The Chargers have the bye. The Chiefs host the Saints
Week 5 in the AFC West sees the Denver Broncos hosting the Las Vegas Raiders. The Kansas City Chiefs are home for the New Orleans Saints, and the Los Angeles Chargers get a much needed week off.
As far as the standing go, it’s a whole lot of 2-2 sitting behind an undefeated Chiefs team. After this week, this will change a little bit, but KC has begun to create separation in the division, and it looks like it will be a battle for Wild Card possibilities if the trend continues.
Getting the bye week for the Chargers out of the way, it could not have come at a better time for them. Justin Herbert and his high ankle sprain could use the rest. Joey Bosa missed week 4 with a hip injury. Joe Alt, was out with an MCL strain. They had a slew of other injuries, and the goal of this bye week will to be to get healthy for a game against the Broncos in Week 6.
So it’s on to Kansas City…
Saints (2-2) at Chiefs (4-0, -5.5)
We will have to wait until Monday Night Football for this game. The Chiefs are the obvious favorite here, but not because of the offense. The defense, led by Chris Jones, has been spectacular all season. Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid have dialed up just enough offense this season to get the job done. However, it has been Steve Spagnolo’s defensive game plans that carried the two time defending Super Bowl champs.
As Ian St. Clair and I talked about on Odds and Endzones, the Chiefs look like a team that knows what it needs to do to win. They do just that, what they need to to get a win. That may not be as flashy as past seasons, but it works.
The loss of Rashee Rice to the IR means he is done for the next 4 weeks (possibly the season once they do more tests). Mecole Hardman did not practice. The weapons that Mahomes has relied upon are dwindling. Travis Kelce has yet to be a major impact on the field. It’s hard for teams to win in KC, but the Saints could have a shot.
New Orleans comes into the week riding a 2 game skid which saw them lose close games to both the Eagles and Falcons. Still, Alvin Kamara has looked like the Kamara that carried several fantasy football teams to championships a few years ago. Aside from the offensive stinker against Philadelphia, they have put points on the board. If they can match their offensive output from their wins, they will have a chance.
In the end, it looks like the Chiefs should win this game. By the time Week 6 rolls around, the AFC West will look a little different from teams 2 to 4, but KC will still be the target at the top.