Story by Brad Friedman

The New Orleans Saints bent, but didn't break.

Kansas City's fourth quarter surge, in which it put up 10 unanswered points, came up short, allowing New Orleans to come away with a 24-20 road win.

The Saints kept the Chiefs at bay for most of the game, but could never quite land the knockout punch to put the game on ice. New Orleans led 17-3 early in the third after Mark Ingram's outstanding 20-yard touchdown run, which left Kansas City's Dee Ford flying and Spencer Ware in need of some ice.

The touchdown run contributed to Ingram's 75-yard day on the ground.

Alex Smith and company mounted a comeback after the score, with Smith finding Travis Kelce and Jamaal Charles on 3-yard and 22-yard touchdowns, respectively, and shrinking the margin to four point, but the Chiefs' march came up one drive short. Their potential game-winning drive stalled at their own 47-yard line with 1:30 remaining in the game, after which New Orleans took the clock down to zeros.

Though the Saints were on the defensive for the game's final act, their early success built enough of a cushion. Brandin Cooks found the end zone twice, racking up 135 yards on seven catches in the process. Cooks was Drew Brees's top target, who finished with 378 yards on 25-of-34 passing and two scores.