Patrick Mahomes' repertoire of side-arm throws, basketball-style push passes, underhanded flips and renowned improvisation humbled yet another highly regarded defence.<\/p>\n
Mahomes passed for 254 yards and three touchdowns, and the Kansas City Chiefs extended their winning streak to nine games with a 32-29 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday (Monday AEDT).<\/p>\n
"Patrick is more impressive than I could imagine," said running back Le'Veon Bell, who joined the Chiefs in mid-October and scored a 12 yard touchdown on an option pitch from Mahomes.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/twitter.com\/NFL\/status\/1340813070956818432?s=20<\/a><\/p>\n "He's even more impressive in person… I'm fortunate to be his teammate."<\/p>\n The Kansas City defence did its part to spoil Drew Brees' return from rib fractures and a punctured lung that had kept the record-setting passer out for four games.<\/p>\n While Brees passed for 234 yards and three TDs, he completed fewer than half of his passes and was intercepted for just the fourth time this season.<\/p>\n "I wasn't real efficient, obviously, in the passing game," Brees said.<\/p>\n "I'd say that was a combination of forcing some things down the field instead of just taking a completion underneath. There were some miscues."<\/p>\n https:\/\/twitter.com\/NFL\/status\/1340824188785848320?s=20<\/a><\/p>\n The victory kept the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs (13-1) in pole position to capture the AFC's lone playoff bye as a No 1 seed.<\/p>\n The Saints (10-4), meanwhile, missed a chance to clinch the NFC South for a second straight week and now are longshots to capture the NFC's top seed.<\/p>\n Mahomes' scoring passes went for 5 yards each to Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman, the latter coming as the Chiefs' agile QB backpedaled toward the left sideline to avoid pressure and released a throw to the back corner of the end zone, where Hardman was able to snag it in traffic while narrowly getting two feet inbounds.<\/p>\n https:\/\/twitter.com\/NFL\/status\/1340804609124626433?s=20<\/a><\/p>\n "The biggest challenge is when he extends plays," Saints coach Sean Payton said of Mahomes.<\/p>\n "A 2.5 or 3 second route turns into a 5 or 6 second route. That's challenging."<\/p>\n Mahomes' second TD toss looked more like a basketball assist, a chest pass to tight end Travis Kelce cutting behind blockers for a 1 yard score.<\/p>\n "It takes a lot of practice as far as getting the blocking right that quickly, finding a way to kind of push it in there," Mahomes said, noting that the Chiefs scored on the same play against Denver two seasons ago.<\/p>\n "The guys did a great job of giving me a lane to throw."<\/p>\n https:\/\/twitter.com\/NFL\/status\/1340782627578494976?s=20<\/a><\/p>\n Mahomes later used an underhanded forward flip to Kelce for a 2 point conversion after Bell's TD, giving the Chiefs a 29-15 lead in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n Bell's score came one play after Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan was flagged for a personal foul and ejected for punching offensive lineman Andrew Wylie.<\/p>\n "We knew the only chance had against that front seven is if we took fight to them," Wylie said.<\/p>\n "It was a brawl, too."<\/p>\n The Saints pulled to 29-22 when Trey Hendrickson stripped Mahomes while making his second sack of the game, setting up Alvin Kamara's 14 yard score on a short catch and run through a swarm of players along the right sideline.<\/p>\n Kansas City responded with a field goal before Brees pulled New Orleans within a field goal with his 17 yard pass to Lil'Jordan Humphrey with 2m 6s to go.<\/p>\n With two timeouts remaining, the Saints kicked deep, but could not prevent Mahomes and Co from running out the clock.<\/p>\n https:\/\/twitter.com\/Chiefs\/status\/1340824946172436481?s=20<\/a><\/p>\n – HIGHLIGHT REEL –<\/strong><\/p>\n Just 3000 tickets were sold for this marquee matchup between contenders, but those in attendance got a first hand look at Mahomes' mesmerising and unconventional flair for the dramatic.<\/p>\n On a third and 8 conversion, Mahomes darted right to avoid defensive tackle David Onyemata, then suddenly stopped and stepped up as Jordan, in close pursuit, stumbled past.<\/p>\n Mahomes then fired a pass to Sammy Watkins for a 23 yard gain.<\/p>\n The play extended the drive that culminated with Kelce's TD.<\/p>\n "Sammy was kind of my last read," Mahomes said, crediting his offensive line and receivers for never giving up on the play.<\/p>\n "You've got to have guys that are going to continue to battle the entire game."<\/p>\n https:\/\/twitter.com\/NFL\/status\/1340780780121800704?s=20<\/a><\/p>\n – SLOW START –<\/strong><\/p>\n Brees' first three passes fell incomplete before his fourth was intercepted by L'Jarius Sneed at the New Orleans 36 yard line, setting up Hill's TD that made it 7-0.<\/p>\n Brees needed more than a full quarter to complete a pass or lead the Saints to a first down.<\/p>\n His first completion came on his seventh pass.<\/p>\n A few plays later, he hit Emmanuel Sanders 51 yards down the right sideline to set up Taysom Hill's 1 yard TD run.<\/p>\n The Saints cut it to 14-9 at the end of the half with a safety when Chiefs punt returner Demarcus Robinson fumbled into the end zone.<\/p>\n Saints linebacker Alex Anzalone tried to fall on it, but it squirted out of bounds.<\/p>\n The Saints briefly took a 15-14 lead early in the third quarter when Brees found Latavius Murray late in a play that appeared to be breaking down and the running back scampered for a 24 yard TD.<\/p>\n https:\/\/twitter.com\/NFL\/status\/1340801810798284801?s=20<\/a><\/p>\n – INJURIES –<\/strong><\/p>\n Chiefs: Rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire needed help to the locker room in the fourth quarter, not putting any pressure on his left leg.<\/p>\n Chiefs coach Andy Ried said X-rays were negative but that Edwards-Helaire required more evaluation.<\/p>\n Reid said linebacker Emmanuel Smith injured his hamstring.<\/p>\n Saints: Receiver Tre'Quan Smith and safety Marcus Williams each left with ankle injuries in the second half.<\/p>\n – UP NEXT –<\/strong><\/p>\n Chiefs: Host Atlanta on Sunday (Monday AEDT) in the first of two home games to finish the regular season.<\/p>\n Saints: Close out their home schedule against Minnesota on Christmas Day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Patrick Mahomes' repertoire of side-arm throws, basketball-style push passes, underhanded flips and renowned improvisation humbled yet another highly regarded defence. 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