It feels like a lifetime ago. Honestly, you probably remember where you were when Dee Ford lined up just a few inches offside in the 2018 AFC Championship. That one penalty didn't just cost the Kansas City Chiefs a trip to the Super Bowl; it cemented the Chiefs vs New England Patriots matchup as the defining bridge between two NFL dynasties.
The rivalry is weird. It’s not a divisional blood feud like the Raiders or the Jets. Instead, it’s a high-stakes chess match that has spanned decades, involving the greatest quarterback of all time and the guy currently trying to steal his crown.
People forget that before Patrick Mahomes was the face of the league, New England was the immovable object. If you wanted a ring, you had to go through Foxborough. Most teams failed. Kansas City, however, became the one team that actually looked Bill Belichick in the eye and didn’t blink.
The Record: Who Actually Owns the Series?
If you look at the raw numbers, the all-time series for Chiefs vs New England Patriots is surprisingly close. Kansas City actually leads the series 21-16-3. Yeah, three ties. Football used to be a very different game back in the 60s when the Dallas Texans (now the Chiefs) were trading blows with the Boston Patriots.
But the regular season is one thing. The playoffs? That’s where the Patriots sharpened their knives. New England is a perfect 3-0 against the Chiefs in the postseason. They won in the 2015 Divisional round, and then there was the aforementioned 2018 heartbreaker.
Recent History and the Mahomes Shift
The vibe shifted recently. Since 2019, the Chiefs have won three of the last four meetings. The most recent clash on December 17, 2023, ended in a 27-17 Chiefs victory at Gillette Stadium. It wasn't particularly pretty. Patrick Mahomes threw for 305 yards, but he also had two interceptions.
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The Patriots, in their first year of a massive rebuild, struggled to find an identity. Bailey Zappe was under center. It felt less like a clash of titans and more like a passing of the torch that had already been passed.
Why the 2018 AFC Championship Still Stings
Ask any Chiefs fan about the Chiefs vs New England Patriots rivalry, and they won't talk about the 60s. They won’t even talk about the 41-14 blowout in 2014 that supposedly "ended" the Patriots dynasty (it didn't; they won the Super Bowl that year).
They will talk about January 20, 2019.
The Chiefs were down 14-0 at halftime. Mahomes was human. Then, the second half exploded. 54 points were scored after the break. It was a chaotic, beautiful mess of a game. When Rex Burkhead punched in that 2-yard touchdown in overtime to give the Patriots a 37-31 win, it felt like the old guard had one last lesson to teach.
Tom Brady was 30-of-46 for 348 yards. Mahomes was 16-of-31 for 295 yards and three scores. It was the only time they met in the playoffs as AFC rivals before Brady headed south to Tampa.
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Mahomes vs Belichick: A Tactical Nightmare
One of the biggest misconceptions about these games is that they were always offensive shootouts. They weren't. The Chiefs vs New England Patriots history is actually a testament to Bill Belichick's defensive genius.
Belichick famously took away whatever you did best. If you had Tyreek Hill, he doubled him. If you relied on Travis Kelce, he jammed him at the line with a linebacker and kept a safety over the top.
- 2019: Chiefs win 23-16. Mahomes is held to one touchdown.
- 2020: Chiefs win 26-10. The Patriots defense keeps it close until the 4th quarter despite playing with Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham.
- 2023: Chiefs win 27-17. A stagnant New England offense fails to capitalize on KC turnovers.
The complexity of these games usually came down to the red zone. The Patriots consistently forced the Chiefs to kick field goals during their peak years, which is the only way you stay alive against Andy Reid.
The Forgotten Blowout of 2014
September 29, 2014. Monday Night Football. The Chiefs absolutely demolished the Patriots 41-14. This is the game that sparked the "We're on to Cincinnati" meme. Tom Brady was benched for Jimmy Garoppolo. Critics said the Patriots were done.
Instead, that game served as a wake-up call. New England went on to win the Super Bowl that season. It’s a reminder that in this rivalry, a blowout doesn't always mean one team is better—it just means one coach got the better of the other for 60 minutes.
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What to Watch for in Future Matchups
The landscape of Chiefs vs New England Patriots has changed. Bill Belichick is gone. Jerod Mayo is in. The Patriots are hunting for a franchise QB, while the Chiefs are trying to become the first team to ever three-peat.
If you're betting on or watching these teams, look at the trenches. The Chiefs' defense, led by Steve Spagnuolo, has actually become the more dominant unit in recent years. They aren't just relying on Mahomes' magic anymore. They’re winning with a suffocating pass rush and physical secondary—ironically, the very blueprint the Patriots used to use to beat them.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
- Ignore the "Home Field" Myth: In the last ten years, the road team has performed remarkably well in this series. Don't assume Arrowhead or Gillette provides an automatic 3-point edge.
- Watch the Tight End Matchup: This series has historically been dominated by Travis Kelce and Rob Gronkowski. Even with Gronk gone, the Patriots' ability (or inability) to cover Kelce usually determines the winner.
- Check the Turnover Margin: In the last five meetings, the team that wins the turnover battle has won the game every single time. It sounds like a cliché, but with these two coaching staffs, mistakes are magnified.
The rivalry might not have the same "Brady vs Mahomes" sparkle right now, but the history is too deep to ignore. Every time these two jerseys meet on the field, there’s a sense that the ghosts of the 2018 AFC Championship are still hovering around the sidelines.
To get the most out of the next game, keep an eye on how the Patriots' young secondary handles the Chiefs' evolved "dink and dunk" passing game. The days of 50-yard bombs to Tyreek Hill are over; it’s a game of patience now.
Follow the injury reports closely, especially regarding the Chiefs' interior offensive line, as New England still prides itself on taking away the middle of the field.