New England Patriots links 12/15/23 – Week 15 Pats-Chiefs: Previews, matchups, keys to victory

Daily news and links for Friday.

The Kansas City Chiefs shouldn’t take the Patriots lightly on Sunday. They’ve struggled a bit lately on offense and with focus. As many writers point out below, the Patriots played a good game against the Steelers in Week 14 but Bailey Zappe didn’t suddenly turn into Joe Montana. If the Patriots play a clean game this week – limiting the turnovers, good special teams field position, scoring in the red zone, making kicks, solid tackling, etc… they could give the Chiefs some trouble. Also, good luck to referee Shawn Hochuli and his crew, all eyes will be on your every move.

Considering the plan for rebuilding, it behooves the Patriots to not win, but I’m all in for a competitive, close game and making Patrick Mahomes sweat. Have a great weekend everyone, and Go Pats!

TEAM TALK

• Patriots-Chiefs updated Injury Report.
• Broadcast Info, Chiefs at Patriots: How to watch/listen.
• Evan Lazar spotlights how Anfernee Jennings is a ‘big part’ of the Patriots top-ranked run defense.
• What They’re Saying: Kansas City Chiefs.
• Press Conferences: Myles Bryant – Mike Gesicki – David Andrews – Anfernee Jennings.
• Belestrator: How the Patriots can slow down Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. (3 min. video)
• Patriots Unfiltered on TV: Chiefs preview, Steelers top takeaways, 1-on-1 with Jonathan Jones. (22 min. video)
• NFL Week 15 player to watch: Ezekiel Elliott. (1.43 min. video)
• Community: Patriots host 30th Annual Children’s Holiday Party. (1 min. video)
• Patriots Unfiltered: NFL Week 15 Picks, Previewing the Chiefs, Thursday practice updates. (2 hours)
• Patriots Catch-22: Key matchups to watch vs. Chiefs, 3 up/down from Steelers, Quarterback reset. (2 hours)

