KC Chiefs: Reasons to be excited for 2019 season
By Mike Norris
Although it hasn’t actually happened, it feels like the Chiefs and Patriots have played each other the past ten years, and all on Thursday Night Football to open the season.
The foes have actually matched up at least once in only four of the past five seasons, and to open the season only once — a 42-27 Chiefs victory in Foxborough two years ago.
One of those four years included only a postseason matchup, but since 2014 the new AFC rivals have faced off five times with the Patriots holding a 3-2 edge. In those games, however, Kansas City has averaged 34.8 points compared to just 29.6 for New England.
When the 2019 Chiefs opponents were announced in December, you guessed it, the Patriots were slated for a sixth matchup since 2014.
The full schedule has not yet been released, but since 2004 the NFL has opened with the defending Super Bowl champion hosting the season-opening game (save for one odd situation in 2013). That means the six-time champion Patriots will be hosting, and if the NFL likes high ratings — which we all know it does — they will slot the KC Chiefs in as the opponent.
While playing the Patriots on the road in the regular season for the third straight time is not ideal, it’s still a national TV game for Mahomes and the Chiefs to shine. And also to remind everyone despite what happened in the AFC title game last month, the torch will eventually be passed from Tom Brady to young Patrick.
If the Chiefs are slotted with the tough task of playing in Foxborough seven months from now, know that under Reid, Kansas City is 1-1 in its past two trips to New England, outscoring the Patriots, 82-70.
If you want to be considered one of the elites, you have to beat the Elite, and the KC Chiefs are certainly capable of that. They’ll most likely head into the game as early Super Bowl LIV favorites, and could actually be expected to win.
What a spot for your KC Chiefs to be in.