Kansas City Chiefs beat Patriots on the road, end 2-game skid; here’s our report card
The Chiefs opened up some breathing room in the AFC West race on Sunday, defeating the Patriots 27-17 to end a two-game losing streak.
The Chiefs improved to 9-5, and the second-place Denver Broncos fell to 7-7 with a loss to the Detroit Lions on Saturday.
Three games remain in the regular season.
Here’s our report from Sunday’s game at Gillette Stadium:
KC STAR OF THE GAME
Give it up for linebacker Willie Gay Jr. His third -quarter interception of Bailey Zappe and 22-yard return set up the Chiefs at the 7, and a subsequent touchdown gave KC some breathing room.
Next: The Chiefs’ next game is on Christmas Day, a Monday, at home against the Las Vegas Raiders. Kickoff is scheduled for noon on CBS (Channel 5 in Kansas City). It’s the Chiefs’ first Christmas Day assignment since 2016.
REPORT CARD
Passing offense: C
The Chiefs finally unleashed some chunk plays. Against Bill Belichick’s defense, quarterback Patrick Mahomes got deep balls to Noah Gray (32 yards) and Justin Watson (31), and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire turned a screen into a 48-yard gain — the longest pass play for the Chiefs since Week 7 against the Chargers.
Bad moment for Blake Bell, getting a ball wrestled away by rookie linebacker Marte Mapu for an interception. And another one for Kadarius Toney, who bobbled a ball long enough for it to get picked off.
From those interceptions, the Patriots got 10 points on drives that went 1 and 29 yards.
Oh, and Skyy Moore got bailed out big-time. His fumble after a reception was negated by a defensive holding penalty.
Rushing offense: B
Jerick McKinnon gets credit for a touchdown toss, but let’s put his pop-pass to Rashee Rice here. Nice play design from the 4: Mahomes lined up at running back as the snap — from guard Joe Thuney — went to McKinnon. Rice crossed in front of him, taking the short pitch through a big hole for the score.
The Chiefs were without injured Isiah Pacheco for a second straight game. He could return next week. But the Chiefs got an excellent game from Edwards-Helaire. Besides his long screen reception, Edwards-Helaire jumped high for a 6-yard touchdown reception in the end zone and added a 20-yard run.
Passing defense: B
The Patriots’ aim was to attack the Chiefs’ linebackers in the passing game, and Zappe was effective early. Tight end Hunter Henry had a big game (like he used to have with the Chargers). Gay couldn’t get up high enough to prevent Henry’s touchdown reception.
At halftime, the Chiefs had more sacks (three) than Zappe had incomplete passes (two). But the Chiefs came up with a big takeaway — Gay’s pick — to end the Patriots’ first possession of the second half.
JuJu Smith-Schuster was a surprise inactive for New England. It would have been fun to see what he could have done against his old Chiefs teammates.
Rushing defense: A
Expecting a grind-it-out game from the Patriots and Ezekiel Elliott? The Chiefs were ready, holding Elliott to 2.3 yards per carry.
Special teams: B
Good and bad news. Harrison Butker’s streak of 62 perfect kicks came to an end with a first-quarter field-goal miss from 39 yards. But he started a new streak with three extra points and a 54-yard field goal.
Punter Tommy Townsend got off a clunker but later boomed a 62-yarder, and the Chiefs allowed a 39-yard kickoff return.
And how about the play by Ekow Boye-Doe, the rookie and former Kansas State cornerback? He downed a punt at the 1 in the fourth quarter.
This story was originally published December 17, 2023 at 3:07 PM.