Thursday Night Notes: Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots

The 2017 season kicks off on Thursday, September 7 (8:30 PM ET, NBC) when the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots host the Kansas City Chiefs at Gillette Stadium in a battle of 2016 AFC playoff teams. The Chiefs and Patriots meet for the 35th time in series history – including a 2015 AFC Divisional contest (New England, 27-20) – with Kansas City holding a 17-14-3 advantage. The Patriots have won their past eight home openers played on Kickoff Weekend and 12 of their past 13 overall in Week 1. New England QB TOM BRADY passed for 28 touchdowns with two interceptions last year and led the NFL with a 14.0 touchdown/interception ratio, the highest single-season ratio in league history. Kansas City opened the 2016 season by overcoming a 21-point second-half deficit to defeat the Chargers 33-27 in overtime on Kickoff Weekend. Chiefs TE TRAVIS KELCE led all NFL tight ends with 1,125 receiving yards and ranked second with 85 catches in 2016.


Chiefs Notes:

• CHIEFS won AFC West in 2016 for 1st time since 2010. Led NFL with 33 takeaways & tied for league lead with +16 TO differential. Overcame 21-point de fi cit in 33-27 OT win vs. Chargers on KO Weekend in 2016.

• QB ALEX SMITH passed for career-high 3,502 yards in 2016. Ranked 3rd in AFC with 67.1 comp. pct. last season. Has 1,317 rushing yards in 4 seasons with KC, most by QB in franchise history. Passed for 248 yards & 3 TDs with 0 INTs for 144.4 rating in last meeting.

• RB KAREEM HUNT was selected by KC in 3rd round (No. 86 overall) of 2017 NFL Draft. Rushed for 1,475 yards & 10 TDs as senior at Toldeo.

• WR TYREEK HILL had 12 TDs (6 rec., 3 rush, 2 PR & 1 KR) last season, most by rookie in team history. Joined Hall of Famer RB GALE SAYERS as only players with 5+ TD catches, 3+ rush TDs, PR-TD & KR-TD in single season. TE TRAVIS KELCE led NFL TEs with 1,125 rec. yards & ranked 2nd with 85 catches in 2016. Had 100+ rec. yards in 4 consecutive games from Weeks 11-14 last season, tied for longest streak by TE in NFL history.

• S ERIC BERRY tied for NFL lead with 2 INT-TDs in 2016. Has 5 career INT-TDs, tied for 5th among active players. Since 2011, LB JUSTIN HOUSTON ranks 4th in NFL with 60 sacks. DE DEE FORD led team with 10 sacks in 2016. CB MARCUS PETERS tied for 2nd in NFL with 6 INTs last season. Since entering league in 2015, leads NFL with 14 INTs . 

Patriots Notes:

• PATRIOTS overcame 25-point de fi cit to win 5th Super Bowl title in SB LI. Have won 8 consecutive division titles, most in NFL history. Won 13+ games for 6th time in franchise history, tying Den. for most in league history. Are 5th team in NFL history to fi nish .500+ in 16 consecutive seasons. Have won past 8 home openers on KO Weekend.

• QB TOM BRADY won SB LI MVP & set single-game SB records in att. (62), comp. (43) & pass yards (466). Has 208 career wins (incl. playoffs) as starter, most in NFL history. Led NFL with 14.0 TD/INT ratio (28 TDs, 2 INTs) last season, highest single-season ratio in NFL history. Ranked 2nd in NFL with 112.2 rating. Ranks 4th in league annals with 456 career pass TDs & 61,582 pass yards.

• RB JAMES WHITE set single-game SB record with 14 catches & scored 3 TDs (2 rush, 1 rec.), tied for most in single game in SB history. Tied for lead among NFL RBs with 5 rec. TDs last season.

• TE ROB GRONKOWSKI leads NFL TEs with 68 TD catches & ranks 2nd with 6,095 rec. yards since entering NFL in 2010. Has 3 seasons with 1,000+ rec. yards. WR BRANDIN COOKS makes team debut. Led Saints with 1,173 rec. yards in 2016. Had 98-yard TD catch on KO Weekend with NO in 2016. WR CHRIS HOGAN had 332 rec. yards & 2 TD catches in 2016 postseason.

• CB MALCOLM BUTLER led team with 4 INTs & 17 PD in 2016. DE TREY FLOWERS led team with 7 sacks last season.