LOCAL LINKS

• Taylor Kyles’ Scouting Report: Keys to the the Patriots containing the Chiefs and tipping the scales in its favor with a sneaky upset.
• Murph releases his Monster Keys to a Patriots victory over the Chefs – great googly moogly.
• Matt Geagan tells us what to watch for in Sunday’s Patriots-Chiefs matchup. Could the Patriots pull off an upset? Crazier things have happened in the NFL this season. 1. Protecting Zappe.
• Doug Kyed points out the Patriots defense ranks 12th overall this season in EPA per play against, but they’re 2nd since Week 10. They’ve allowed just 44 points in that span – the fewest in the NFL. The Chiefs will present the defense’s first true test since Week 8 when they lost 31-17 to the Dolphins.
• Andrew Callahan wonders if Bill Belichick has any tricks left for Patrick Mahomes.
• Ian Logue (PatsFans) Five thoughts ahead of Patriots vs Chiefs showdown. 3) Heading into Sunday’s game, this is going to be a significant test for Zappe against one of the top teams in the Conference.
• Nick O’Malley’s Patriots-Chiefs anti-analysis: Tabloids blame Patriots game for Travis Kelce missing Taylor Swift’s birthday.
• Eric Wilbur rounds up what the experts are predicting for Sunday’s Patriots-Chiefs game. Some think the Pats can keep it close.
• Matt Vautour posts the AP Pats-Chiefs preview and MassLive’s Patriots vs. Chiefs picks against the spread. Matt: Chiefs win, Pats cover. Jim: Chiefs win.
• Mark Daniels relays Bailey Zappe explaining why he always believed he’d win the QB job, even after he was cut.
• Conor Ryan highlights former NFL GM and ex-Patriots staffer Michael Lombardi who believes that Robert Kraft’s call on Bill Belichick’s future isn’t set in stone.
• Alex Barth reports New England is dealing with an illness in the locker room ahead of Sunday’s game.
• Chris Mason reports the Patriots were missing Brenden Schooler and Trent Brown on Thursday – they both practiced Wednesday. Rhamondre Stevenson remained out.
• Mike D’Abate’s Pats Tracker: TE Pharaoh Brown ‘pays it forward’ to Holiday shoppers; More.
• Chris Mason’s Patriots mailbag: Who has most to gain in final month?
• Mike Kadlick spotlights three former Patriots who were part of the action last night when the Raiders beat up on the Chargers in historic fashion.
• Nick O’Malley discusses the report of the NFL adding South America to its slate of international games. The owners approved to increase the number of international games each season from four to eight starting in 2025.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Nate Tice (Yahoo! Sports) The Overhang: Can Mike McDaniel scheme his way out of Dolphins’ injury hell? Is Patrick Mahomes doomed because of Chiefs’ drops?
• Will Brinson (CBS Sports) NFL Week 15 odds, best bets: Chiefs-Patriots will be an offensive struggle. Rain and wind in the forecast will only help limit the points.
• Matt Verderame (SI) NFL Week 15: Best matchups include Cowboys’ secondary vs. Stefon Diggs.
• NFL Nation (ESPN) NFL Week 15 picks, schedule, odds, injuries, more.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Updated AFC and NFC standings, clinching scenarios for Week 15.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Quarterback injuries haven’t hurt ratings.
• Dalton Miller (ProFootballNetwork) NFL Week 15 predictions. Five of five pick Chiefs. ‘The Chiefs need to get back on track — particularly offensively. Unfortunately for them, the one thing that New England can still do at a high level is defend their pants off.’
• Sheil Kapadia (The Ringer) Week 15 NFL picks against the spread. Chiefs at Patriots: “… There’s a lot on the line here. If the season ended today, New England would have the second pick in the draft. But a win here, combined with a Cardinals loss, would knock the Patriots down a spot. But I don’t think that’s going to be an issue. Bailey Zappe didn’t suddenly turn into Joe Montana, and the Chiefs need a get-right game. I think Kansas City avoids a three-game skid and takes care of business.” Chiefs win and cover.
• Steven Ruiz (The Ringer) After lackluster starts for the Packers, Broncos, Texans, and more, these teams still have hopes for the playoffs. Will they make it, or return to relative obscurity?
• NFL Nation (ESPN) 2024 NFL draft: News, nuggets and what all 32 teams need. Patriots: There’s a decision due this offseason on quarterback Mac Jones’ fifth-year option for 2025. The Patriots will likely decline it, which would mean they’re back in the first-round quarterback conversation. It doesn’t necessarily lock in that they’ll take a passer from what’s considered a talented class. Their needs are plentiful, with offensive line and wide receiver atop the list. There is also a rather large question of whether the Bill Belichick regime will be making the picks, so there’s plenty to sort out between now and then. — Mike Reiss.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Embrace of technology could eliminate player misalignment.
• Dan Wetzel (Yahoo! Sports) Where does Matt Araiza go to to get his reputation — let alone his NFL career — back?
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Ex-Jaguars employee accused of embezzling $22 million from team pleads guilty.

VIEW FROM KANSAS CITY

• Jared Sapp (Arrowhead Pride) On to New England — Chiefs ready to move past painful Week 14 loss. Kansas City’s upcoming opponent, even in a down season, is very dangerous.
• Jordan Foote (Arrowhead Report) Chiefs have ultimate respect for Belichick entering Pats game.
• Zack Eisen (Arrowhead Report) Chiefs Have an ongoing offensive philosophical battle.
• AP (Newsday) Chiefs hoping to snap rare 2-game losing streak in visit to New England to play reeling Patriots.
• Charles Robinson (Arrowhead Addict) NFL picks, Week 15: KC Chiefs seriously need a win over Patriots.
• John Dixon (Arrowhead Pride) Chiefs open as 10-point favorites over the Patriots in Week 15.
• Ron Kopp (Arrowhead Pride) Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs’ receivers cannot get on the same page downfield: The star quarterback’s public frustration may be boiling over from the results on the field.