In a game at Gillette Stadium, the Kansas City Chiefs handed the New England Patriots a home loss with a final score of 27-17. Despite pop icon Taylor Swift watching from a luxury suite, the Patriots struggled in the second half and dropped to a 3-11 record for the season.
The loss confirmed that the Patriots would miss the playoffs for the third time in four seasons. The team, which has had a challenging season, is facing questions about the status of head coach Bill Belichick, who led the Patriots to six Super Bowl wins.
The Patriots’ struggles were evident in the game against the Chiefs, and the team’s record at home fell to 1-7. This has led to speculation about the potential end of the Belichick era in New England.
Jerick McKinnon had a rushing and receiving touchdown for Kansas City, with rookie receiver Rashee Rice catching nine passes for 91 yards and a score, while veteran running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire had a season-high 101 yards from scrimmage.
During the postgame news conference, Belichick, known for providing a synopsis of the game, went straight to questions, indicating the challenges the team is facing in a difficult season.
Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce expressed respect for Belichick, acknowledging the toughness of facing a Belichick-led defense. Kelce also shared his belief that Belichick still has some football left in him.
As the Patriots look ahead to the remaining three games of the season, the questions surrounding Belichick’s future with the team persist, adding an element of uncertainty to the end of the season and the offseason.
Other scores from the NFL from the weekend:
Las Vegas 63, LA Chargers 21 (Thursday)
Cincinnati 27, Minnesota 24 (Saturday)
Indianapolis 30, Pittsburgh 13 (Saturday)
Detroit 42, Denver 17 (Saturday)
Tampa Bay 34, Green Bay 20
Carolina 9, Atlanta 7
New Orleans 24, NY Giants 6
Kansas City 27, New England 17
Houston 19, Tennessee 16 (OT)
Cleveland 20, Chicago 17
Miami 30, NY Jets 0
LA Rams 28, Washington 20
San Francisco 45, Arizona 29
Buffalo 31, Dallas 10
Baltimore 23, Jacksonville 7
Seattle 20, Philadelphia 17 (Monday)
