FOXBORO, Mass. — The New England Patriots have an embarrassing loss to avenge Saturday.
The Patriots were trampled 41-14 when they played the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4 of the 2014 regular season. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was pulled from the game late for then-rookie Jimmy Garoppolo, and head coach Bill Belichick was asked after the loss if his team had to “evaluate” the position. Brady is hoping for a role reversal this week, when the Patriots take on the Chiefs in the divisional round of the playoffs.
“I know we’ve all studied it,” Brady said about the 2014 game. “They played really well that night. We didn’t play very well. Hopefully, we can flip the script. That’ll be the opportunity we have, so it’s going to take a great effort. They have a lot of good players, great front, great group of linebackers, as well as any team we’ve faced in the secondary, so they’re good at all levels. They’ve got a good scheme. They put a lot of pressure on you and if you don’t handle it then they take advantage of it.”
Brady was 14 of 23 for 159 yards with a touchdown, two interceptions and a lost fumble in last year’s loss to the Chiefs. The Patriots were able to flip a switch after that game, going 10-2 in the remainder of the regular season and winning Super Bowl XLIX.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has since said that game was a turning point for his 2014 team.
Thumbnail photo via Denny Medley/USA TODAY Sports Images