Saints at Chiefs: 3 things we learned

The Kansas City Chiefs took care of business at home against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Here are three things we learned.

Another home game, another victory for the Kansas City Chiefs, who ran their home record to 3-0 on Sunday. The New Orleans Saints gave the Chiefs all the could handle, pulling to within a score late in the fourth quarter, but could not finish the job. Kansas City has looked very good since their drubbing at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers a few weeks ago, winning two in a row since their bye week.

Kansas City was supposed to challenge for an AFC West title this season, boasting one of the more complete teams in the division. They have looked the part early on, and at 4-2, are very much in the race as we inch closer to November. The Chiefs can get the job done on both sides of the ball, and have the running game to succeed during the playoffs.

New Orleans looked good at times on Sunday, but they are just too inconsistent to really make noise in the NFC this year. Drew Brees was solid against Kansas City, but most of his damage came in the fourth quarter. Still, he is always going to keep his team in games, but they are just a few pieces short of being a contender.

On Sunday, the Chiefs were able to beat the Saints 27-21, and here are three things we learned from the matchup.

1. Alex Smith is good enough to win a Super Bowl

It is fair to say that Alex Smith would never be the first quarterback selected in a fantasy football draft. He does not rack up a ton of yards, or throw for a bunch of touchdowns. However, he is the unquestioned leader of the Kansas City Chiefs, and he is a good enough quarterback to win a Super Bowl with the cast of players he has around him.

On Sunday, Smith did a little bit of everything for the Chiefs, working both his recievers, and running backs. He was able to connect with ten different players across his 17 completions, while hitting Spencer Ware and Tyreek Hill for touchdowns. He finished the game 17 of 24, passing for over 200 yards and zero interceptions.

For the year, Smith only has seven touchdowns, but he has also only thrown two interceptions. In fact, he has only thrown one interception since an opening week win against San Diego, while continuing to be ultra-consistent passing the ball. In six starts, Smith has completed 70 percent or better, which are numbers any coach will take.

2. The Chiefs do not need Jamaal Charles, yet

Spencer Ware is one of the best running backs in the AFC West, period. He runs the ball extremely hard, can make plays out of the backfield, and can score from anywhere on the field. His only problem is that he is the Chiefs backup running back, as they have one of the best running backs in the NFL on their roster ahead of him.

Last year, Jamaal Charles tore his ACL, and he is still not fully recovered from his injury. Incredibly, the Chiefs have not missed a beat since he has been out, as Ware and a few others have more than handled the load in his absence. They have mixed him in a bit the past few weeks, but Ware has been the main man in the backfield all season long.

Obviously, if the Kansas City Chiefs hope to contend for a Super Bowl this season, they will need to get Charles back. He is still one of the elite play-makers in the NFL, and when healthy, he can change a game by himself. However, as of now, the team will be just fine with Ware leading the way until they can get Charles back 100 percent.

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3. New Orleans can actually play some defense

The Saints defense has looked like a leaky faucet this season, continuously allowing teams to score on them at will. In their previous three games prior to playing the Chiefs, the New Orleans has allowed at least 35 points in each, including a 45-spot against the Atlanta Falcons three weeks ago. The secondary had looked horrible, and teams were basically going up and down the field on them.

On Sunday, the Saints came to play defensively, and had a really nice game plan against the Chiefs. If you take away the defensive touchdown scored by the Chiefs, the Saints actually only allowed 20 points against them. They did bend at times, but overall, it was a very positive effort for a young unit looking to gel together.

New Orleans offense is loaded with talent, and Drew Brees is still one of the better signal-callers in the league. The problem is that they are always playing from behind, as the defense is by far a weaker link. Sunday was a nice step in the right direction for New Orleans, and though the 2016 season may not yield a ton of wins, each game will be an opportunity for the young players on defense to get better.