Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports The Patriots will go up against one of the league’s best quarterbacks and offensive coaches on Sunday. Even though they have vacated the spot atop the NFL’s most productive offenses this season, the Kansas City Chiefs’ attack still poses a serious threat to any defenses. The New England Patriots know this as well as anybody, having gone up against the likes of head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes several times in the past. But while they have experience against the Hall of Fame pairing, they know that it means little given the way the Chiefs run their offense. Anything could happen on Sunday, which is why the Patriots want to be ready for every eventuality. “Anytime you go against an Andy Reid-coached team you have to expect the unexpected,” said linebackers coach and de facto co-defensive coordinator Jerod Mayo on Tuesday. “You don’t know what you’re going to get, so you go in there with multiple plans and see how those kind of fit into the game. But he’s a very creative coach. He’s very creative whether you’re talking about displacement of receivers, or who’s in the backfield, or who’s really getting the targets. He’s very creative in that way — the motions, all that stuff, kind of starting with them.” The Chiefs are entering the Week 15 game at Gillette Stadium ranked in the top 10 in points (22.5; 11th) and yards (361.3; 7th) per game, as well as expected points added per play (0.055; 7th). Compared to years past, however, those numbers are not quite as impressive as they have been. As a result, Kansas City has run into some issues recently. The team has lost three of its last four games, with the offense scoring 17, 19 and 17 points in those defeats. For Mayo, however, the Chiefs’ recent dry spell means little as far as this week’s game is concerned. “If we go out there and play well, that will give us a chance. If those guy come off a loss, or we come off a loss, it really doesn’t matter,” he said. “We just expect to get their best shot every time an Andy Reid-coached team and a Bill Belichick-coached team go against each other.” The Chiefs present several problems offensively. The biggest of them, however, is the quarterback. So far this season, Mahomes has completed 326 of his 487 pass attempts (66.9%) for 3,398 yards with 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. And while those are also off form the MVP-level stats he put up consistently the last few seasons, he is as dangerous a player as any in the league let alone at his position. “When you think about a guy who can make all the throws, that can extend plays with his legs, that can get the offense in the right play down after down after down, that’s what Mahomes really brings to the table,” Mayo said. “I know a lot of people, they get enamored or fascinated by the no-look passes and things like that, but this is a very smart player coached by a very smart coaching staff. It’s definitely a challenge.” Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/2023/12/13/2 ... id-mahomes
