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Patriots vs. Chiefs final score: 7 things we learned from Kansas City's 41-14 beat down

The Chiefs played their best game in a long time.

By Joel Thorman

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John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

The KC Chiefs beat up on the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football. A national TV crowd was watching Arrowhead Stadium, which showed up in a BIG way and set the Guinness World Record for crowd roar in a stadium.

Final stats are here.

Here's what we learned from the Chiefs 41-14 victory over the Patriots.

1. The Chiefs didn't just win. They dominated.

The Chiefs immediately set the tone in this game. They dominated from the outset on offense and defense. Go look at the box score and find me where they struggled. It was really an overall beat down in every facet of the game. Alex Smith had one of his most efficient days with three touchdowns ... and he's probably the sixth or seventh story line in this game. THIS Chiefs team won't lose many games.

2. Jamaal Charles is back, and so is his friend

Oh, fantasy folks? He's back. Jamaal Charles did not play last week due to a high ankle sprain suffered in Week 2. He came back in a big way with three touchdowns in this game. In typical Jamaal fashion, two of those were receiving touchdowns.

Jamaal's stat line: 18 carries, 92 yards, 1 rushing TD; 3 catches, 16 yards, 2 receiving TDs.

Jamaal briefly left to receive an IV for cramps, but he returned and was fine.

The REALLY interesting part of this game is who else ran the ball well -- Knile Davis. The backup to Jamaal had 12 carries for 88 yards 16 carries for 107 yards (I started writing this too early!), including a 48-yard scamper. Last week Davis had 132 yards rushing.

3. Andy Reid had a hell of a game plan

I could re-watch the first half of this game over and over again. The Chiefs first drive was 10 plays and the second one was 12 plays. The way the Chiefs started was almost mesmerizing. Reid had complete control of the playcalling and did an awesome job mixing it up while also hitting the Patriots defense with what works. I will have to dig into my rewatch to see how why the Chiefs did so well but it was great to see the total determination from the offense.

I wrote after last week's Dolphins game that Reid had his second straight great coaching job. Make that three.

4. Chiefs defense finally gets a turnover

Which turnover was your favorite?

1. Tamba Hali strip sack

2. Sean Smith interception

3. Husain Abdullah's interception (returned for a TD)

Note that these turnovers came after the Chiefs did not record a single turnover in the first three weeks (the only team not to force a turnover). The Chiefs defense is at its best when they create turnovers.

5. Travis Kelce has his best game

He's for real, everyone. Like, really for real. Kelce had 8 catches for 93 yards and a touchdown. Those are both career highs, and this is the second consecutive week he has scored a touchdown. The downside? No touchdown dance.

6. Phillip Gaines is turning into a heck of a special teams player

There was this excellent play where he downed a Dustin Colquitt punt at the 1-yard line. Then there was him tackling punt returner Julian Edelman to prevent a return. Maybe he's not making a major defensive impact but he's turning into a nice special teamers.

7. The Chiefs are ALIVE in this young season

The loss to the Titans seems like, what, a year ago? That game is such an outlier to how the Chiefs have played since then. The Chiefs were one red zone play from taking the Broncos to overtime. They beat a Miami team by three scores on the road. Then they embarrass the Patriots. So, is this a good team or a bad team? Sure looks like a good team.

Week 1: Tennessee Titans (L 26-10)
Week 2: at Denver Broncos (L 24-17)
Week 3: at Miami Dolphins (W 34-15)
Week 4: New England Patriots (W 41-14)
Week 5: at San Francisco 49ers (Oct. 5, 3:25 p.m., CBS)
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: at San Diego Chargers (Oct. 19, 3:05 p.m., CBS)
Week 8: St. Louis Rams (Oct. 27, 12 p.m., Fox)
Week 9: New York Jets (Nov. 2, 12 p.m., CBS)
Week 10: at Buffalo Bills (Nov. 9, 12 p.m., CBS)
Week 11: Seattle Seahawks (Nov. 16, 12 p.m., Fox)
Week 12: at Oakland Raiders (Nov. 20, 7:25 p.m., NFLN) - TNF
Week 13: Denver Broncos (Nov. 30, 7:30 p.m., NBC) - SNF
Week 14: at Arizona Cardinals (Dec. 7, 3:05 p.m., CBS)
Week 15: Oakland Raiders (Dec. 14, 12 p.m, CBS)
Week 16: at Pittsburgh Steelers (Dec. 21, 12 p.m., CBS)
Week 17: San Diego Chargers (Dec. 28, 12 p.m., CBS)

More observations from Monday night

  • Eric Fisher was beat and gave up a sack on the Chiefs first drive. That killed the Chiefs drive pushing them back to a 2nd-and-18. Directly after that, Alex Smith missed a wide open Travis Kelce. Two mistakes on the first drive. From there, it was all good news.
  • The fireworks that go off after a score accidentally went off early after D-Bowe caught a pass and got down to the 2-yard line but did not score. The last time that happened? Monday Night Football in 2011, shortly before The Phumble.
  • Vine Wilfork and Ryan Harris got into a couple of scuffles.
  • Dontari Poe lined up at fullback on one goal line play. Unfortunately, he didn't pick up the score.
  • Dustin Colquitt is such a weapon the way he pins the opponent. His first punt put the Pats inside the 10-yard line.

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