The Chiefs’ latest round of point-of-care COVID-19 tests came back negative, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (via Twitter). Adam Schefter of ESPN.com had previously reported that the Patriots’ tests also came back negative (Twitter link), so the two clubs will play each other Monday night at 7:05pm ET.
This is obviously great news for the NFL, which is dealing with a significant number of positive tests on the Titans. After New England’s Cam Newton and KC’s Jordan Ta’amu also tested positive, there was plenty of speculation that, like the Titans-Steelers Week 4 contest, the Patriots-Chiefs game slated for this week could be pushed back. For now, it seems like this particular crisis has been averted.
Still, the Chiefs will now face the tall task of playing three games in 10 days, and if the Titans-Bills Week 5 game gets postponed, Buffalo will be coming off a Week 5 bye when it takes on KC. On the other hand, the Chiefs will face a Brian Hoyer-led New England offense tomorrow night, as Newton has now landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Although teams don’t usually undergo tests on gamedays, Schefter reports that both the Patriots and the Chiefs will be tested tomorrow morning (Twitter link). The Falcons-Packers game, the original Monday night contest, will be pushed back to 8:50pm ET.
Seems like a bad idea. Not enough time has elapsed to be confident in the negative tests.
Does not matter to Goodell as he’s all about $$$$.
You are 100% right he will risk the outbreak knowing this is now a even bigger prime time game (time wise) of what looks to be 2 of the top 3 teams in the AFC, it’s sad bc he’s putting lives at risk. Postpone the game n make sure everyone is truly ok, if another patriots player simply isn’t showing signs n tested negative just based on the timeline n he passes it on to both his own teammates and the cheifs and there both out at least a week or more. He’ll look like the idiot he truly is.
I hope that if anyone is gonna test positive, it happens tomorrow and not a few days after.
Covid Night Football
I wonder if they did this because of fantasy football?
Pats would have loved to move this game further in the future with Cam back. Hoyer and Stidham won’t be able to score nearly enough to keep up with Mahomes even if the Pats defense performs well
Free money if your betting the Patriots because a 6 point betting line shift is absurd. Belichick will look to keep Mahomes on the sidelines by controlling the clock with his run game which is currently the leagues best.