| Television: | This week's game will be broadcast regionally on CBS (locally on WBZ Channel 4 in Boston). Ian Eagle will provide play-by-play detail alongside broadcast partner Mark May. |
| Radio: | WBCN's Rock Radio Network 104.1 FM. Gil Santos, the voice of the Patriots, will call all the action along with Gino Cappelletti, his broadcast partner for 16 years. |
This week, the New England Patriots (4-0) will travel to Kansas City to clash with the Chiefs (2-2) at Arrowhead Stadium. A victory would give the Patriots their second 5-0 start in franchise history. The last time they were undefeated after the first five games of the season was in 1974. The Patriots currently boast the best record in the NFL (4-0) and are just one of three undefeated teams in the NFL, along with Dallas and St. Louis, who are both 3-0.
Since Pete Carroll's arrival in 1997, the Patriots have fared no worse than 4-1 after their first five games. In fact, Carroll is the only coach in franchise history to lead his team to two 4-0 starts. The last time they were perfect after four games, 1997, they traveled to the hostile environment of an AFC West city to play the Denver Broncos. New England was defeated by Denver, 34-13 on Monday Night Football, but the Patriots finished the 1997 season 10-6 to claim their first back to back division titles in franchise history.
Last week the Patriots offense totaled 451 yards of total offense, their highest total of the season. Drew Bledsoe and Terry Glenn put on a show at Cleveland Browns Stadium, connecting on 13 passes for 214 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown. Glenn eclipsed his career-high for receptions (10) by halftime, when he had already posted 11 catches. By game's end he established new franchise records for receptions and yards (see below).
The Patriots offense has averaged 384.3 yards per game, sixth highest in the NFL. They are powered by the passing game, which is second only to Indianapolis in the NFL, averaging 299.5 yards per game. Bledsoe is in the midst of his finest season as a pro, leading the NFL with 1,261 yards passing and the AFC with a 104.4 quarterback rating and a 66.2 completion percentage. He finished the Cleveland game with 389 yards passing, his highest total of the season and fifth highest of his career.
Kansas City has yet to lose at home this season, 2-0, while the Patriots are undefeated on the road in 1999, also 2-0. The Chiefs have totaled a 28-6 record at home since 1995, including undefeated campaigns in 1995 and 1997. The home team in this series has won 62% of the games (14 of 25).
Last week against the Cleveland Browns, Terry Glenn established franchise records with 13 catches for 214 yards. He became the first Patriot to EVER gain over 200 yards receiving in a game and just the third player in the NFL to do so since 1997. He has now recorded 10 100-yard receiving games during his four-year career, the third highest total in team history, behind Stanley Morgan (39) and Irving Fryar (12). He has 32 passes through the first four games of the season, already eclipsing his 1997 season total (27).
The New England Patriots trail the Chiefs 8-14-3 in a series that began along with the AFL in 1960. Both teams are celebrating their 40th year of football this season. This will be their fourth meeting in the 90's but only the fifth since 1977. Last season the Patriots defeated the Chiefs 40-10, their widest margin of victory of the series. It eclipsed their previous high of 28 points set in their first matchup, 11/18/60.
The home team has an advantage in the series, winning 14 of the 25 games (62%).
Patriots' head coach Pete Carroll coached the Chiefs' cornerback James Hasty while they were at the NY Jets (1990-93) ... When Patriots' offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese was the head coach of Allan Hancock College when Chiefs' head coach, Gunther Cunningham played linebacker. The pair reunited in San Diego when Zampese was offensive coordinator (1983-87) and Cunningham was the defensive line coach ... Patriots' tight end and long snapper Mike Bartrum was originally signed as a rookie free agent by the Chiefs in 1993 ... Patriots' offensive lineman Max Lane was named all-state, all-conference and all-district at Norborne (Mo.) High ... Patriots' center Damien Woody played with Chiefs running back Mike Cloud at Boston College ... Chiefs' defensive end Leslie O'Neal played with the San Diego Chargers the same time (1986-91) Patriots' defensive backs coach Ron Lynn was their defensive coordinator. (Cunningham was the Chargers defensive line coach from 1985-90) O'Neal accumulated 51.5 sacks during that six-year period ... Chiefs' offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye was the Patriots offensive coordinator/ quarterbacks coach in 1990.
The Patriots hosted the Kansas City Chiefs at Foxboro Stadium last season for the first time since 1990, but were not gracious hosts, defeating the Chiefs 40-10. It was the worst Chiefs defeat since they lost to Buffalo 44-10 on Oct. 30, 1994. The Patriots out- gained the Chiefs 438 yards to 134. The Patriots had their best rushing day of 1998, gaining 206 yards on the ground. Meanwhile, the Patriots defense shut-down the Chiefs' running game, holding the Chiefs to 14 yards on 11 carries.
The Patriots executed 44 plays in the first half and 82 during the game, while the Chiefs ran only 44 plays on offense during the entire game. A strong running attack, headlined by running back Robert Edwards, allowed the Patriots to control the game from start to finish, holding the ball for 41:48. It was only the fourth time in the past 20 years they have held the ball for over 40 minutes.
The Chiefs were not as fortunate with their running game. Running back Donnell Bennett only gained six yards on six carries and they totaled 14 yards as a unit. It was the second fewest total ever allowed by the Patriots defense. In addition, the defense held quarterback Elvis Grbac to 144 passing yards. They sacked Grbac four times and safety Lawyer Milloy intercepted him in the fourth quarter.
The Patriots punted on their first drive, but then scored on their next five possessions of the first half. At halftime they lead 27-0, scoring three touchdowns and two field goals. Halftime did not take away any of the Patriots' momentum as Bledsoe threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Ben Coates on their first possession of the second half. The Patriots led after three quarters 37-7, and traded field goals with the Chiefs in the fourth quarter for the 40-10 win.
In the 25-game series with the Chiefs, the Patriots have had three 100-yard rushing performances, two 300-yard passing performances and four 100-yard receiving performances.
With the Patriots road victory over the Cleveland Browns last week, the Patriots became the only 4-0 team in the NFL. They are the only undefeated AFC team and one of three teams in the NFL who have not lost, along with Dallas and St. Louis who are both 3-0.
This is just the fourth time in their 40-year history that the Patriots have started the season undefeated after four games. In addition, Pete Carroll is the ONLY Patriots head coach to accomplish the feat twice.
The Patriots opened the 1999 season with a bang, defeating two division opponents (NY Jets and Colts) in the first two weeks of the season. Since Pete Carroll took over the coaching responsibilities of the Patriots in 1997, the Patriots have put together the best record within the division, including a 5-0 mark against the Colts and 3-1 regular season records against the Miami Dolphins and the Buffalo Bills. With their 2-0 record this season, the Patriots are now 13-5 within the division since 1997.
The Patriots and Chiefs are tied for second in the AFC with a turnover ratio of +4 through four weeks of the 1999 season. New England has made a habit of posting a positive turnover ratio, having entered 1999 second in the AFC over the past two seasons with a +17 turnover ratio. Since Pete Carroll became the Patriots head coach in 1997, they have posted a 15-3 record when they have a positive turnover ratio.
In Kansas City's two victories this season, they have a +5 turnover ratio, however, they have posted a –1 ratio in their two losses.
| W | L | T | Pct. | |
| New England Patriots | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Miami Dolphins | 2 | 1 | 0 | .667 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 2 | 1 | 0 | .667 |
| Buffalo Bills | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 |
| New York Jets | 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 |
