6 rings: State of the Patriots chat & a Patriots/Chiefs preview with Jonas Gray
The Patriots are back at it this Sunday afternoon in Foxborough as they welcome the 8-5, suddenly beatable, Kansas City Chiefs to Gillette Stadium.
While most fans, both in the area and out, will be eyeing the luxury boxes with Taylor Swift in the building, this weekend's contest is about the players. Here are 10 to watch:
10 - LB Nick Bolton, Chiefs
Linebacker Nick Bolton returned to the Chiefs lineup last weekend after a five game stint on injured reserve. A second round pick in 2021, Bolton has been a perennial starter in Kansas City’s defense since his rookie year and will only add to their already stout defense.
The 5-foot-11 backer is the Chiefs’ “green dot” on that side of the ball, and is someone Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe will need to be keep a keen eye on at all times on Sunday in they want to have success.
9 - RB Ezekiel Elliott, Patriots and 8 - RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs
Another week, another battle of backup running backs in a Patriots game.
With Rhamondre Stevenson still out with a high ankle sprain, New England will once again lean on Ezekiel Elliott to carry the load in the running back room this weekend. Last Thursday vs. the Steelers, he had a season high 29 touches (22 carries for 68 yards and 7 catches for 72 yards and a touchdown), and looked like the Zeke of old in the Patriots’ win.
As for the Chiefs, starting running back Isiah Pacheco has yet to practice this week with a shoulder injury, and it’s looking less and less like he’ll suit up vs. New England.
Pacheco’s absence will spring Clyde Edwards-Helaire into action. Kansas City’s first-round pick in 2020, CEH has failed to hold onto a consistent workload in Andy Reid’s offense, but will likely be called upon to be the bell cow against a stout Patriots’ run defense on Sunday.
7 - S Jabrill Pappers, Patriots
Safety Jabrill Peppers has been arguably been the Patriots best player this season. Last week versus the Steelers, Peppers tallied three tackles, a pass deflection, and an amazing interception that he baited QB Mitchell Trubisky into. Take a look:
Going against the best player in football in Patrick Mahomes, New England will need their rising star to shine this Sunday in Foxborough.
6 - TE Travis Kelce, Chiefs
For a variety of reasons, the most obvious being that he’s the boyfriend of pop sensation Taylor Swift, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will be one to watch this weekend at Gillette Stadium.
The best active tight end in the NFL and arguably the to greatest to ever play the game, Kelce is putting together another spectacular year and, with 104 yard against he Patriots on Sunday, would notch his eighth consecutive 1,000 yard season in Kansas City. Bodes watching.
5 - WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, Patriots
Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster had his best game as a Patriot last Thursday night, racking up 90 yards on four catches against his former team in the Steelers.
He’ll have a similar opportunity against another one of his former team’s in the Chiefs this Sunday.
“I loved JuJu when he was here,” said Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo this week when asked about the wide receiver he won a Super Bowl with last season. “He’s always a competitor, I just hope he doesn’t play well against us.”
It’ll be his task to stop that. I’m very intrigued for this matchup.
4 - DT Christian Barmore, Patriots and 3 - DT Chris Jones, Chiefs
Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore, who was limited in practice on Thursday with a shoulder injury and wasn’t present at Friday’s practice, has been the lynch pin in New England’s stout run defense this season.
The second-round pick out of Alabama has frequented the 10 players to watch list plenty this season as he puts together his best season as a pro, tallying 34 tackles and 4.5 sacks so far this season. He officially listed as questionable for Sunday’s game so if he does suit up he’ll be worth keep an eye on.
Same goes for the other sidelines dominant defensive tackle in Chris Jones. Arguably the second best player in Sunday’s game, Jones is, as Bill Belichick said this week, “a major problem” on the Chiefs defense. He has 7.5 sacks in 2023, and will contunie to make relentless play after relentless play as he navigates a contract year.
2 - QB Bailey Zappe, Patriots
Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe enters Sunday’s game 3-1 as a starter and coming off of a 240 yard, three touchdown game against the Pittsburgh Steelers last Thursday night.
“I just saw a very confident quarterback,” JuJu Smith-Schuster said of Zappe’s performance last week.“Someone out there just having fun, being himself, and just zipping it around and, you know, making the best of opportunities.”
Clearly, the offense is confident with him under center, they look like a collected bunch and, most importantly, they actually scored some points. Now it’s time for him to do it again.
1 - QB Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
The best player in the National Football League is the one who warrants the most eyes this Sunday in Foxborough.
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City’s quarterback, needs no introduction. The former Texas Tech Red Raider has completely taken the league over since being selected 10th overall by the Chiefs, and his trajectory only continues to point upward.
A two-time NFL MVP and a two-time Super Bowl champion, Mahomes would begin to truly break into Tom Bradyish territory with another Lombari under his belt this season. For now though? He gets to play the Patriots in Foxborough. That in itself will be a sight to see.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
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