Illness continues to impact Patriots as they prepare for Chiefs
On Thursday, the Patriots had multiple players downgraded on the injury report due to an illness. Tackle Trent Brown (ankle/hand/illness) and special teamer Brenden Schooler (illness) both missed Thursday’s session due to that illness, after being on the field the previous day.
For the final practice of the week, Schooler returned to the field but Brown did not, in addition, Christian Barmore (shoulder/illness) also didn’t practice after being limited the first two days.
READ MORE:
—Former Patriots played a leading role in the Raiders’ offensive outburst on Thursday night
—Why Malik Cunningham chose the Ravens over the Patriots
—Week 15 Patriots Mailbag
Despite that, none of the three players have been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Brown and Barmore are listed as questionable, as is linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley (knee), who was added to the injury report for the first time this week on Friday. Other players questionable for Sunday’s game are wide receivers DeVante Parker (knee), JuJu Smith-Schuster (ankle), and Tyquan Thornton (hamstring) and special teamer Matthew Slater (groin). Running back Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) was the lone player ruled out, as was previously expected.
In positive injury news for the Patriots the team removed four players from the report. That group includes wide receiver Demario Douglas (concussion). Bill Belichick told reporters on Friday morning Douglas was expected to clear concussion protocol and is expected to be available on Sunday. Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (shoulder), tackle Tyrone Wheatley (knee), and Schooler were also removed from the report.
For the Chiefs, running back Isiah Pacheco (shoulder) was ruled out after not practicing all week. Pacheco has been a key part of the Chiefs’ offense this year – in addition to being their leading rusher he’s also their third-leading pass-catcher.
https://x.com/RealAlexBarth/status/1735763379011084535?s=20
Read more…
Not allowing a get-right game: Patriots vs. Chiefs What To Watch For
New coverage plan
Oct 12, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) and wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) line up against the Los Angeles Chargers during the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill burned the Patriots badly the first two times he played them, putting up seven catches for 133 yards and a touchdown in the 2017 season opener and then another seven catches for 142 yards and three touchdowns in a regular season game in 2018. In the next three matchups between the Patriots’ and the Chiefs – including that 2020 game – the Patriots chose to make Hill the greater of two evils, forcing Kansas City to run the offense through tight end Travis Kelce rather than Hill.
This Sunday will be the first time the Patriots play the Chiefs since they traded Hill to the Miami Dolphins. Kansas City hasn’t exactly done a great job of replacing Hill since, and their wide receiver group is as unthreatening as it’s been in Patrick Mahomes’ tenure. Given that, more is being asked of Kelce this year than ever before.
Through 13 games (although Kelce himself has only played 12), Kelce is the Chiefs’ leading receiver with 80 catches for 896 yards. Rookie Rashee Rice has been a bright spot at times with 59 catches for 663 yards, but after him the group’s production drops off significantly. Kadarius Toney is third among the team’s receiver with just 25 catches, while Justin Watson has the third-most yards with 350.
With Hill no longer in the picture and Mahomes struggling to elevate the receivers around him, look for the Patriots to swarm Kelce, try to take him out of the picture, and make Mahomes win by throwing elsewhere. Given Kelce’s high-level ability to get open against zone, that will probably look like a lot of man coverage with help over the top shaded to wherever Kelce lines up.
A major test for the offensive line
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – OCTOBER 12: Chris Jones #95 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates his sack against the Denver Broncos during the second quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on October 12, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Defensive tackle Chris Jones didn’t play in the last meeting between the Patriots and Chiefs. He’s certainly been busy since though and is playing some of the best football of his career this year. He has 7.5 sacks in 12 games and ranks third among all interior defenders this year with 51 pressures.
The last two weeks in particular, Jones has been a game-wrecker. He’s tied his season high for pressures with seven in each of the last two, and would have been player of the game against Buffalo last week had the Chiefs’ offense not imploded late.
Adding to the threat Jones brings is the fact that defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will move him all around the formation. He’s starting to get more snaps as a defensive end, which allows the Chiefs to pick their matchups on a play-by-play basis.
That brings us to Sunday’s matchup. Look for the Chiefs to test different members of the Patriots’ offensive line with Jones early, trying to find a spot to exploit. That could be either of the guard spots, which has struggled with line games this year, or potentially off left tackle if the Patriots rotate Trent Brown again.
Wherever he’s coming from, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Jones get in the backfield regularly. If he does, it’ll be up to Bailey Zappe to handle the pressure and not get flustered.
Which Bailey Zappe will we get?
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 07: Quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) of the New England Patriots looks to pass in the first half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on December 07, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Last week was a tale of two halves for Bailey Zappe. He started the game going 14-of-21 for 196 yards and three touchdowns, but came out of the locker room and threw just nine passes, completing five for 44 yards with an interception.
Given the context that made some sense, as the Patriots got careful to protect what was a 21-10 halftime lead. While that approach may have worked against a Mitch Trubisky-quarterbacked Pittsburgh Steelers team it won’t work against these Chiefs, even with the overall lack of weapons around Patrick Mahomes.
Zappe had some high points last week, but wasn’t consistent. If he can string more of those moments together in this game, the Patriots will have a chance. But, it needs to be more than flashes from the quarterback position for the Patriots to keep the game close into the second half.
