The Chiefs possessed the ball for over 41 minutes. The Saints had it for under 19.
I couldn’t think of a worse formula for success than to give Patrick Mahomes, and that Kansas City offense, a 22-minute edge in time of possession.
After processing how this game went, it’s truly amazing that it was as close as it was. Usually that kind of disparity results in a thirty-point loss. The Saints made it a respectable three- point defeat.
They were able to hang in mainly because of the defense. They certainly weren’t perfect, but they gave the offense enough opportunities to stay in it. 32 points allowed on 92 Chiefs offensive plays isn’t a bad ratio.
The skewed possession numbers fall squarely on the shoulders of the offense. The Saints just couldn’t stay on the field. A team that prides themselves on third down only managed to convert one out of 11 tries. The lack of conversions led to a lack of plays which led to a lack of possessions.
Look no further than that as to why the Saints lost the game.