3 keys to the New England Patriots beating the Kansas City Chiefs

2. Attack the Chiefs defense with the ground game

The Kansas City Chiefs are giving up 141.3 rush yards per game this year. That’s the third-worst mark in the NFL, just above the lowly tallies of the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals.

Of course, the Dolphins and Bengals are a combined 4-20 this year and currently represent the only two squads in the AFC that have technically been eliminated from postseason contention in 2019. The Chiefs, on the other hand, are a legitimate playoff contender at 8-4 with Super Bowl aspirations.

Obviously the best way to beat this team is by pounding them with the rock.

Can the Patriots do that this year though? Sony Michel rushed 24 times for 106 yards and two touchdowns in his first meeting against the Chiefs in 2018. He then followed that up by rushing 29 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns in his second meeting against the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.

Overall, the Patriots averaged nearly 175 yards on the ground in their two meetings against the Chiefs last year.

As anyone who’s watched any New England football in 2019 can attest, Sony Michel does not look like the same player in his second year that he looked like as a rookie. In 12 games this year, he has yet to eclipse 91 yards. Whereas Michel averaged 4.5 yards per tote in 2018, that number is down a full yard to 3.5 yards per carry in 2019.

Rex Burkhead and James White haven’t been much better. The Patriots will need one of these three players – or perhaps a combination of them – to lead the way Sunday against a Chiefs run defense that is once again the key to beating K.C.