PATRIOTS HAS SIGN VETRAM QB AGAINST THEIR NEXT MATCH WITH CHIEFS.

This is a great time to look through the What Might Have Been file because the Chiefs are traveling to New England on Sunday. Let’s go back to 2017 and the draft of Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs faced the Patriots in their season opener. A first-round draft pick frequently starts his professional career as a starter. This was the case for Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, and Anthony Richardson, the three quarterbacks chosen in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Mahomes made his debut in a regular-season game only once, during the Chiefs’ 2017 season finale against Denver. However, he was present for the Chiefs’ 2017 season opener pregame ceremony, where the Patriots celebrated winning their fifth Super Bowl in a row under Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. Mahomes remarked, “I’m glad I wasn’t playing that first game.” “Leaping a banner right out of the gates would have been a difficult test.” Instead, quarterback Alex Smith, a veteran of the Chiefs at the time, got the start. And as the Chiefs triumphed 42-27, Smith had one of his greatest games ever, throwing for 368 yards and four touchdowns while picking up no interceptions.

Mahomes and the Chiefs lost twice to the Patriots in his first season as the starting quarterback, including in overtime in the AFC Championship Game. Mahomes won in the regular season in 2019 and 2020 to raise his career record against New England to 2-2. The Patriots are 3-10 this time around, having just defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-18. Nevertheless, Mahomes is aware of the challenges posed by a Belichick defense. “He’s got it all,” Mahomes said. “He’ll incorporate things from ten to fifteen years ago into the strategy he uses today. Being a quarterback requires you to make quick adjustments.

The game on Sunday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, begins at noon (Central). Here are some things to watch: KEY PERFORMER TO MONITOR: GUARD JOE THUNEY Thuney first runs into his former squad. He won two Super Bowls while playing for the Patriots during his first five seasons in the NFL. Although the Chiefs’ rushing attack has improved recently, Isiah Pacheco, the running back, may miss his second straight game. With their third-best run defense in the NFL this season—88.2 yards per game—the Patriots have been outstanding against the run.

NFL PLAYER TO WATCH: JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER, WIDE RECEIVER Smith-Schuster, who just finished with 933 yards in Kansas City, hasn’t produced much for the Patriots. He has 260 yards on 29 receptions with one touchdown. However, he just had his best performance of the year against the Steelers, recording 90 yards on four receptions. Bailey Zappe, the quarterback who will replace Mac Jones for the third time, performed well against Pittsburgh as well. Steve Spagnuolo, the defensive coordinator for the Chiefs, described Smith-Schuster as a “elite competitor.” He’ll be hungry when playing his old team, too.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER TO WATCH: RICHIE JAMES, CHIEFS RETURN SPECIALIST With the exception of two blunders, the Chiefs’ punt-return strategy has been effective. James, who took over as the most recent return specialist, brought one back for 25 yards in the Bills game. James has a reception in each of the last two games despite missing eight due to injury. THE GUINNESSES With 301 regular-season wins, Belichick is the third-most successful head coach in NFL history. Andy Reid comes in fourth with 255 points.