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 New England could be in for a shootout against Kansas City On Sunday Authentic Trey Flowers Jersey , two of the best teams in football will go at each other in a highly anticipated prime time matchup: the 3-2 New England Patriots will host the 5-0 Kansas City Chiefs in a game that will have major implications on the AFC and could shape the playoff picture further down the line. A Chiefs victory would cement the squad as the front runner for the conference’s number one seed, a Patriots win would give the team an advantage over one of its rivals.But before looking too far ahead, let’s analyze the game ahead and some of the advanced stats heading into it (courtesy of SB Nation’s Bill Connelly; for his methodology please click here).Patriots offense vs Chiefs defenseNormal down and distance in the open fieldThe Patriots improved their standard down success rate and first down percentages noticeably when compared to last week. Going against a Chiefs defense that gives up 56.2% of needed yardage on the average given down, the team should therefore also be able to move the football well. Furthermore, it might even be able to improve its big play percentage against a unit that has had some issues stopping big plays from happening. But while Kansas City struggles some in the open field – between its own 30 and the opposing 10 – the team is very good on third down.Backed Up Situations Near the Goal LineNew England’s success rate while being backed up inside its own 10-yard line took a hit against the Indianapolis Colts but the team has had some success in this area before last Thursday. Meanwhile, an interception in week one still hurts the turnover rate. The Chiefs, on the other hand, have also not been world beaters when having their opponent pinned deep in its own territory – mostly because a team that rarely punts, does not get a lot of opportunities to improve in this area.Red ZoneThe Patriots offense continues to improve in the red area (inside an opponent’s 30-yard line), especially when it comes to the success rate inside the 10: New England improved from 41.7% a week ago to 57.1%. The team’s week six opponent, on the other hand, has been mostly mediocre in the red zone. One statistic stands out, though: turnover rate. Kansas City’s defense has been able to produce takeaways on 9.5% of plays inside its own 10-yard line. In a game that could very well turn into a shootout, limiting mistakes in this part of the field is crucial for Tom Brady and the Patriots.Third DownsDuring yesterday’s press conference Womens Joe Thuney Jersey , Patriots head coach Bill Belichick pointed out that the Chiefs defense has had success in third down situations. The team has indeed been successful in some third downs, especially when it comes to stopping third-and-longs as well as third-and-shorts. The latter could pose a problem for a New England squad that has had its problems with converting on third and less than a yard.Blitz SituationsTeams that play from ahead usually find themselves in more defensive passing situations. The Chiefs are undoubtably one of those teams, and one that has fared well in such situations. When it blitz downs – obvious passing downs specified as first-and-18 or more, second-and-14 or more, and third-and-3 or more – the team has limited opponents’ success this year. The Patriots, meanwhile, have had similar success. Again, it can be seen that both New England’s offense and Kansas City’s defense have had issues when it comes to big plays.Patriots defense vs Chiefs offenseNormal down and distance in the open fieldThe Patriots defense continues to improve in the open field but it will face its biggest challenge yet. Kansas City continuously moves the football well on any given down between its own 10 and the opponents’ 30, earning a 52.6% success rating – one of the best in the NFL. New England has been inconsistent in this area but has had success in others, especially one that is a strength of the Chiefs: big plays (plays that gain more than 20 yards). This will be a matchup of strength versus strength.Backed Up Situations Near the Goal LineNew England’s defense and Kansas City’s offense also match up rather evenly when it comes to backed-up situations: both teams have had some success in this area of the field – inside the offense’s own 10-yard line – which could make for an interesting battles if situations like this come along.Red ZoneWhile the Patriots remain an inconsistent defensive team in the red zone, the Chiefs field arguably the best red area offense in all of football. With the exception of the area between the 21 and 30, Patrick Mahomes and company have had plenty of success no matter the situation. Not only has the team been able to move the football well, it also has limited its mistakes and not turned the football over deep in opponents’ territory. Safe to say that execution in this part of the field will be a key for New England on Sunday.Third DownsDespite fielding the NFL’s most prolific offense, the Chiefs actually find themselves in third-and-longs rather often: on 61.0% of their 53 third down attempts the team has had to gain more than seven yards. As can be seen in the graphic above Womens Malcom Brown Jersey , though, distance has hardly ever been a problem for Kansas City as the team still has a 30.6% conversion rate in situations like this. New England’s defense, on the other hand, has had its fare share of problems when faced with third downs. The team ranks just 26th in the league, failing to get off the field on 44.6% of third downs.Blitz SituationsIn case you haven’t heard it it yet: the Chiefs’ passing offense is pretty good. Even when the team is likely to throw the football while playing from behind the sticks, it hardly ever can be stopped. Headed by weapons like Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Sammy Watkins, Kansas City is able to consistently generate yardage in long-distance downs. Once the Patriots defense gets its opponents in usually favorable situations like this one, it needs to find a way to limit big plays to sustain drives – and