Chiefs 24-26 Saints (Aug 13, 2023) Game Recap
NEW ORLEANS — — When Derek Carr completed placing on his uniform earlier than his preseason debut with the New Orleans Saints, he could not assist however be struck by the sight of himself in black and gold — as an alternative of the Raiders’ silver and black he’d worn for all of his earlier 9 NFL seasons.
“It could look bizarre, but it surely felt proper,” mentioned Carr, the Saints’ high free agent acquisition. “I simply really feel refreshed. I really feel rejuvenated. And to place that uniform on and are available out and be a Saint, it felt actually good.”
Carr threw a landing cross on his opening collection and rookie Blake Grupe kicked a 31-yard discipline objective as time expired to elevate the Saints to a 26-24 victory over the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on Sunday within the opening exhibition recreation for each golf equipment.
Chiefs star QB Patrick Mahomes began however took simply 5 snaps earlier than Kansas Metropolis’s first drive ended with a failed fourth-and-1 play on a direct snap to order tight finish Blake Bell.
“We had been slightly flat at first. You may’t do this,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid mentioned. “You come to work able to go.”
That is what Carr did. He seemed snug taking his first dwell snaps in his new offense, finishing six of eight passes for 70 yards throughout his solely drive.
Aftrer twice rolling away from strain on first-down completions to tight finish Juwan Johnson and working again Alvin Kamara, Carr capped the 12-play, 80-yard drive with a 4-yard cross to Keith Kirkwood because the receiver crossed the again of the top zone.
“I used to be fired up as a result of now I get to maneuver and work on my stuff in a dwell situation,” Carr mentioned. “It was satisfying as a result of these are the realest reps it will get. Like, they will hit me on the market.”
With backups within the recreation for each groups, the Saints rallied late.
After rookie Jake Haener’s 2-yard scoring cross to working again Ellis Merriweather pulled the Saints inside 24-23 with 1:20 to go, New Orleans’ 2-point conversion try for the lead went awry on a botched shotgun snap.
However Saints defensive finish Kyle Phillips tipped Chris Oladokun’s third-down cross and caught the deflection on the Kansas Metropolis 22 to arrange the successful kick.
“You may’t end with a mistake and that’s a horrible method to finish the factor,” Reid mentioned. “It appears to be like just like the Saints have an excellent soccer staff. We’ve acquired to verify we get our stuff taken care of.”
Jameis Winston relieved Carr after the Chiefs’ fourth-down failure and drove New Orleans 48 yards in 4 performs for a 14-0 lead on a 29-yard cross excessive of the secondary to rookie receiver A.T. Perry. A sixth-round draft pick of Wake Forest, Perry was New Orleans’ main receiver with six catches for 70 yards.
Blaine Gabbert performed many of the first half for Kansas Metropolis and pulled the Chiefs inside 17-7 on a 1-yard fade to Richie James within the nook of the top zone. Saints defensive backs Alontae Taylor and Bradley Roby appeared to have a miscommunication on the play, leaving James uncovered.
James’ TD got here a couple of performs after he’d crushed Taylor on a 43-yard catch deep into Saints territory.
Kansas Metropolis third-stringer Shane Buechele threw for 155 yards and a pair of scores, the primary on a 15-yard cross over the center to Justyn Ross.
Buechele put the Chiefs in entrance 21-17 when he escaped two close to sacks, stepped ahead and located Kekoa Crawford in the course of the top zone.
“That escape was good after which the throw was good and the catch was good,” Reid mentioned. “Throughout, that was a fairly good play.”
Chiefs receiver Nikko Remigio, a rookie out of Fresno State, caught 4 passes for 71 yards.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS
The Chiefs had three sacks, with Drue Tranquill, Chamarri Conner and Danny Shelton every getting one. Linebackers Zach Baun and Ty Summers every had sacks for the Saints.
Kahlef Hailassie, a rookie out of Western Kentucky, made a leaping seize to intercept Haener alongside the sideline. Saints backup security Ugo Amadi intercepted Buechele on a ball tipped by Taylor.
INJURIES
Saints: RB Kendre Miller left the sport within the third quarter and coach Dennis Allen mentioned he has a sprained knee. Miller was a third-round draft alternative out of TCU who, if wholesome, is anticipated to be within the combine for snaps throughout Kamara’s three-game suspension to begin the season.
Chiefs: Reid mentioned reserve cornerback Nic Jones fractured “a pair fingers” and that fellow reserve defensive again Anthony Witherstone had a toe harm. Reid mentioned he was not sure if Jones would want surgical procedure or may return with a solid.
UP NEXT
Chiefs: At Arizona on Saturday.
Saints: Go to the Los Angeles Chargers on Aug. 20.
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