Chiefs-Patriots Capsule

KANSAS CITY (12-4) at NEW ENGLAND (14-2)

Thursday, 8:30 p.m. EDT, NBC

OPENING LINE - Patriots by 7 1/2

SERIES RECORD - Chiefs lead 17-14-3

LAST MEETING - Patriots beat Chiefs 27-20 in divisional playoffs, Jan. 16, 2016

AP PRO32 RANKING - Chiefs No. 7, Patriots No. 1

CHIEFS OFFENSE - OVERALL (20), RUSH (15), PASS (19)

CHIEFS DEFENSE - OVERALL (24), RUSH (26), PASS (18)

PATRIOTS OFFENSE - OVERALL (4), RUSH (7), PASS (4)

PATRIOTS DEFENSE - OVERALL (8), RUSH (3), PASS (12)

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES -Patriots have won two of past three meetings. ... Bill Belichick holds 5-1 edge over Andy Reid in head-to-head meetings. ... Chiefs beat Patriots 41-14 at Arrowhead Stadium in last regular-season matchup. ... Kansas City won AFC West in 2016 for first time since 2010. ... Chiefs have won 22 of past 26 regular-season games. ... Chiefs led NFL with 33 takeaways. They were also plus-16 in turnover differential last season, tied for best in NFL. ... Kansas City scored 105 points off turnovers, third best in league, and forced league-best eight red-zone turnovers. ... Chiefs CB Marcus Peters tied for second in NFL with six interceptions last season. ... Chiefs QB Alex Smith is 9-0 in regular-season games against AFC East, beating Patriots in their only meeting. His only postseason loss to division was also to Patriots two years ago. ... Travis Kelce led all NFL tight ends with 1,125 receiving yards and ranked second with 85 catches in 2016. ... S Eric Berry tied for NFL lead returning two interceptions for TDs in 2016. ... New England is coming off capturing its fifth Super Bowl title to cap 2016 season. ... Patriots begin 2017 trying to become first team to win consecutive Super Bowls since they did it during 2003 and 2004 seasons. ... They have won eight consecutive division titles, most in NFL history. ... New England is 4-0 in season openers after winning previous season's Super Bowl. ... QB Tom Brady is expected to become 13th quarterback since 1970 merger to start an NFL game after turning 40. ... Previous time Brady opened season against Chiefs in 2008, he suffered season-ending left knee injury. ... Rob Gronkowski returns after being limited to eight games in 2016 and undergoing back surgery in December. He leads NFL tight ends with 68 TD catches and ranks second with 6,095 receiving yards since entering league in 2010. ... WR Brandin Cooks makes Patriots debut after leading Saints with 1,173 receiving yards in 2016. ... DE Trey Flowers led team with seven sacks last season. ... Fantasy Tip: Brady should be numbers producer in 2017. Even with his four-game ''Deflategate'' suspension he managed 3,554 yards passing and 28 touchdowns.

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