'Can't make' same mistakes vs. Pats

[KC Warpaint 3,251]

By Kevin Patra

Around the NFL Writer

Jan. 16, 2019

The Kansas City Chiefs fell 43-40 in a shootout to the New England Patriots in Week 6 after falling behind 24-9 at halftime before a comeback bid was ultimately wiped away by Tom Brady.

Patrick Mahomes lit up the box score in that loss, tossing for 352 yards and four touchdowns. A slow start, which included two first-half interceptions by the presumptive NFL MVP, however, put K.C. in a big hole.

Ahead of Sunday's AFC Conference Championship, Mahomes said Wednesday the Chiefs can't fall behind big again in the rematch.   

"We didn't feel good. Especially me, and I felt like we didn't play our best, especially early in the game," he said of the Week 6 loss. "When you play teams of this caliber, you play teams with this much history of knowing how to win and capitalizing on people's mistakes you can't come back and win games like that. It was shown that game. For us, we've learned from that, know we can't make those mistakes. We have to come out with our best effort from the beginning of the game all the way through the end and it's going to be a dog fight for the entire game if you want to try to come out with a win."

Mahomes said in the first meeting the Patriots gave him looks he hadn't seen before, which partially caused the slow start by the Chiefs' offense at Foxborough that night.

"They did what they always do, and that's come out with unscouted looks, stuff they haven't shown in weeks, maybe even years and then try to throw it on you and surprise you," he said. "For us, it's about finding ways to adjust to that as fast as possible and going out and having success and making those in-game adjustments in order to capitalize earlier in the game than we did last time."

Facing a Bill Belichick-coached team is tough for any quarterback. The Patriots' legend has been particularly dominant against green signal-callers. Against quarterbacks with one or fewer playoff starts since 2001, the Patriots are 8-0, have allowed just 56.9 completion percentage and 230.0 yards per game, have surrendered only nine TDs while logging 10 INTs and have allowed a passer rating of 73.3.   

Mahomes noted that the Patriots were one team that gave him most trouble out of all the defenses he's faced in his first year as a starting quarterback.

"Them and I would say Baltimore were probably the two biggest ones that threw out unscouted looks the whole entire game," he said. "But I think that just comes with the veteran leadership on the coaching staff and the players on that team. They have the talent where they can play the man coverage and do that stuff. At the same time, they can change up the look and do stuff they're not necessarily doing all season long and still execute it. So, when you play veteran teams like this, you have to make sure you have a plan for everything every single play."

Mahomes lit up the Patriots in the second half of the Week 6 matchup, taking advantage of several deep shots. The Chiefs QB completed three of his five deep passes for 169 yards with two TDs against the Patriots in the last meeting.

Mahomes knows he won't get the exact same looks from Belichick on Sunday. His job will be adjusting quicker this time around, so any early-game hole isn't as deep.

[Mloe68 1,521]

I thought Andy had a terrific game plan vs the Colts where we didn’t put to much on Mahomes plate in his first playoff game. And while PM struggled with some second half throws at times he also didn’t make any big mistakes.  

We are probably going to have to ask for more risk in this spot but same thing applies. A lot to ask of most 23 year olds, but he’s not most 23 year olds. Still BB has a history of finding flaws in inexperienced QBs and exploiting it. That battle is a crucial one for sure!

[FANATIC 852]

Geoff Schwartz‏Verified account @geoffschwartz 6m6 minutes ago

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Three of the last four games against the Pats, the Chiefs have scored 41,42 and 40. Two of those games Alex Smith was the QB. I'm trying to come with ways the Pats can stop the Chiefs offense and outside of "Mahomes makes a mistake" I'm not sure what they can do.

[soonerborn77 276]

BB will give looks Mahomes hasn’t seen before, Mahomes just needs to play his game and not force anything in early down situations.  

[FANATIC 852]

1 minute ago, soonerborn77 said:

BB will give looks Mahomes hasn’t seen before, Mahomes just needs to play his game and not force anything in early down situations.  

Agree.

Not sure BB has anything new left. There is just so many things you can do that works. BB has not done well at stopping KC. 

[artsy 1,137]

1 hour ago, FANATIC said:

Agree.

Not sure BB has anything new left. There is just so many things you can do that works. BB has not done well at stopping KC. 

