One of the best NFL matchups in Week 15 features the Kansas City Chiefs (12-1, 7-0 away) against the New Orleans Saints (10-3, 5-1 home). This will be the first meeting between the cross-conference teams since 2016. The kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. EST inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. Kansas City is a 3-point road favorite in the contest, according to oddsmakers.
What to Know – Kansas City Chiefs
The defending Super Bowl champions are putting together another historic season and have the chance to finish with a better regular-season record than they did last year. Kansas City has already clinched the division and will look to lock up the top overall seed for the playoffs over the final three weeks.
Patrick Mahomes had a rare off day last Sunday, throwing three interceptions in the Chiefs 33-27 victory over the Miami Dolphins. Mahomes completed 24-of-34 passes for 393 yards and added a pair of touchdown tosses. The three interceptions were the most in a game since 2018 for the fourth-year quarterback.
Rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire carried the ball 16 times for 32 yards, and Le’Veon Bell added two rushes for 21 yards. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill took a jet sweep 32 yards for his second rushing touchdown of the season.
Tight end Travis Kelce hauled in eight passes for 136 yards and his ninth touchdown of the season. Kelce is the league’s leading pass-catcher heading into the final three weeks of play with 1,250 yards.
What to Know – New Orleans Saints
No Drew Brees, no problem for the New Orleans Saints. Since the veteran quarterback went down with broken ribs, the Saints have gone 3-1 with their only loss coming last week against Philadelphia. The Saints have already punched their ticket to the playoffs but will still be fighting for the top seed in the NFC.
Taysom Hill has played decent in his four starts at quarterback for the Saints. The biggest issue has been the turnovers. Hill finished 28-of-38 for 291 yards and two touchdowns but threw one interception and had a lost fumble. Hill has had at least one turnover in all four starts he’s made.
Alvin Kamara led the Saints backfield with 15 carries for 88 yards and his tenth rushing touchdown of the season. Hill totaled 14 carries for 83 yards from under center.
Wide receiver Michael Thomas caught nine of his 11 targets for 105 yards while Tre’Quan Smith (three catches, 42 yards, one touchdown) and tight end Jared Cook (three catches, 28 yards, one touchdown) each snagged touchdown passes from Hill.
The Pick is In
Both of these teams have the chance to be the top seeds in their respective conferences when it is all said and done in three weeks. The Saints have one of the best defenses in the league, and it will be fun to see how they look against Mahomes and the league’s top offense. If there were rowdy New Orleans fans in the stands, we’d expect a closer contest. However, with an empty stadium, we like the Chiefs to take care of business and cover on the road.
The Pick: Kansas City -3