again hold on third down.If the advanced statistics are an indication, the Patriots and Chiefs are in for an offensive battle. For the home team, the game could very much come down to execution in some key areas:Can the Patriots defense get off the field on third down?Can the Patriots defense limit big plays?Can the Patriots offense take advantage of the Chiefs’ inability to stop big plays?Can the Patriots win in the red zone on both sides of the ball?If New England is able to accomplish most of those things, it could very well sway the outcome of the projected shootout in its favor.New England Patriots links 9/25/18 - Belichick concerned more about execution than effort TEAM TALKErik Scalavino offers a Pats-Lions film breakdown, quarter-by-quarter: Cordarrelle Patterson showed a glimpse of what he’s capable of providing on kickoffs. /well http://www.newenglandpatriotsteamonline.com/rob-gronkowski-jersey , that’s something...Paul Perillo tells us who won the matchups on Sunday: Lions control the pace.Conference Calls transcripts: Bill Belichick - Josh McDaniels - DL coach Brandon Daly.LOCAL LINKSTom E. Curran offers some tips for those suffering from Patriots Demise Syndrome (PDS).Doug Kyed presents his Pats-Lions Film Review: What’s wrong with Tom Brady’s deep ball?Evan Lazar’s Advanced Stats Report: Patriots defense pushed around, Brady searching for answers.Matt Dolloff details how the Patriots were doomed in Detroit by offensive flaws and depth issues.Evan Lazar explains how the Patriots’ Super Bowl aspirations hinge on Julian Edelman and Josh Gordon.Joy Manning (BostonSportsChick) Quick possessions are dooming the Patriots.Tom E. Curran observes that the Patriots have nothing -- absolutely nothing -- to rely on with their passing attack right now.Zack Cox tries not to make any “grand, sweeping proclamations about a rookie just two games into his NFL career, especially a first-round draft pick who missed the entire preseason” but... must. point. out. “Sony Michel really has struggled” so far.Tom E. Curran explains how the listless Patriots defense gets absolutely steamrolled by the heretofore unimpressive Lions, and the lethargic play of Dont’a Hightower is particularly worrisome.Evan Lazar gives us ten things we learned from the loss in Detroit: Patriots’ pass catchers hit rock bottom.Michael Hurley serves up some leftover thoughts from Sunday: Tom Brady’s receiver problem is very real.Michael Hurley knows the Patriots are struggling mightily, but they’re not alone.Ryan Hannable revisits the offseason to point out how the Patriots issues through Week 3 could have been prevented. /1. Find 1981 DeLorean with Flux Capacitor...Steve Atkinson (BostonSportsExtra) Was Sony Michel overhyped?Nick O’Malley looks at history to figure out what it means that the Pats lost two in a row.Matthew Slater is determined to find some answers, “We’re in the midst of some adversity right now and we’re going to find out what kind of football team we have — what kind of men we have in this locker room. I certainly believe in the group that we have, but we have to get a lot better.”Logan Mullen highlights Bill Belichick telling WEEI “It’s the execution that really concerns me. We’re trying hard, just not getting enough done.” Rob Bradford highlights WEEI guest Chris Gronkowski on his brother’s frustrations. “I haven’t talked to (Rob Gronkowski) personally about it, but I can just tell by his emotions and his facial features that he’s super frustrated with it. You can see at the end of the game how they ended the game double-covering him, pressing him off the line. He just wants to get the ball in his hands and make plays. You just can’t do it when nobody else is getting open. You can’t have single-coverage if no one else can beat single-coverage.”Ryan Hannable recaps Josh McDaniels with lots of positive things to say about Josh Gordon. /To start with, swell first name...Matt Dolloff finds that the Patriots stock couldn’t be much lower after the Detroit Lions dominated them in all phases of the game.Ross Gienieczko Patriots Notebook: September losses have way to be forgotten as season improves.Kevin Duffy sends out demerit slips [To be signed and brought back] with this week’s Patriots Report Card. /Even Belichick and Brady lose recess.Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Patriots Week 3 Report Card: Lions crush New England. /Hide this one from the ‘rents, kids.Steve and the hood present Boston sports (DiehardBostonSportsFans) Patriots recap with Bernd Buchmasser from Pats Pulpit. (1 hour, 14 min.) NATIONAL NEWSChristian D’Andrea (SB Nation) The Patriots’ problems are bigger than Josh Gordon and Julian Edelman can solve.Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Tom Brady: We haven’t taken advantage of defenses focusing on Gronk.Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Bill Belichick cares not about history but only about improving his team.Tom Ley (Deadspin) The Patriots are slllooooowwwww.Conor Orr (SI) Patriots will be fine after the loss to the Lions--but for how much longer? A reminder that the dynasty won’t last forever. /Uh... thanks Womens James White Jersey , Bud.Robert Mays (The Ringer) The Starting 11: We’ve seen this Patriots movie before. Albert Breer (SI) Monday Afternoon QB: How the 3–0 Dolphins are making it work, Rosen the latest rookie starting QB, More NFL notes.Albert Breer (SI) Monday Morning QB: More Mahomes magic, a Buffalo stunner, and QBs coming and going -- A Week 3 roller coaster.Gary Gramling (SI) Sunday Freakout: Josh Allen lights up Vikings, Patrick Mahomes is getting boring, Garoppolo goes down, Rams still a juggernaut but鈥onor Orr (SI) Which teams would—maybe, possibly—trade for Le’Veon Bell? 1. Patriots.Adam Schein (NFL.com) NFL teams with early reason to panic. 5. New England Patriots.Timothy Rapp (Bleacher Report) Richard Sherman, Cameron Jordan rip NFL rule after William Hayes’ injury.Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) William Hayes tore ACL trying to avoid roughing penalty.Michael McCann (SI) how would Colin Kaepernick signing with an NFL team affect his collusion grievance?