Patriots: 3 Advantages NE Still Has Over Chiefs After Patrick Mahomes Deal
By Adam Weinrib
The New England Patriots are still superior to the Chiefs in a few key ways, despite KC’s Patrick Mahomes deal.
Yes, the Kansas City Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes locked up for the next 12 years, which isn’t…incredible for the Patriots.
No Dak Prescott-inspired grousing, no random Damien Williams deal to tie up their QB’s cap room. Finally, the franchise with one of the most storied histories of quarterback failure in the game has their elite man for a long, long time.
But the Pats ain’t scared of that.
New England proved that they’re still here in the AFC Championship Game just a year and a half ago, and will eternally have that same, swaggering mojo as long as a few specific pieces are in place. They’ve got a few clear advantages over KC moving forward, even after the Chiefs locked up their gunslinger.
3. Stephon Gilmore and the Patriots Secondary
The New England Patriots secondary outclasses the Chiefs’ version.
The Patriots could have forced Stephon Gilmore, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, out of town this offseason and ignited a full rebuild with a cap-clearing mega-deal.
Instead, they patched their hole at QB with a former MVP using their minuscule resources, and kept their strongest unit largely intact, thanks to the excellent existing depth at the position.
Jason and Devin McCourty both returned, too, we assume in perpetuity. After taking a leap forward, JC Jackson will continue his rotation duties, and Jonathan Jones steps in behind Gilly Lock. Hopes are high for second-rounder and Belichick prototype Kyle Dugger at safety, too.
Meanwhile, KC certainly won a title in spite of their secondary last year, susceptible to Steve Spagnuolo’s blitz-heavy package. The Pats enter 2020 as the reigning most fearsome defense in the league, buoyed by their secondary, while the Chiefs remain a middling unit captained by the Honey Badger, but reeling from the potential loss of Bashaud Breeland, recently arrested this offseason.
Advantage, Patriots, now and forever.