Entering the second month of the 2024 NFL season and now the league is shaping up. Some teams are performing as expected, some want to light a fire under themselves to get momentum going as we inch closer to the midway point of year. Week 5 ends with an inter-conference matchup between playoff hopefuls.
Monday Night Football will be an intriguing matchup between an undefeated team and a team that was two or three plays away from being undefeated themselves, as the 2-2 New Orleans Saints travel to Missouri to face the 4-0 Kansas City Chiefs.
This piece will break down Week 5's Monday Night Football game, highlighting the teams, start times, and key players to watch.
New Orleans lit the league on fire in their first two games, scoring the most points through the first two games in a season over the last 15 years. They have cooled down substantially after two last-minute losses to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3 and the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4.
The Chiefs are sitting comfortably at 4-0 so far through the first month, though has not performed up to their two-consecutive-Super-Bowl standards as of yet. Each of their wins have been decided by one possession.
However, the head-to-head victory tiebreakers over AFC opponents Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, and Los Angeles Chargers are more valuable than the amount of points a team would win by.
When and How Can I Watch The Game?
Week 5's Monday Night Football game is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. Eastern on Monday night. How you watch it will depend on how you typically consume television.
You can watch the Monday night game on ESPN if you have cable or satellite. ESPN2 will have the Manningcast option involving Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, and Bill Belichick. If you are without cable or satellite, the game will also be broadcast on the ESPN+ app. The rate is starting at $10.99/month.
Additionally, if you consume live television through other streaming sites (such as Hulu+, YouTubeTV, or Sling), ESPN and ESPN2 are usually streamable. The costs of those apps vary.
Who is Going to Win?
The Chiefs have emerged as a substantial favorite over the Saints, with Kansas City favored by 5.5 points over New Orleans.
The Saints are 2-2 on the season, and a 5.5-point underdog to the Chiefs.
In the NFL, anything can happen. No doubt the Black and Gold can deliver Kansas City their first loss of the season.
Kansas City is undefeated thus far, but because of their defense and not their offense. For New Orleans to pull off the upset, they need to give quarterback Derek Carr some time to throw -- which is easier said than done against the ferocious Chiefs pass rush highlighted by Chris Jones.
However, the back seven of the Chiefs has been disappointing so far this year; if Carr gets time in the pocket, his talented pass-catchers could pick apart the secondary.
The key to victory for Kansas City is to overwhelm the New Orleans offensive line. The Saints have a top-notch run blocking line, but has struggled against opposing pass rushes so far this season. If Jones, George Karlaftis, and Tershawn Wharton continue demolishing the pass blockers, it could be a long day for the Saints offense.
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