The Kansas City Chiefs’ pursuit of a three-peat took a major hit when leading receiver Rashee Rice suffered a knee injury, following a collision with star quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
The injury bug hasn’t been kind to the Chiefs: Rice is out for the year. So is receiver Hollywood Brown (shoulder). Starting running back Isiah Pacheco is sidelined for two months after breaking his leg in Week 2.
To make matters worse, star tight end Travis Kelce has been blanketed by defenses and off to one of the worst starts of his career.
But the show must go on for Mahomes, coach Andy Reid and the three-time Super Bowl champions looking for their fourth title in Chiefs history.
Kansas City hosts the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football tonight.
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Derek Carr and the Saints put the NFL on notice with a 44-19 win on the road against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2, but they have lost their past two games (15-12 to Philadelphia Eagles and 26-24 to the Atlanta Falcons).
So a trip to Kansas City in Week 5 isn’t ideal for New Orleans, but the Saints have a chance to measure themselves against the champs Monday night.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Week 5 Monday Night Football game today:
The Chiefs host the Saints on Monday night at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri at 8:20 p.m. ET.
The game between the Saints and Chiefs will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
The Monday Night Football game can be streamed on ESPN and on Fubo.
The Chiefs (-225) are the moneyline favorites over the Saints (+185) with an over/under set at 42.5 points and a 5.5-point spread, according to BETMGM.
Mahomes hasn’t lit it up yet so far in with opposing defenses playing two-high safety sets to keep the Chiefs’ star in front of them. He has six touchdowns, five interceptions, and ranks 11th with 904 yards through the first four games. The Chiefs are still off to a 4-0 start but must manage the season without Rice, who had 24 catches for 288 yards and three touchdowns before his injury. Kelce is second of the team with 15 catches for 158 yards and no touchdowns.
Carr came out of the gate with three touchdown passes in the season opener against the Carolina Panthers, threw two touchdowns in Week 2, one in Week 3 and none in Week 4. He has thrown for 824 yards with six touchdown passes to five different players, but he hasn’t been effective enough in the Saints’ 2-2 start. It’s Carr’s second season as Saints starter on a veteran-laden team that could compete for a playoff spot this season.
Kamara broke out with a four-touchdown performance against the Cowboys in Week 2, but has scored just one touchdown (against the Falcons last week) in the past two games. Still, Kamara sits atop the NFL with 536 yards from scrimmage and six total touchdowns through the first four games. If the Saints have any chance to beat the Chiefs on Monday night, they will need Kamara to shake free and be the big-time playmaker he is in prime time.
