The Day After: Grading the Chiefs win over the Patriots
By Chris Taylor
3rd Quarter
The Chiefs and Patriots traded punts on their first drives of the 2nd half, and then the fun started.
On the first play of their second possession of the half, Alex Smith heaved a ball downfield to a wide open Tyreek Hill. Seventy five yards later, Hill gave the peace sign to those chasing him as the Chiefs took a 21-17 lead.
Two drives later, helped by two penalties by Terrance Mitchell and a 22-yard reception by Danny Amendola, Gillislee scored his third touchdown of the night on a 1-yard run. The Patriots added a field goal on their next drive to go up six, 27-21.
THE FINAL QUARTER
Alex Smith went into the fourth quarter like a man being pushed towards greatness. Two plays into the fourth quarter, Smith threw deep again. This time, a perfectly placed ball to Kareem Hunt turned into an incredible 78-yard touchdown. The offense that Chiefs fans have been begging for was starting to show signs of life.
On the Patriots ensuing drive they were faced with another 4th and 1. Again the Chiefs defense refused to budge.
With under 9 minutes remaining in the game, the Chiefs matriculated on down the field with Hunt scoring his third touchdown as he dived for the far pylon on a 4-yard rush. The offense had opened up. The defense had buckled down.
This was Tom Brady’s stage. Down at home, big game atmosphere. However, those hopes of another Brady comeback went crashing down, much like Brady did as Justin Houston pile drove him into the turf. The feeling in the air was that the game was lost already. On that same play Eric Berry, who had an outstanding game, was carted off due to an apparent Achilles injury.
Even with the Berry injury, the confidence was overwhelming coming from the Chiefs. After two incomplete passes the Patriots punted back to the Chiefs. On the next play Kareem Hunt ran to the left for a gain of 58 yards. The following play sent Charcandrick West 21 yards into the end zone. Two sacks by Allen Bailey and Justin Houston forced another punt from the Patriots own end zone. The Chiefs would run the clock down and finish in the victory formation.