Saints' Khalen Saunders makes an unforgettable return to Arrowhead Stadium ahead of Taylor Swift

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Saints defensive tackle Khalen Saunders likely left pop superstar Taylor Swift and his former team with mixed emotions upon his return to Arrowhead Stadium on Monday night following a two-game series against the Chiefs.

First, the big defensive tackle stopped Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce on an inside pass play when they had first-and-goal at the New Orleans 2. Then, on the next play, Saunders watched as Patrick Mahomes' pass bounced off JuJu Smith. Schuster's hands and straight into his waiting arms for his first career interception, which he returned with a 37-yard rumble as his own sideline spun out of control.

They were two of the biggest highlights for the Saints a 26:13 defeat to the reigning Super Bowl champions.

“Having played here for four years and having all the respect in the world for Patrick, you have to take advantage of the mistakes they make. And just being on the other end of the mistake that was made, man, that was special,” Saunders said.

“I wish we could have won,” he added, “but you know, I think we learned a lot about our team.”

How did Swift take everything into account?

For one thing, she's been dating Kelce for more than a year, and was back at Arrowhead Stadium to see him play after missing the Chiefs' last two away games. Second, one of her backup dancers happens to be Saunders' brother Kameron.

The two-game sequence is also sure to wake up conspiracy theorists who believe the NFL is rigged. The ESPN broadcast had just featured a picture of Kameron Saunders with Swift and Kelce during a trip to London, where the Chiefs tight end made a cameo appearance during one of their Wembley Stadium appearances on their Eras Tour this summer.

Kameron Saunders has also been in a suite with Swift to watch games at Arrowhead Stadium in the past.

The football-playing Saunders brother was a third-round draft pick of the Chiefs in 2019 and won two Super Bowl rings in his first four seasons with them. But he signed with New Orleans as a free agent a few years ago and returned to Arrowhead Stadium for the first time to face his former team in front of Swift and a boisterous Chiefs crowd.

It was some of that insider knowledge that may have helped him in Kelce's reception.

“I knew it was coming. I know that little 'tight end flip,'” Saunders said. “Man, I told you, there are certain plays they just can’t make while I’m in the game. And a lot of them are screens and the tight end flip. I was on the scout team for a long time. I’ve been against Trav and Pat for a long time. I know all the little tricks and stuff like that.”

As for his interception return abilities… well, the 324-pound tackle won't be mistaken for a sprinter anytime soon.

“I tried to bring it home, man. Take it home with you. “The running back days flashed in my head,” Saunders said, “and I thought, 'That's 101 (yards).' That's still a little ways away.' But I tried to give us real field position.”

The Saints eventually turned the turnover into a touchdown and closed the score at 16-13 early in the fourth quarter. But the Chiefs responded with a touchdown of their own before clinching the game with a late field goal.

“We have to keep going,” Saunders said. “That means nothing other than a guarantee that we won't be better than 14-3, and I believe that. “I've been on teams that lost in Week 10 and never lost again. So things like that are always encouraging.”

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl