Long gone are the times of the Patriots and Chiefs battling as AFC rivals, one league dynasty combating to carry on whereas one other emerges to take its place.
But that doesn’t imply the Pats can’t cling one other win on Patrick Mahomes and Co. on Sunday.
After the Patriots have been initially put in as 9.5-point underdogs, the purpose unfold has shrunk by two factors, an indication of the general public’s perception within the Pats. Coming off an prolonged relaxation, and street upset at Pittsburgh, their offense could have lastly settled on a successful, run-heavy system. Defensively, although, is how the Pats should beat the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs who’ve dropped three of their final 4.
Can the Patriots make that 4 out of 5? Here’s what to look at for in Foxboro:
When the Patriots run
Ezekiel Elliott ought to once more eat because the Pats’ lead again, coming off a efficiency in Pittsburgh the place he churned out 140 complete yards taking 52 of the offense’s 57 snaps. Elliott informed reporters he feels as contemporary as he ever has this late in a season.
“I’ve got a lot of gas in the tank,” Elliott mentioned Wednesday. “Definitely felt good to have the performance I did last week (at Pittsburgh).”
Lucky for him, Kansas City’s run protection has been greater than welcoming to opponents. The Chiefs rank twenty seventh by yards allowed per carry, thirtieth in DOVA and thirty first by EPA. All-Pro defensive lineman Chris Jones (9 TFLs) will pose a matchup drawback versus rookie proper guard Sidy Sow, however the Pats could really feel snug with their different matchups reverse Jones.
Callahan: Robert Kraft’s reported Bill Belichick determination ought to be no shock
Look for the Patriots to make use of a mix of double-teams and misdirection runs to deal with Jones, and permit their offensive lineman to succeed in the second stage. At the second stage, the Pats should additionally discover thumping linebacker Nick Bolton, who completed second within the NFL in tackles final yr and returned to the beginning lineup final week after recovering from a wrist damage.
When the Patriots go
It all comes all the way down to the blitz.
Backboned by a younger, proficient secondary, the Chiefs have blitzed on the sixth-highest charge this season. Jones and fellow defensive lineman George Karlaftis (9 sacks) have led the cost making use of stress, however seven completely different linebackers and defensive backs have tallied no less than one sack. Bailey Zappe, who has confronted pretty properly towards the blitz this season in restricted motion, described the problem of Kansas City’s various blitz package deal.
“They do a lot of things. I think a lot of it just comes down to the communication between me and DA (David Andrews) and the offensive line, trying to get all on the same page,” Zappe mentioned. “As long as we’re on the same page, everything will hopefully go well. You’re just trying to believe in the offensive line that they’re going to pick up the pressures, whatever they bring, and just being able to stand back there confidently and just take care of the football and throw the open guys and let them make plays.”
Downfield, contested catches may be the Pats’ surest path to an upset. JuJu Smith-Schuster has posted the very best win charge on 50/50 balls amongst Patriots receivers this season and gained 37 yards on one such throw final week at Pittsburgh. In that division, the Pats will want extra from 6-foot-3 DeVante Parker, who may have a big measurement benefit versus most Chiefs cornerbacks.
When the Chiefs run
Former Chiefs first-round decide Clyde Edwards-Helaire is in line to make his second straight begin behind an above-average Kansas City offensive line.
Last week, Edwards-Helaire rushed for simply 39 yards on 11 carries, because the Chiefs known as 18 runs in comparison with 45 passes versus Buffalo. Don’t anticipate Kansas City to vary their run-pass steadiness a lot on Sunday.
The Patriots rank No. 1 within the league at fewest yards allowed per carry and EPA. Defensive sort out Davon Godchaux and out of doors linebacker Anfernee Jennings dominated the Steelers’ offensive line. Top linebackers Ja’Whaun Bentley and Jahlani Tavai additionally rank among the many higher run-stopping linebackers within the NFL. How Bentley and Tavai maintain up in protection, nonetheless, is a unique story.
Patriots LB Anfernee Jennings profiting from alternative
When the Chiefs go
In their final assembly with the Chiefs, Bill Belichick orchestrated the best single-game protection of Mahomes the league had seen but.
In that 2020 regular-season matchup, Kansas City scored simply 19 offensive factors, and the Patriots hung round regardless of enjoying backup quarterbacks Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham. The key that evening was dropping eight into protection on 44% of Mahomes’ dropbacks and disguising protection with uncommon participant alignment. Belichick admitted this week there isn’t any good protection towards Mahomes, who would not have a weak spot.
“Offensively, of course, it all starts with the quarterback. He’s a great player, does everything well, can make all the throws, athletic, got a lot of poise,” Belichick mentioned. “He’s a clutch player, can’t say enough about what he does for their team.”
After disrupting Mahomes, the Patriots might want to neutrailize his favourite goal, tight finish Travis Kelce. The future Hall of Famer leads the Chiefs with 80 catches and 896 yards and stays on the peak of his powers, regardless of poor receiving expertise round him. After Kelce, the one notable receiver is rookie Rahsee Rice who ranks second in catches (59) and receiving yards (663) and tops all of his teammates with a half-dozen touchdowns.
Will Travis Kelce be newest participant Bill Belichick tries to ‘neutralize’ in Patriots-Chiefs?
Game decide
Chiefs 19, Patriots 9
Source: www.bostonherald.com