New England Patriots vs Kansas City Chiefs: Scouting Report
By Hal Bent
When the Patriots run the ball
After running on eight of their first 10 plays to start the game, New England abandoned the running game against Houston last week.
The Patriots ended up passing on 10 of the next 11 plays (one was a Brady scramble which was never intended to be a running play) in the first half, quickly turning a 3-0 lead into a 14-3 deficit. Rather than continuing to run the ball, the Patriots went pass happy and fell behind, finishing with 47 pass attempts to just 29 rush attempts.
For the game, the Patriots rushed for 145 yards despite losing. The week prior, they had 101 yards on the ground with Sony Michel tallying his best performance of 2019. Both games coincided with the return of left tackle Isaiah Wynn, who has given the running game a boost with his athleticism firing off the line.
The Chiefs have been terrible against the run in 2019. Opponents have rushed for 180 or more yards in five games already this season, and only twice have they allowed less than 90 yards rushing. Kansas City is 30th in yards allowed (141.3 yards per game), 26th in rushing touchdowns allowed (12), and 30th in rushing yards allowed, surrendering 5.1 yards per rush.
Last year in the AFC Championship, the Patriots ran at will against the Chiefs, piling up 176 yards on 48 carries and pounding in four touchdowns on the ground… while also holding the ball for more than a two-to-one advantage in time of possession. The Patriots, as the weather grows colder, could begin establishing the running game as a key component on offense.
Starting defensive players such as safety Eric Berry, edge rushers Justin Houston and Dee Ford, and defensive tackle Allen Bailey were shown the door after the 2018 season. Edge rusher Frank Clark, safety Tyrann Mathieu, and defensive end Alex Okafor all were imported to Kansas City, along with new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
There has been no improvement in the Kansas City run defense despite the turnover on defense. Reggie Raglund has been in and out of the lineup at inside linebacker next to Anthony Hitchens. Damien Wilson is the latest ex-Cowboys inside linebacker to get a shot. Add in New York Jets 2016 first-round draft pick Darron Lee, and the Chiefs continue to throw bodies at the problem without any resolution.
Like against Houston early on, the Patriots should get the running game on track early and often. It falls on offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to remain calm, stick with the running game, and help the defense by keeping dangerous quarterback Patrick Mahomes seated on the bench for as long as they can.