This article is part of our NFL Game Previews series.
New England (+10.5) at Kansas City, o/u 49.5
Monday, 7:05 p.m. EDT
Hastily rescheduled from Sunday after Cam Newton's positive COVID test, the Patriots fortunately didn't have any other players or staff get hit as well, so the game will go on rather than being in limbo like the Titans-Steelers clash. It'll go on without Cam, though. Brian Hoyer will start under center for the Pats, which is a little like going from driving in NASCAR to driving a tour bus. Fun fact: Newton had as many rushing touchdowns in Week 1 (or Week 2, take your pick) as Hoyer's had in his entire 12-year career. The game plan may have to change a little, is what I'm saying. Leaning on the team's backfield depth, which gets James White back this week and potentially Damien Harris as well, to control the clock and keep Patrick Mahomes off the field isn't the worst idea. It's not the best one either — Mahomes doesn't need much time to do damage, and he hasn't been intimidated by the Pats' defensive reputation, posting an 8:3 TD:INT in three career games against them while averaging 310 passing yards a game. New England's defense also hasn't regained its dominant swagger to begin 2020, although they haven't been bad. "Not bad" probably isn't going to cut it against the 3-0 defending champs, though.
The Skinny
NE injuries: QB Newton (out, COVID), RB Sony Michel (out, quad), WR Julian Edelman (questionable, knee), LT Isaiah Wynn (questionable, calf),
