5 things to watch as the Chiefs host the Saints on Monday Night Football

The Kansas City Chiefs (4-0) got one week off from a nationally-televised game but are back on the primetime stage in a matchup with the New Orleans Saints (2-2) in Week 5 on Monday Night Football. Arrowhead Stadium is the venue, and kickoff is set for 7:15 local time.

The theme of this game centers around the familiar faces in the Saints' lineup. Safety Tyrann Mathieu, linebacker Willie Gay Jr, and defensive tackle Khalen Saunders will all return to Arrowhead for the first time since their departures. It will also be quarterback Derek Carr's first game against the Chiefs since he left the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency.

If that doesn't give New Orleans additional intensity on Monday, the stress of two straight losses after a 2-0 start should have them fired up to bounce back. They will be up against a hampered Chiefs lineup, one that isn't going to be helped by next week's bye.

Here are five things to watch when the Chiefs and Saints square off:

The long-term injury of wide receiver Rashee Rice puts the Chiefs' receiver room in a worse spot than it was in 2023. With wide receiver Mecole Hardman questionable to play as well , the scheme will have to adjust.

That could lead to further work for the tight ends behind Travis Kelce: Noah Gray, rookie Jared Wiley, and even Jody Fortson — who was signed to the active roster Friday after joining the Chiefs' practice squad last week .

Gray has caught eight of nine passes thrown to him this season, averaging 10.3 yards per reception ; four of those catches turned into first downs. Gray understands how to work off the attention on Kelce in two-tight end sets (12 personnel) to get himself open.

If the Chiefs want to lean on the tight ends as they figure out the receiver position, look for more 13 personnel — or even 14: That puts four tight ends in formation with no wide receivers. Head coach Andy Reid called this the "T-Rex" formation after showing it during a preseason game in 2021.

In general, look for the team to pass out of heavier personnel sets, especially in the red zone.

Saints' running back Alvin Kamara leads the NFL in yards from scrimmage this season (536) and is tied for the most total touchdowns (6) . He can make plays from various alignments, but it starts with defending New Orleans' zone run scheme.

"[Kamara] has always been a challenge," Chiefs' defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo told reporters on Friday. "He is what we call a stretch-to-cutback player. I just think when he decides to stick his foot in the ground and go back, he's very difficult if you're not disciplined with technique on the back side."

That will put a focus on the Chiefs' linebackers and safeties to fill run gaps soundly, and not let Kamara — or any of the Saints' weapons — out of their grip.

"The number-one objective against these guys is tackling," Spagnuolo emphasized. "Not just the running back but the wideouts too, because of the yards after catch and what they can do explosively."

The Saints' offense has kept Carr in good rhythm, helping the unit rank second in the NFL in third-down conversion rate (53%) . The Chiefs will want to discomfort Carr in key moments like third down, but Spagnuolo knows it won't be easy.

"Derek knows exactly what to do," Spags said on Friday. "I've always had respect for Derek Carr, and how he gets them out of a bad play and into a good one... he's a very accurate quarterback. When you're talking about third and three, or four, or five, he's smart enough to say, 'I'll just get the first down here.'"

Spags even recalls Carr handling those moments well the last time he played at Arrowhead Stadium in 2022.

"He got us back here a couple years ago on a third and one," Spagnuolo recalled. "I don't know if he checked out of it but it was a long pass play that went for a touchdown. I don't forget those things."

"On a lot of downs he will know exactly what we're trying to do," Spags warned. "He'll have a plan... that's the challenge when you play a guy like that."

The Chiefs' backfield has shifted week by week based on injuries and performance this season. That won't change for this matchup.

Running back Kareem Hunt has been limited in practice with a shoulder injury , and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire's 21-day practice window opened to return to the team. There's a chance he plays Monday, but he was listed as doubtful .

The Chiefs' running backs will be important, along with Samaje Perine. The Saints allow 4.8 yards per carry , the seventh-highest rate in the league. A strong run game will help Kansas City avoid the playmakers in the Saints' secondary.

New Orleans' high-scoring efforts this year were boosted by big plays, specifically from wide receiver Rashid Shaheed. That includes special teams: Shaheed was the NFL's first-team All-Pro punt returner in 2023 .

"Shaheed is very good in kick return and punt return," Chiefs' special teams coordinator Dave Toub shared Friday. "He's so smooth, he can hit it north and south, he can get around you, has great speed, good decision maker. He had a muff last week, but that's an outlier for him. We have a lot of respect for him, he's a very dangerous returner."

On offense, Shaheed has two touchdowns: a 70-yard catch, and a 59-yard one. The Chiefs' back end will need to account for him at all times, respecting his ability to get over the top — and Carr's ability to get it there.