FOXBORO, Mass. — If you’re interested in conjuring up some bad memories, ask Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots about the last time they faced the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs are New England’s opponent Saturday in an AFC Divisional Round matchup at Gillette Stadium. They’re also the team that walloped the Patriots 41-14 in Week 4 last season at Arrowhead Stadium, prompting widespread panic in New England as the club dropped to (gasp) 2-2 before going on to win Super Bowl XLIX.
Belichick was asked Tuesday if he can apply any lessons learned from that painful loss to Saturday’s playoff matchup. At first, the Patriots coach played along.
“We’re definitely aware of it,” Belichick said. “Went back and looked at it. There’s the same coaches and there’s a lot of the same players. There’s a lot of different players. There’s been a lot of games since then, a lot of snaps since then. So, it’s one component of it. There are certainly lots and lots of other ones as well.”
That’s a reasonable answer to a reasonable question. But the questions about the Chiefs loss didn’t stop there, as Belichick was asked to pinpoint what went wrong in the defeat.
That’s when things got a little testy.
“I mean, we talked about that game afterwards,” Belichick snapped. “I’m sure you have plenty to go back and look at everything I said right after the game. Do you want something more than that?
“Whatever it is, I mean, that was a year and a half ago. So whatever you want, I’m sure there’s plenty of — I mean, I was asked a thousand questions about it. If you don’t have access to it, I’m sure you can get the transcript to that.”
The Patriots can glean some information about the Chiefs from the last time the teams met. But as for dwelling on that ugly 2014 loss, it’s clear Belichick is on to Kansas City — this season’s version, that is.
Thumbnail photo via Ed Mulholland/USA TODAY Sports Images
