December 7, 2019

By Fred Liggett
FredL@lstribune.net

Here we go again….the Kansas City Chiefs are once again this week playing in the featured Sunday afternoon game on CBS with kickoff at 3:25 p.m. Last week the Chiefs did very well on this big stage with nearly 80% of the country watching their home game against AFC West Division rival Oakland. In fact things went so well the Chiefs game in the second half was switched in other parts of the country to another game.

This week a number of things will be different as the team will be on the road and it’s not against a division rival but AFC powerhouse New England. There are many variables to this week’s match up that will play a part in who wins and who loses. But to most of the country and certainly CBS it’s going to be thought of as Pat Mahomes vs Tom Brady the two quarterbacks starting the game. CBS in fact will have their top broadcast team in place Sunday to broadcast the game. The team consists of Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson.

Not only are the quarterbacks thought of as must see TV but the Chiefs vs Patriots has meant pure gold in football entertainment the last three times they have met. The Chiefs stunned the defending Super Bowl Champions with a 42-27 win in New England to open the 2017 season. Last year many NFL fans were entertained by a Sunday night match up that the Patriots won 43-40. Then came the AFC Championship game in late January that went to overtime before being decided as the Pats won 37-31.

Nothing like that on the line this Sunday but there are huge AFC playoff implications present for both teams. The Chiefs sit at 8-4 with a two-game lead in the AFC West Division. While that is great for a division championship the team is also fighting for a bye in next month’s AFC playoffs. With teams like Baltimore, Indianapolis and Houston all in the mix for spots and all three of them have played the Chiefs. The Patriots enter the game at 10-2 and a one-game lead in the AFC East Division over Buffalo.

Making things even more interesting is how the two teams seem to be going in opposite directions. The Patriots were manhandled last Sunday night in Houston. The team looked bewildered after the loss as they left the field. The Chiefs are getting healthy and starters who missed time are returning. Last week’s blowout win over Oakland the Chiefs defense showed improvement from the first half of the season. Safeties Tyrann Mathieu and rookie Juan Thornhill had a big day and look to do it again against the Patriots.

The Chiefs players know the test that awaits them in New England having played them so often over the past three seasons. The Patriots have won a lot of big games over the years and have a lot of pride. Not looking good last week will push them to be better this time out. That pride and a trick play or two will be enough for them to earn another win at home against the Chiefs. That’s What I REID Into It for this week.

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