With Taylor Swift in attendance at Gillette Stadium, the Patriots fall to the Chiefs 27–17.FL.
The New England Patriots were defeated 27–17 by the Kansas City Chiefs, the reigning Super Bowl winners, at Gillette Stadium in front of pop sensation Taylor Swift and a throng of Swifties.
Even for Patrick Mahomes, who is always unpredictable, this was an unexpected sight.
To set up running back Jerick McKinnon for a touchdown pass on Sunday, the quarterback, who has a highlight reel full of left-handed throws, arm contortions, and no-look passes, went down in a three-point stance in the single-wing formation.
Mahomes remarked, "That was sweet." He estimated that he hadn't lined up with his hand on the turf since competing in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine seven years before being selected. "That play was fantastic. It's challenging to score on their squad in the red zone. among the greatest.
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To assist the reigning Super Bowl winners in halting a two-game losing run, Mahomes completed passes for 305 yards and delivered two touchdown passes of his own. The Chiefs' 27-17 triumph thrilled Taylor Swift and all the Swifties in New England.
The Kansas City tight end caught five passes for 28 yards and had a possible score bounce off his hands while the pop star watched current boyfriend Travis Kelce in a luxurious suite in front of a large group of her supporters who had come to the stadium expressly to see her.
Rashee Rice caught nine catches for 91 yards and one touchdown, while McKinnon also ran for a touchdown. After the Chiefs (9-5) defeated the Broncos, who fell to Detroit on Saturday, two games ahead in the AFC West, Clyde Edwards-Helaire had a season-best 101 yards from scrimmage and leaped in the back of the end zone to pull in a high Mahomes touchdown pass.
"Winning is difficult when your competition is as close as the AFC is at the moment. Coach Andy Reid of the Chiefs stated, "And they're important," pointing out that New England has lost seven games by a single point. "The Patriots squad is really close. They're defending themselves quite well. They have a salty taste.
Instead of first-round draft pick Mac Jones, who was benched, Bailey Zappe made his third consecutive start and completed 23 of 31 passes for 180 yards for the Patriots. After suffering their sixth straight loss, New England (3-11) dropped to just one game behind Carolina in the battle for the top overall draft pick.
The Patriots appeared to be in third place that day, behind Swift and her beau's squad, which has won two of the last four NFL titles and possesses all of the star power New England ever claimed. The Patriots were flexed out of "Monday Night Football" due to their incompetence, an NFL first.
The six-time Super Bowl champions led 10-7 before giving up 20 consecutive points in what might have been the penultimate home game of head coach Bill Belichick's career.
It's insane to even consider. However, Kelce expressed his belief that the player still had some football left in him. I have the utmost regard for that gentleman. Going up against a Belichick defense is the hardest job in the NFL every time I face him."
While some fans lined up along the ramps and walkways hoping Swift might pass by on her way to the luxury boxes, others filed in carrying placards crying out to her. Kelce himself passed by a Swift poster honoring famous performers who had performed at Gillette Stadium.
Early in the second quarter, Swift—who is taking a break from her Eras Tour—was seen on the scoreboard donning a Chiefs sweatshirt and knit cap. She jokingly stuck out her tongue, waved, and kissed the supporters as the crowd erupted in laughter.
With Swift present, the Chiefs improved to 5-2. The best the Patriots had to give was Jon Bon Jovi, a friend of Belichick's who rang the lighthouse bell before the game and received only a lackluster cheer when he appeared on the scoreboard during play.
On Kansas City's opening drive, Harrison Butker missed a 39-yard field goal, ending a run of 61 consecutive successful kicks—just one short of his own franchise record. Chad Ryland of New England equaled him, missing his first attempt from 41 yards out.
Mahomes connected with Edwards-Helaire for 48 yards to the New England 15 on the following play. After two plays, McKinnon received a direct snap and completed a 4-yard touchdown ball to Rashee Rice.
Late in the second quarter, New England took advantage of Mahomes's first interception to score a field goal that gave them a 10-7 lead. Zappe then delivered a 16-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Henry. After Mahomes connected with McKinnon from 8 yards out to give Kansas City the lead, the score was 17–10.
Willie Gay intercepted Zappe on the following play for the Patriots, returning it 24 yards to the New England 7. The Chiefs led 24-10 two plays later when Mahomes lofted one to Edwards-Helaire in the back of the end zone.
After Mahomes' pass deflected off Kadarius Toney's hands and was intercepted by Jahlani Tavai, Kansas City took a 27-10 lead. Kevin Harris dashed eighteen yards for the touchdown two plays later.
Ekow Boye-Doe stopped Tommy Townsend's punt at the 1-inch line after the Chiefs were halted.
That was truly remarkable. Reid remarked, "That was close."
After Zappe's pass on a fourth-and-four went incomplete, the Patriots were unable to advance and turned the ball over on downs at their 7.
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