FOXBORO — The Patriots misplaced three offensive starters throughout their Week 15 loss to the Chiefs, and Bill Belichick acknowledged that it impacted how his crew dealt with an offensive collection late within the sport.
Left guard Cole Strange was carted off of the sector with a knee harm early within the second quarter and was changed by rookie Atonio Mafi. Left deal with Conor McDermott, who was beginning instead of Trent Brown, suffered a head harm within the fourth quarter and was changed by Vederian Lowe. And tight finish Hunter Henry didn’t end the sport with a knee harm, resulting in extra taking part in time for Mike Gesicki and Pharaoh Brown. Henry informed the Herald after the sport that he was feeling wonderful. He was strolling within the locker room with none main limitations.
“Yeah, it was tough to lose (Strange),” Belichick stated after the sport. “It’s tough to lose Conor (McDermott). Tough to lose Hunter (Henry). Kind of at the end there we were not — I would say we didn’t feel like we were able to do probably what we should have done in that situation. At the end of the game I’m talking about.”
The Patriots received the ball with 4 minutes left within the fourth quarter from their very own 1-yard line and used a minute and 25 seconds to go 6 yards on 4 performs. Running again Ezekiel Elliott stated after the sport that the offense could have “gone a little faster” close to the top of the sport.
“We ended up in a check play there,” Belichick stated, referring to an audible on the line of scrimmage. “I mean, we could have gone quicker.”
The Patriots by no means used their remaining timeout on the finish of the sport. After Bailey Zappe’s QB sneak on first down, 35 seconds drained off of the clock earlier than Elliott ran for 4 yards. Another 41 seconds got here off of the clock earlier than Zappe threw incomplete to Elliott. The Patriots turned the ball over on downs after Zappe threw incomplete to extensive receiver Jalen Reagor.
The Chiefs received the ball from the Patriots’ 6-yard line, picked up 2 yards on a run, after which kneeled on the ball for a turnover on downs. The Patriots ran one play earlier than time expired.
“It was the right thing to do,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid stated after the sport concerning the Chiefs’ choice to not rating.
Cornerback Jonathan Jones, particular teamer Matthew Slater and linebackers Ja’Whaun Bentley and Anfernee Jennings additionally received banged up in the course of the sport. Zappe was strolling gingerly after the loss however informed the Herald that he was simply coping with bumps and bruises after getting stepped on by Chiefs defenders.
Source: www.bostonherald.com