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Kansas City Chiefs: Predicting results of every game in 2019

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrates with tight end Travis Kelce after Kelce scored a touchdown on a pass reception early in the third quarter against the New England Patriots during the AFC Championship game on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrates with tight end Travis Kelce after Kelce scored a touchdown on a pass reception early in the third quarter against the New England Patriots during the AFC Championship game on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) /
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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/TNS via Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/TNS via Getty Images) /

Week 14 – Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots (Cullen)

The wear-and-tear starts taking its toll on both teams by this point in the season. The end-result of this match-up depends on which coach is better suited with adapting his game plan to fit the needs of his healthy players this late in the season. If it comes down to the wits of the head coaches, there’s really only one head coach I’d take over Andy Reid: Bill Belichick.

New England has started off slowly in recent seasons before turning it on down the stretch, and Week 14 certainly qualifies as “down the stretch.” The Patriots, led by the aging Tom Brady, has a solid stable of running backs from James White to Sony Michel to Rex Burkhead to rookie Damien Harris.

And though tight end Rob Gronkowski has retired, Brady still has such targets as Julian Edelman and Demaryius Thomas. At this point, he could also have Josh Gordon back. And don’t sleep on rookie first-round pick N’Keal Harry. He could very well be the team’s No. 1 or No. 2 target this late in the season.

What will the Chiefs look like at this point? They have solid depth at wide receiver, but virtually none at tight end beyond Travis Kelce. The lack of depth along the offensive line is also concerning.

And if Carlos Hyde fails to make it out of the preseason, the team will be relying on some very young, inexperienced running backs this late in the year. Still, Mahomes is one of those rare types of quarterbacks who, like Brady, makes those around him better instead of the other way around.

Prediction: By this point in the season, thanks to such a wonderful start, the Chiefs have the AFC West all but wrapped up. Of course, the AFC is the regular season prize, so they won’t be lying down in this match-up. But, again, it will come down to tactics, to strategy, to wits, and no one in the game is better at those three things than Belichick.

Patriots win, 27-21.

Standout Player: Despite the loss, rookie Juan Thornhill shines, breaking up key passes to keep the Chiefs close while leading the team in tackles. It won’t be enough, but it gives him, and the defense around him, confidence heading into the final weeks of the season, and for the inevitable AFC Championship game against New England.

RECORD: 10-3