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We continue our series of articles previewing the Saints regular season opponents, now in Week 7.
Week 7: @ the Kansas City Chiefs
Our friends over at Arrowhead Pride contributed this piece, listing all of the biggest additions/subtractions from the Chiefs this offseason:
Notable free agent additions:
RT Mitch Schwartz, WR Rod Streater
Notable free agent departures:
CB Sean Smith, S Tyvon Branch, QB Chase Daniel
Trades:
None
Draft picks expected to contribute as rookies:
The Chiefs could end up having one or two starters (G Parker Ehinger, CB KeiVarae Russell) the first year with a bunch of role players or those replacing someone else down the line. DT Chris Jones, WR Demarcus Robinson and WR Tyreek Hill could have a regular role on the team in the first year too.
Biggest offseason addition:
RT Mitch Schwartz
Biggest storyline heading into training camp:
In the short-term, it will be replacing Justin Houston, who is likely to miss part of the season coming back from February ACL surgery. In the long-term, can the Chiefs take the next step on offense? They're on the doorstep after a divisional round loss last season to the Patriots. What they lacked was explosiveness on offense. RT Mitch Schwartz will help solidify the line while Jamaal Charles' return hopes to add that explosiveness that was lacking last season.
Under-the-radar storyline heading into training camp:
How old is too old on defense? Key players like Tamba Hali (32) and Derrick Johnson (33) are up there in age. No Justin Houston early on or Sean Smith, now with the Raiders.
Notable injuries heading into training camp:
RB Jamaal Charles and CB Phillip Gaines are coming back from an ACL tear early on last season. They should be ready. Justin Houston is likely to miss part of the regular season after he's coming off of ACL surgery.
The Saints are heading to Arrowhead and facing one of the toughest defenses in the league in the Kansas City Chiefs. On offense, the Chiefs are led by QB Alex Smith, and we all remember the types of games he can put up against the Saints (notably with a come-from-behind victory over the Saints as a member of the San Francisco 49ers).
So what says you, you unbiased Saints fans? Will the stout KC defense be able to stop the Saints' high-powered offense? Or will the Saints grab a sneaky victory on the road in Kansas City?