KC Chiefs vs. NE Patriots: NFL Week 15 Preview and Predictions
The Kansas City Chiefs are back in action on Sunday, this time on the road facing an opponent that is also struggling to find itself right now.
With that said, the 3-10 New England Patriots are far worse off than Andy Reid's Kansas City club is. With the home team having already been eliminated from playoff contention, there isn't a ton to play for outside of what could be Bill Belichick's final handful of games with the franchise. The Chiefs have mostly everything still in front of them and need some help to achieve their ultimate goal, but all of that is irrelevant they can't take care of business over the next handful of weeks.
Favored by more than a touchdown, betting markets and analysts alike believe the Chiefs won't struggle too much in Week 15. On the flip side, New England's defense remains formidable and scoring points efficiently hasn't exactly been Kansas City's specialty in 2023. Is this a bounce-back game for Patrick Mahomes and Co., or could the hosts play a bit of the spoiler role and pull off an upset? Sunday afternoon will bring all the answers.
How will Sunday's game unfold? The Arrowhead Report crew makes their predictions.
Joshua Brisco: Unfortunately for the Chiefs, they can’t prove much in a positive way the next four weeks. Four backup quarterbacks and at least three non-playoff teams means they have to handle business but can’t claim to have their issues “fixed,” even if they win out. However, Bill Belichick’s Patriots defense should be a useful measuring stick for KC’s recent offensive woes. If they lose this game, the sky will continue falling until further notice.
Prediction: Chiefs 20, Patriots 10
Jordan Foote: Coming off another tough loss, this feels like a good time for the Chiefs to show that they mean business. While whatever "improvement" they show won't necessarily lead anyone to believe it's legitimate long-term, it would be a good first step in the right direction. Simply put, the Patriots' offense isn't even good enough to hang with this version of the Chiefs. If Kansas City stays out of its own way on Sunday — something that is always a question — Andy Reid's squad should cover the spread and resemble a quality football team again. The Chiefs know they need to win their next four games if they want a chance at securing the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
Prediction: Chiefs 27, Patriots 10
Mark Van Sickle: The Chiefs are sliding a bit and while the Patriots haven’t been good, they are coming off their best win of the season. That said, I don’t think the Patriots score 20 points against the Chiefs' defense. The offense needs to do just enough to get the Chiefs a road win and back on the right track for the final quarter of the regular season. Can they get it done? I think so.
Prediction: Chiefs 17, Patriots 9
Zack Eisen: The Chiefs lost their fifth game of the season last week, and it’s the fifth loss that could be placed on the disaster of a wide receiver room. The good news is the Chiefs only get to play the greatest defensive mind the sport has ever seen this week. I think everyone knows how the Patriots will defend the Chiefs, and it might not matter because of the lack of talent the Chiefs have on the outside. At least Kansas City’s defense should have its way with New England’s offense, bouncing back from a few rocky weeks. My score prediction looks unserious, but it’s serious until the offense proves it can play good football for 60 minutes.
Prediction: Chiefs 2, Patriots 0
Conner Christopherson: This game would have the stink of a trap game if the Chiefs hadn’t lost three of four already. Now, fresh off a loss, it feels like the Chiefs are dialed in and ready to try and find a way to make this team truly work. What that looks like, I don’t know. I do know it will easily be enough for a hapless Patriots team that a very good Chiefs defense should be able to handle. Hopefully, the Chiefs' offense can follow the defense's lead and start building towards the playoffs.
Prediction: Chiefs 23, Patriots 11
Marlow Ferguson Jr.: If there’s one area the Chiefs' offense has performed well, it’s been in these “get right” games against fledgling teams with little hope. Such is the case for the New England Patriots, who’ve already been eliminated from postseason contention. One-score games haven’t been friendly to the Chiefs; each of their last three losses have come in that manner, which makes this a friendly matchup. It may only take a pair of touchdowns to close out a wounded Patriots offense averaging just 13 points per game. It feels like time for Kansas City to cue up one of those “reminder” games, limiting mistakes just enough to flex their muscles and stay afloat in a still-wide-open AFC.
Prediction: Chiefs 27, Patriots 9
