The New England Patriots have come a long way in 15 short months since their last matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs, but that doesn’t mean head coach Bill Belichick won’t look at the film from that game as he prepares for the divisional round of the playoffs.
After the 41-14 shellacking on Sept. 29, 2014, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was asked by a reporter if he planned to “evaluate” the quarterback position, since Tom Brady struggled through the first four games of the 2014 season. Belichick essentially acted out the abbreviation “SMDH” in response, and his team went on to win Super Bowl XLIX.
Brady went 14 of 23 for 159 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions against the Chiefs in Week 4 of last season but then completely flipped a switch and was 23 of 35 for 292 yards with two touchdowns in his next game. That transition is proof the Patriots can bounce back after a touch stretch, which they’ve battled through again this season, though their latest slump came in December and January rather than September.
“We’ll definitely look at that game,” Belichick said. “That was a pretty dominant performance by Kansas City, so I’m sure that there are things from that game that they might try to do or feel like they can still do or want to do they did in that game. We definitely have to take that into consideration, but a lot of time has passed there, so there are a lot of things to look at too, not just that game by any means.”
Belichick can use that game as a teaching tool for his team to show exactly how not to play against the Chiefs on Saturday at 4:35 p.m. ET. The Patriots let up 236 yards and three touchdowns through the air and 207 yards and a score on the ground.
“There’s been what, 25 games played since that? And it’s definitely a game to look at, but there’s so many other — a couple thousand plays on either side of the ball,” Belichick said. “So I think you look at it. There’s definitely some things to take from it. There are some things that are somewhat outdated, just based on the players and personnel, the situation, that kind of thing. It has relevance.
“We’re certainly going to have to prepare and coach the team a lot better than we did that night. So, that’s what we’ll try to do.”
The Patriots won’t have to deal with many of the Chiefs’ offensive weapons from that game. Running back Jamaal Charles is on injured reserve, Knile Davis has taken on a reduced role and receivers Donnie Avery and Dwayne Bowe are no longer on the team. The 2015 Chiefs have rattled off 11 consecutive wins, however, thanks to an impressive defense that features pass rushers Justin Houston and Tamba Hali, linebacker Derrick Johnson, nose tackle Dontari Poe, free safety Eric Berry and rookie cornerback Marcus Peters.
The Patriots also have the advantage of playing this game at Gillette Stadium rather than Arrowhead Stadium. The Patriots are 14-3 in home playoff games since Belichick took over as head coach in 2000.
Thumbnail photo via John Rieger/USA TODAY Sports Images
