The Kansas City Chiefs snapped their two-game losing streak with a 27-17 victory on the road against the New England Patriots on Sunday to move to 9-5 on the season ... while sending Bill Belichick and the Pats to 3-11.
For a minute, it looked like Patrick Mahomes and Co. could be put on upset alert as New England hung in tough with the Chiefs throughout the first half. After both kickers missed first-quarter field goal attempts, K.C. opened up the scoring with a receiving touchdown by Rashee Rice on a pop-pass from running back Jerick McKinnon. The Patriots answered that touchdown drive with a 10-0 run in the second quarter that was sparked by tight end Hunter Henry and then an interception by rookie safety Marte Mapu.
That run by the Patriots, however, was their one true gasp in this game as the Chiefs took a late lead right before halftime and never relented. As was the case last week against Pittsburgh, the Patriots offense was dead silent in the second half, mustering an interception and four straight punts coming out of the halftime locker room. Over that same stretch, Kansas City piled on 13 points to effectively rule out any hope for a New England upset.
The lone touchdown of the second half for the Patriots was sparked by a Mahomes interception due to a Kadarius Toney dropped pass. Beyond that, it was a quiet second half for Bailey Zappe and the unit.
Mahomes finished his day completing 27 of his 37 passes for 305 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Rice was his go-to target, hauling in all nine of his targets for 91 yards and a touchdown. For Travis Kelce, he had a quiet five-catch, 28-yard showing. On the New England side, Zappe finished 23 of 31 for 180 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Henry caught seven passes for 66 yards and a touchdown.
Kansas City didn't make it easy on itself as a missed field goal and inconsistent play from its wide receivers kept the Patriots within striking distance at times, but it was ultimately able to edge this game out thanks to the defense locking down New England to begin the second half. Out of the gate, the Chiefs forced a pick to begin the third quarter and then forced four punts (three three-and-outs), while the offense went on a 13-0 run over that same stretch. Getting over the 20-point threshold proved to be enough of a cushion to keep this still-struggling New England offense at bay.
Third-down efficiency was key in the Chiefs snapping this losing streak as they were able to convert a number of third-and-long situations, including a third-and-9 and third-and-10 on two scoring drives. On the same token, the defense stifled the Patriots on the critical down, allowing them to convert just two of their 12 third-down opportunities.
New England was the victim of some ill-timed penalties in this loss. From the jump, a 46-yard kickoff return to begin the game was negated because of a holding penalty, a face mask infraction by DeMario Douglas took the air out of what could've been a touchdown drive, Hunter Henry had a touchdown nullified because of a holding penalty along the offensive line, and a fumble by Chiefs receiver Skyy Moore was erased because of a defensive holding in the secondary. On top of that, the offense fell silent for the second week in a row in the second half. Zappe had a rough interception to begin the third quarter and that's when the wheels fell off as the Patriots punted on their next four possessions.
The back-breaking moment for New England came out of the locker room after halftime. At the tail end of the second quarter, the Chiefs regained the lead with a late touchdown drive and added to that lead with a field goal to open up the third quarter. Upon getting the ball for the first offensive possession for the Patriots, quarterback Bailey Zappe was pressured on the opening snap, and made an ill-advised pass intended for tight end Pharaoh Brown that was picked off by Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay. He returned the pick inside the New England 10-yard line and it took Patrick Mahomes two plays to find Clyde Edwards-Helaire for the touchdown, which put Kansas City up by two scores.
The diving touchdown by Edwards-Helaire was arguably the best touchdown of the afternoon in Foxborough. The pocket collapsed around Mahomes, but the Chiefs quarterback was able to keep the play alive, roll out to his left, and somehow loft the ball perfectly into the area of Edwards-Helaire, who was not only able to make the diving catch but get both feet in bounds as a Patriots defender immediately collided with him to push the back out of bounds.
Edwards-Helaire filled in for the injured Isaiah Pacheco and made an impact the ost as a receiver, catching all four of his targets for 64 yards and that score.
From here, the Chiefs will head back to Arrowhead Stadium and gear up for a home matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. As for the Patriots, they'll travel to Denver for a Christmas Eve matchup with the Broncos on Sunday night.
And that failed fourth-down conversion should do it. The Chiefs are set to snap their first two-game losing streak since 2021. They also clinch their 11th straight winning season (longest active streak). As for the Patriots, this 11th loss of the season ties the most as an NFL head coach for Bill Belichick.
After hauling in that pass from Mahomes, Travis Kelce appears to be in some discomfort on the sideline. He feel directly onto his left elbow and the broadcast showed him wincing on the sideline.
Patriots running back Kevin Harris takes advantage of K.C. turnover and barrels into the end zone for a touchdown. All of a sudden, it's a 10-point game.
That was a boneheaded play all the way around. Kadarius Toney again drops a pass from Mahomes and the ball is tipped and picked off. After the interception, Tavai tries to lateral the football and nearly gives it right back.
Booes starting to rain down at Gillette Stadium after another three-and-out for the Patriots offense.
Patriots injury update: TE Hunter Henry (knee) is questionable to return.
Patriots waived the white flag effectively by punting on fourth-and-3 from their 42-yard line and down three scores.
Hunter Henry got drilled on that third down throw from Zappe. Snead came crashing in on his hip.
Snead drops an easy interception from Bailey Zappe. The Pats QB completely overshot Douglas.
Patriots injury update: OL Conor McDermott (head) is questionable to return.
A lot of these Mahomes passes are hitting pass-catchers directly in the hands and they are just not coming down with them.
The Patriots have five total yards so far in the second half.
The Chiefs have now scored on all three of their possessions in the second half. This 13-0 run now gives them a 27-10 lead in Foxborough.
The pressure is really starting to hit home for the Chiefs as they took down Zappe for an 11-yard sack on third-and-12.
That is a season-high seven catches for Hunter Henry.
And as you may expect, the Chiefs cash in with Mahomes connecting with CEH for the touchdown. It's a 24-10 lead for Kansas City.
Ball security was paramount for the Patriots to even think of the upset. Zappe gets pressured and makes an ill-advised throw, which is picked off by Willie Gay and puts the Chiefs on the New England 6-yard line.
And the Patriots hang tough on third-and-7 to force a field goal. New England got lucky that Travis Kelce dropped what arguably should've been an easy touchdown over the middle earlier in the drive. The ball hit him in the hands but popped out.
Kansas City was moving the ball well on third down to end the first half and it's carried over into the third quarter. Mahomes throws a perfect ball to Rashee Rice to move the chains on third-and-10.
Oh man! A holding penalty negates a fumble recovery for the Patriots after Skyy Moore put the ball on the ground.
That was almost the second week in a row where Rashee Rice lost a fumble. Had a key fumble last week against Buffalo.
Patriots injury update: DB Jonathan Jones (knee) is questionable to return.
First-half stats
Patrick Mahomes: 13/15 for 183 yards, a touchdown, and an interception
Bailey Zappe: 17/19 for 141 yards, and a touchdown
Clyde Edwards-Helaire: 8 rushing yards on three carries (48 receiving yards)
Ezekiel Elliott: 17 rushing yards on eight carries
Rashee Rice: four catches for 42 yards
Travis Kelce: two catches for 10 yards
Hunter Henry: six catches for 57 yards and a touchdown
DeVante Parker: five catches for 44 yards
This Chiefs offense misses Isaiah Pacheco. So far today, K.C. has 11 rushing yards on four carries.
That was a much-needed conversion for the Chiefs. Mahome uncorks a 31-yard deep ball to Watson as the entire New England secondary seemed fixated on Travis Kelce.
