.15 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 10 drives, -5.96 total EPA, 2 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Kansas City Chiefs leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• P. Mahomes (KC) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• D. Carr (NO) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q1 51:40 · NO 5 · Score 0-6
   (6:40) (Shotgun) 29-K.Hunt right guard for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q1 51:34 · NO 15 · Score 0-7
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza.
3. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 42:42 · NO 8 · Score 0-10
   (12:42) 7-H.Butker 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza.
4. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 38:43 · KC 43 · Score 6-10
   (8:43) (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass deep middle to 22-R.Shaheed for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN [51-M.Danna].
5. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 38:36 · KC 15 · Score 7-10
   19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-43-M.Hayball.
6. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 31:35 · NO 16 · Score 7-13
   (1:35) 7-H.Butker 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza.
7. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 31:32 · KC 35 · Score 7-13
   7-H.Butker kicks 66 yards from KC 35 to NO -1. 21-Ja.Williams to NO 21 for 22 yards (48-C.Christiansen).
8. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 30:09 · NO 9 · Score 7-16
   (:09) 7-H.Butker 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza.
9. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 14:22 · KC 6 · Score 13-16
   (14:22) 4-D.Carr pass short right to 87-F.Moreau for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q4 12:00 · NO 3 · Score 13-22
    (12:00) (Shotgun) Direct snap to 87-T.Kelce. 1-X.Worthy right end for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q4 11:56 · NO 15 · Score 13-23
    7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza.
12. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 3:07 · NO 20 · Score 13-26
    (3:07) 7-H.Butker 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza.
13. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 3:03 · KC 35 · Score 13-26
    7-H.Butker kicks 65 yards from KC 35 to landing zone to end zone, Touchback to the NO 20.