In a noteworthy preseason debut, Derek Carr showcased his talent in a new uniform as the New Orleans Saints’ top free agent acquisition. The sight of himself in black and gold, instead of the silver and black of the Raiders, felt right to Carr, leaving him refreshed and rejuvenated. He completed an impressive touchdown pass on his opening series, leading the Saints to a 26-24 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in the exhibition game.
The Chiefs’ star QB, Patrick Mahomes, made a brief appearance before their first drive ended with a failed fourth-and-1 play. Chiefs coach Andy Reid expressed disappointment in their slow start and emphasized the importance of being ready from the beginning.
Carr, on the other hand, appeared comfortable and confident in his new offensive system. He completed six of eight passes for 70 yards during his sole drive. Evading pressure on multiple occasions, Carr connected with tight end Juwan Johnson and running back Alvin Kamara before throwing a 4-yard touchdown pass to Keith Kirkwood. The excitement of facing real-life scenarios and the risk of being hit motivated Carr.
As the game progressed with backups on the field, it was the Saints who made a late comeback. A 2-yard scoring pass from rookie Jake Haener to running back Ellis Merriweather brought the Saints within one point, but their 2-point conversion attempt failed. Nevertheless, a tipped pass by Saints defensive end Kyle Phillips resulted in a game-saving interception and set up the winning field goal.
Jameis Winston took over from Carr and quickly led the Saints to a 14-0 lead with a 29-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver A.T. Perry. Perry proved to be a standout player, finishing the game as the Saints’ leading receiver with six catches for 70 yards.
For the Chiefs, Blaine Gabbert played most of the first half and managed to narrow the lead to 17-7 with a 1-yard fade to Richie James. Miscommunication between Saints defensive backs Alontae Taylor and Bradley Roby allowed James to be wide open for the touchdown. Moments earlier, James had also beaten Taylor for a 43-yard catch.
Kansas City’s third-stringer, Shane Buechele, impressed with 155 passing yards and two touchdowns. His ability to evade sacks and find his targets led to the Chiefs taking a 21-17 lead with a touchdown pass to Kekoa Crawford.
Rookie receiver Nikko Remigio made his mark for the Chiefs, catching four passes for 71 yards.
On the defensive side, both teams displayed their prowess. The Chiefs recorded three sacks, while the Saints’ Zach Baun and Ty Summers each contributed with a sack. Rookie Kahlef Hailassie made an impressive interception for the Saints, while Ugo Amadi intercepted a pass tipped by Taylor.
In terms of injuries, the Saints’ RB Kendre Miller suffered a sprained knee, and his status for future games remains uncertain. Meanwhile, the Chiefs’ reserve cornerback Nic Jones fractured a couple of fingers, and reserve defensive back Anthony Witherstone injured his toe.
Looking ahead, the Chiefs will face the Arizona Cardinals in their next game, while the Saints are set to take on the Los Angeles Chargers on August 20th.
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