The New England Patriots expect a tough challenge when they take on the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs and their dynamic quarterback Patrick Mahomes on Sunday. The Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams are the two remaining unbeaten teams in the NFL with 5-0 records. The Chiefs are still fresh from their impressive 30-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, strengthening their grip on the top spot in the AFC West. The team is also No. 1 in a new power rankings.

In a conference call with the media, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick admitted that their defense will have its work cut out for them when they go up against Mahomes, who has thrown for 1,513 yards and 14 touchdowns.

He also has just two interceptions in his first five games since taking over the starting quarterback job.

With Mahomes as the quarterback, the Chiefs currently lead the AFC in points scored and are second in that category overall in the NFL, with a total of 175 points. That's five points behind the New Orleans Saints.

According to Belichick, the Patriots secondary will be in for a tough task in facing the Chiefs. “I mean, these guys are really fast and they run a lot of vertical routes, but there are also a lot of space plays where they get the ball out there on RPOs and slip screens and things like that,” Belichick said, referring to the Chiefs’ offense.

Belichick said the Chiefs’ attack forces not only the corners but everybody to pursue laterally across the field and have to cover a lot of ground, on consecutive plays or multiple plays in a short amount of time.

Belichick added that the Chiefs also have a deep receiving corps, making Kansas City an even dangerous team.

The Patriots (3-2) are riding the momentum of their two-game winning streak, coming off impressive wins over the Miami Dolphins and the Indianapolis Colts.

Belichick not bothered by roughing the passer rule

While some coaches and players complain about the NFL’s new roughing the passer rule, Belichick said he hasn’t changed anything in terms of how he coaches his players and insisted that the roughing the passer rule is not entirely new.

“So they’re not new rules. I mean, you’re not allowed to lead with your head, you’re not allowed to body slam the quarterback, you’re not allowed to hit him below the knees, you’re not allowed to hit him above the shoulders,” said Belichick.

Patriots bring back rusher

Ahead of their clash against the Chiefs, the Patriots have brought back running back Kenjon Barner, who returns for his third stint with New England.

According to Belichick, Barner has handled the situation as a professional. Belichick also praised Barner’s versatility as a rusher, receiver, and a return man for the Patriots. New England cut Barner recently, to make room for wide receiver Julian Edelman.
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