BB will probably try and take a page from the Ravens defensive gameplan and hit Mahomes with a bunch of exotic blitzes and stunts.  Our oline does not seem to like it very much when the blitz comes..It worked for baltimore.

On offense, we will probably see the same ole dink and donk crap. Run on 1st, run on 2nd, throw to James White out of the backfield/Eldelmen/Gronk on a quick slant for 1st downs...chewing clock and keeping Mahomes on the sideline.

[Holmes4six! 974]

8 hours ago, artsy said:

BB will probably try and take a page from the Ravens defensive gameplan and hit Mahomes with a bunch of exotic blitzes and stunts.  Our oline does not seem to like it very much when the blitz comes..It worked for baltimore.

On offense, we will probably see the same ole dink and donk crap. Run on 1st, run on 2nd, throw to James White out of the backfield/Eldelmen/Gronk on a quick slant for 1st downs...chewing clock and keeping Mahomes on the sideline.

yes. they have to do this in order to neutralize dee ford and houston off the edge. i’m not to sure which lb is gonna cover white coming out. i hope the hell it ain’t ragland. 

edleman vs. fuller 

gronkowski vs. berry. 

ward nelson against hogan patterson or dorsett. 

kinds what i see. 

[Lamardirts 2,121]

Sorenson

34 minutes ago, Holmes4six! said:

yes. they have to do this in order to neutralize dee ford and houston off the edge. i’m not to sure which lb is gonna cover white coming out. i hope the hell it ain’t ragland. 

edleman vs. fuller 

gronkowski vs. berry. 

ward nelson against hogan patterson or dorsett. 

kinds what i see. 

 

[Calichief 3,024]

12 hours ago, artsy said:

BB will probably try and take a page from the Ravens defensive gameplan and hit Mahomes with a bunch of exotic blitzes and stunts.  Our oline does not seem to like it very much when the blitz comes..It worked for baltimore.

On offense, we will probably see the same ole dink and donk crap. Run on 1st, run on 2nd, throw to James White out of the backfield/Eldelmen/Gronk on a quick slant for 1st downs...chewing clock and keeping Mahomes on the sideline.

he is going to do everything he can to take away hill. He said so much after the last game. The ravens corners were able to do a decent job in single coverage. I don't think the Patriots can. I don't think Bill will be able to blitz and take Hill away. IMO

[sith13 1,746]

Considering the weather conditions covering White will be even more of a key. He has been moving the chains all year long out of backfield and just when we need DOD the most he might be out. Ragland vs White doesn't look good for us so I wouldn't rule out a Safety (namely Dirty Dan) playing in the box just to handle the throws to HBs. 

[Docbarnabee 225]

I rewatched the game and quite honestly, unsecured looks were not really mahomes problem in that game. I think he was a little tight in the first half. The hightower's interception was a bad throw. The interception at halftime he also was off with the throw. He missed a couple easy td's.  I believe he has grown a lot since that game.

Hightower's was all over Kelce and pretty much neutralized his effectiveness. Any will figure that out. I do not see any way New England keeps is under 35 points.

The big difference is Defense. Scandrick and parker were a liability in coverage. Add Berry and Houston in the mix and subtract out Gordon, they Patriots at tops score 28 against us. If we do not turn over the ball, this game will not be close. Chiefs should win by st least 2 TD.

[robgar 1,046]

well unless you consistently run exotic blitzes and stunts.. when you start trying to.. they just become penalties.

[DefensiveMan 758]

11 hours ago, Docbarnabee said:

I rewatched the game and quite honestly, unsecured looks were not really mahomes problem in that game. I think he was a little tight in the first half. The hightower's interception was a bad throw. The interception at halftime he also was off with the throw. He missed a couple easy td's.  I believe he has grown a lot since that game.

Hightower's was all over Kelce and pretty much neutralized his effectiveness. Any will figure that out. I do not see any way New England keeps is under 35 points.

The big difference is Defense. Scandrick and parker were a liability in coverage. Add Berry and Houston in the mix and subtract out Gordon, they Patriots at tops score 28 against us. If we do not turn over the ball, this game will not be close. Chiefs should win by st least 2 TD.

Rewatched the game as well. Our lines dominated both sides of the ball. Bad angles and tackling allowed their RBs to get to the second level. Won't happen this time. We tackle solid and batten down in the redzone and we'll be fine. Our O-Line will show why this is the best unit left out of the final 4 teams.