The New England Patriots may not have, in the post-Tom Brady era, the same home-field advantage that they used to. However, according to some current NFL stars, that doesn’t mean it isn’t a difficult if not despised place to play.
On the latest episode of the “New Heights” podcast, co-hosted by brothers and current NFL players Jason (Eagles) and Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Travis says that his least favorite place to play is in New England. And it’s not because the Chiefs have had a hard time winning there. In fact they’re 2-1 in Foxboro over the past five-plus seasons. No, Kelce says it’s because of the Foxboro Faithful and their crude senses of humor that he hates playing against New England, and especially in Gillette Stadium, so much.
“I absolutely hate playing the Patriots”, the seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time First Team All-Pro admits to his brother Jason, the current Philadelphia Eagles center, hardly a Pats fan himself. “I’m mad at them calling out my mom in the stands.”
That would technically make it their mother, but we digress.
Adds Travis, “Your momma jokes are cool, just when you say them to me. Not to my mom. Like, when mom’s leaving the stadium and she’s getting heckled, that just f***in’ ow blows, man.”
Patriots fans and the Chiefs have no love lost. Harken back to 2018, a thriller the Patriots won 41-38 as time expired, when Tyreek Hill had a beer thrown at him in the end zone after scoring a long touchdown. And the Patriots and Chiefs fans will hardly be exchanging holiday cards anytime soon either, which center David Andrews can attest to from the AFC Championship in January of 2019. Then again, it seems Andrews is an easy target for riled up opposing fans…and he’s such a good guy off-field!
Anyway, these accusations of profane language and personally targeted barbs shouldn’t really come as a surprise, seeing as Pats fans were recently ranked third worst in the league. And Kelce doesn’t appear too angry, rather seeming to believe Pats fans just take it a little too far. Which, if we’re being fair, is something most fans around New England wouldn't disagree with and likely not apologize for. Hey, it’s New England! Few do salty or inappropriate bettah! Just part of what makes playing in Foxboro so unique. And if it wasn’t annoying to opposing players then the fans wouldn’t be, as Bill Belichick always reminds them, doing their job.
Those curious if Kelce’s comments would crank the rhetoric up further will have to wait, as the Pats and Chiefs aren’t scheduled to play this season.
Related
