FOXBORO — Maybe it had been so lengthy all of us forgot.
Winning is one hell of a drug.
For 10 days, that ugly upset at Pittsburgh solid such a spell it induced visions of a cheerful ending to this Patriots season.
For 10 days, small pockets of the fanbase and media fantasized in regards to the potential of a five-game win streak crossing into the New Year; of a locker room banded collectively, solid within the fires of doubt and defeat; of Bill Belichick, defiant and decided, scheming upsets of the reigning Super Bowl champions, Broncos and Bills earlier than disemboweling the Jets to show he deserves one other yr.
Then all of these visions shattered Sunday.
The Chiefs choked the Patriots out over the second half of a 27-17 win so painfully Belichick appeared to cry uncle when he punted within the face of a three-possession deficit with 9 minutes left and later didn’t hassle to take his last timeout. The sport reeked of boredom. All of Sunday’s sizzle fizzled as soon as Kansas City took management simply minutes after halftime, regardless of an ongoing battle between one of the best quarterback on the planet and the best coach of all time.
That coach is now the final predominant character at 1 Patriot Place able to inspiring intrigue on or off the sphere. Between this loss and the Pittsburgh win, a slow-developing reporter’s duel unfolded between NBC Sports Boston and the NFL Network over Belichick’s future; one outlet claiming Robert Kraft determined a month in the past he would half methods, and the latter saying no “firm” resolution had been reached.
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Setting apart the difficulty of whom to consider, the rationale behind Kraft presumably selecting persistence is that Belichick, a 28-37 head coach since 2019, would possibly steer the Patriots out of catastrophe to finish this season. Baked into that line of pondering is that the sport outcomes propping up a 4 or five-game win streak can be significant. If we nonetheless settle for these video games as significant, Sunday spoke loudly.
Like, Gillette Stadium lighthouse on third down loud.
The Chiefs out-flanked the Patriots in all three phases, permitting 120 fewer yards on protection and having fun with a notable benefit in beginning area place. Offensively, they gained by star energy and depth, as Patrick Mahomes accomplished passes to 9 totally different receivers and threw for 305 yards, whereas All-Pro tight finish Travis Kelce barely made an look.
Kansas City’s thumping, significantly in a “down year” for Mahomes and Co., made clear there will probably be no shortcut for the Patriots on the street again to relevance.
The Pats should establish their subsequent quarterback, a passer who can prolong performs like Mahomes and create performs to beat excellent protection with off-platform, off-schedule throws. They should replenish their star-level expertise and develop depth throughout the roster. Injuries additional uncovered their bare-bones depth chart Sunday; from ex-Texans practice-squad participant Alex Austin beginning at cornerback and Patriots practice-squad alumni Conor McDermott opening at left deal with.
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The Pats haven’t any alternative however to refortify their teaching workers that has allowed fundamental errors to change into routine. Against the Chiefs, they dedicated penalties that negated each a Hunter Henry landing and a compelled fumble on protection. After Sunday, their offense will stay the lowest-scoring outfit within the league, whereas their particular groups proceed to reside within the NFL’s basement.
Like the Pats’ roster rot, the Chiefs’ win Sunday’s was born from years of roster-building choices and executions.
Kansas City beat the Patriots in free company, spending so as to add high-caliber offensive linemen like Orlando Brown, Joe Thuney and Jawaan Taylor as an alternative of cast-offs like McDermott, Riley Reiff and Calvin Anderson. The Chiefs beat them within the draft, the place they discovered 16 of their 22 starters Sunday. The Patriots? Just 10.
Last April, Kansas City drafted second-round rookie receiver Rashee Rice one yr after the Pats traded as much as take Tyquan Thornton. On Sunday, Rice caught as many passes as Thornton has all season and gained 25 extra yards. He completed with a game-high 91, plus a landing.
Good teaching is not ok within the NFL anymore. Belichick’s perpetually plan — making opposing offenses play “left-handed” — labored towards Kelce. The future Hall of Famer and world’s most well-known boyfriend completed with 28 yards. His crew gained anyway.
Whether you consider within the energy of Belichick at this stage of his profession or consider his future lies in one other market, his gamers know — and have recognized — who they’re.
A crew and not using a quarterback. A crew monitoring for a top-5 choose with out having made a commerce. A crew that used to look rather a lot just like the one which dealt with them Sunday.
After their newest loss, the Patriots are once more one sport again of the Panthers for the No. 1 general choose. They’ve been right here earlier than. It’s precisely the place they have been two weeks in the past, earlier than the excessive of the Pittsburgh win foolishly allowed for a future that slipped by our fingers as quickly as some dared to dream it.
Source: www.bostonherald.com