New starter, replacing Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire was the most salient weapon of the Chiefs, who ended their series of defeats, on the Patriots' field.
New England Patriots (3-11) – Kansas City Chiefs (9-5): 17-27
Clyde Edwards-Helaire is not big, but he is brave. Of all the players on the field at Gillette Stadium, the Louisiana runner was even the smallest. As often, in fact. His 1.70 m, however, did not prevent him from standing out and making a catch in the in-goal a slightly ill-adjusted pass from Patrick Mahomes (10-24). We are here at the end of the third quarter, and the Patriots will not see their evening opponents again.
Two-headed monster
Before that, Clyde Edwards-Helaire (13 races, 37 yards, 4 receptions, 64 yards, 1 touchdown) had already remembered our good memories, notably on a 48-yard run to put his team in a scoring position. And since, in the absence of Isiah Pacheco, the Chiefs backfield operates by committee, Jerick McKinnon in turn stood out… Passing for the seventh touchdown of the season from Rashee Rice (0-7 ). Taking the ball out of Patrick Mahomes' hands, the solution to the Chiefs' recent woes was there.
[Patrick Mahomes étant à 6/6 et 107 yards à ce stade de la rencontre, la rédaction de DNA of Sports tient à préciser que la phrase précédente était un trait d’ironie ayant pour but de faire sourire. Merci de votre compréhension.]
Bailey Zappe was not perfect at this stage of the match, but almost. Sober and efficient. After a series concluding the first quarter with a punt, the Patriots quarterback promptly led his attack to the Chiefs ingoal, with a final pass to the line for Hunter Henry (7-7). On fourth attempt, please.
Zap to Henry and it's tied!
📺: #KCvsNE on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/kw7mays4qU pic.twitter.com/wXczNaw221— NFL (@NFL) December 17, 2023
Everyone at the reception
Joking aside, no Kansas City receiver fully assuming the No. 1 role in recent weeks, it is only natural that Andy Reid and Mahomes (27/37, 305 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions) diversify their options. Besides Rice (9 receptions, 91 yards), at ease this Sunday, six different players were on the receiving end of several passes on the Chiefs side. Among them, McKinnon (1/1, 4 yards, 1 touchdown, 4 races, 11 yards, 3 receptions, 11 yards, 1 touchdown), again, to give the advantage back to his team, just before the break (10- 14). And so Edwards-Helaire, returning from the locker room, after a field goal from Harrison Butker (10-17).
The rest, a walk in the park for the Chiefs who, far from the offensive flamboyance known so far in the Mahomes era, will have had the merit of reassuring themselves a little and not suffering a third consecutive setback for the first time since the taking over the reins from their star quarterback. And this, despite another blunder from Kadarius Toney, offering an interception, then a touchdown to New England and Kevin Harris. With qualification for the playoffs almost assured, the No. 1 seed still remains a possibility for the reigning champions.
