The 5 most pivotal plays from the KC Chiefs 2019 regular season
By Scott Loring
Week 14: Bashaud Breeland‘s tip on the final play in Foxborough
On December 8th, the 8-4 Chiefs traveled to Massachusetts to take on the 10-2 Patriots. New England was coming off an embarrassing loss to the Texans on Sunday Night Football. The Patriots were eager to make a statement against the Chiefs, who were looking to draw within one game of New England in the conference race for the top seed.
The Chiefs averted disaster before the game even began, as the team’s equipment arrived at the stadium less than an hour before game time. But when it came down to kickoff, both teams were ready to roll.
After scoring on five of their first six possessions, the Chiefs were stymied in the 4th quarter. With 5:04 to play in the game, the Patriots forced the Chiefs into a second consecutive three-and-out before Tom Brady and the offense took over at their own 32, down 23-16.
A quick catch-and-run by Jakobi Meyers on the first play resulted in a 35-yard gain and the Patriots were in business at the Kansas City 33. Three plays later, Brady converted a 4th-and-6 with a 17-yard run (no typo) that put New England in striking distance at the Chiefs’ 12 with just 2:39 remaining on the game clock.
Just after the 2-minute warning, Brady was able to connect with receiver Julian Edelman, and the Patriots had 4th-and 3 at the Kansas City 5. Brady lined up from the shotgun with trips left. The Chiefs matched them in press man with no safety help. The Chiefs rushed eight, and the future Hall of Fame quarterback locked in on Edelman in the left flat of the end zone.
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Breeland made the only play he could from his positioning behind Edelman; the 5’11” corner leaped and reached over the 5’10” receiver’s shoulder. In a breathtaking moment, Breeland was able to swat Brady’s pass to the turf. Edelman took a dive in a last-ditch attempt to sway the favor of the referee, but to no avail.
Game over.
Andy Reid’s 100th career road win ended a 21-game winning streak at home for New England. The Chiefs would win out, while it was the beginning of the end for the Patriots. Tom Brady would ultimately lose 3 of his last 4 games in his home stadium, and it was that night that he handed the torch to the eventual Super Bowl MVP.
There are possibly a dozen other plays that you could point to from the 2019 regular season. It was an invigorating journey that did not come without its fair share of bumps, bruises, question marks and “did you see that!?” moments from the high-octane offense.
We also witnessed a coming of age for the maligned Chiefs defense, as evidenced by the fact that several of the most pivotal moments in 2019 occurred on that side of the ball.
When you turn on a football game, you want to be entertained. Chiefs Kingdom is spoiled these days, and we fully expect the organized chaos to continue in 2020.