New England Patriots vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 2020 Week 4 Recap

Game story

In Week 4 of the 2020 NFL season on 2020-10-05, the Kansas City Chiefs took care of business against the New England Patriots, pulling away with a 26–10 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) paced the passing game, with +7.32 total EPA, and -1.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.32 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-20.0% win probability) landed in the third quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (4:01) (Shotgun) 2-B.Hoyer sacked at KC 16 for -6 yards (94-T.Charlton). FUMBLES (94-T.Charlton) [94-T.Charlton], RECOVERED by KC-56-B.Niemann at KC 15.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 P. Mahomes · Kansas City Chiefs · Passing · +7.32 total EPA · 36 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Hill · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +5.30 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.88 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Hardman · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +2.60 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.65 EPA/play
4. 4 N. Harry · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.26 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.38 EPA/play
5. 5 G. Olszewski · New England Patriots · Receiving · +1.86 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.86 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Stidham · New England Patriots · Rushing · +1.54 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.54 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Edwards-Helaire · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +1.37 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.46 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Harris · New England Patriots · Rushing · +0.98 total EPA · 17 snaps · +0.06 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Kansas City Chiefs — T. Hill (P. Mahomes pass) (Q3 15:49)
• New England Patriots — N. Harry (J. Stidham pass) (Q4 13:50)
• Kansas City Chiefs — M. Hardman (P. Mahomes pass) (Q4 9:01)
• Kansas City Chiefs — T. Mathieu (Q4 8:57)

Field goals

• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q1 55:11)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q1 45:18)
• New England Patriots — N. Folk (Q2 39:36)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 6–0. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the NE 5 (Q1 55:11) — (10:11) 7-H.Butker 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the NE 21 (Q1 45:18) — (:18) 7-H.Butker 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend..

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 3–0. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the KC 25 (Q2 39:36) — (9:36) 6-N.Folk 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey..

The third quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 7–0. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the NE 6 (Q3 15:49) — (:49) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 10-T.Hill for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q3 15:42) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend..

The fourth quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 13–7. New England Patriots found the end zone from the KC 4 (Q4 13:50) — (13:50) (Shotgun) 4-J.Stidham pass short left to 15-N.Harry for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q4 13:45) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the NE 6 (Q4 9:01) — (9:01) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 17-M.Hardman for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the KC 75 (Q4 8:57); Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q4 8:48) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• New England Patriots (Q3 19:01) — (4:01) (Shotgun) 2-B.Hoyer sacked at KC 16 for -6 yards (94-T.Charlton). FUMBLES (94-T.Charlton) [94-T.Charlton], RECOVERED by KC-56-B.Niemann at KC 15. [WPA -20.0% · EPA -4.40]
• New England Patriots (Q2 30:10) — (:10) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 2-B.Hoyer sacked at KC 26 for -13 yards (55-F.Clark). [WPA -12.1% · EPA -2.93]
• New England Patriots (Q1 45:13) — (:13) 2-B.Hoyer pass deep right intended for 85-R.Izzo INTERCEPTED by 22-J.Thornhill at NE 43. 22-J.Thornhill ran ob at NE 23 for 20 yards (28-J.White). [WPA -11.0% · EPA -5.53]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 58:00) — (13:00) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass deep right to 10-T.Hill to NE 34 for 22 yards (31-J.Jones). [WPA +9.2% · EPA +2.36]
• New England Patriots (Q3 15:07) — (:07) 37-D.Harris right guard ran ob at KC 25 for 41 yards (22-J.Thornhill). [WPA +9.2% · EPA +2.54]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• New England Patriots (Q4 8:57) — (8:57) (Shotgun) 4-J.Stidham pass short left intended for 11-J.Edelman INTERCEPTED by 32-T.Mathieu at NE 25. 32-T.Mathieu for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -8.6% · EPA -8.05]
• New England Patriots (Q1 45:13) — (:13) 2-B.Hoyer pass deep right intended for 85-R.Izzo INTERCEPTED by 22-J.Thornhill at NE 43. 22-J.Thornhill ran ob at NE 23 for 20 yards (28-J.White). [WPA -11.0% · EPA -5.53]
• New England Patriots (Q3 19:01) — (4:01) (Shotgun) 2-B.Hoyer sacked at KC 16 for -6 yards (94-T.Charlton). FUMBLES (94-T.Charlton) [94-T.Charlton], RECOVERED by KC-56-B.Niemann at KC 15. [WPA -20.0% · EPA -4.40]
• New England Patriots (Q4 3:32) — (3:32) (Shotgun) 4-J.Stidham pass deep left intended for 10-D.Byrd INTERCEPTED by 27-R.Fenton [57-A.Okafor] at KC 2. 27-R.Fenton to KC 33 for 31 yards (85-R.Izzo). [WPA -0.3% · EPA -4.40]

Quarterback report card

P.Mahomes led all passers in efficiency for Kansas City Chiefs, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• P.Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) · 36 dropbacks · 52.8% completion · -1.2% CPOE · +0.20 EPA/play · +7.32 total EPA
• B.Hoyer (New England Patriots) · 27 dropbacks · 55.6% completion · -1.3% CPOE · -0.28 EPA/play · -7.55 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Kansas City Chiefs held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.05 vs -0.16), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Kansas City Chiefs: 11 drives, +3.84 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 11 drives, -14.02 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Kansas City Chiefs leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q1 55:11 · NE 5 · Score 0-3
   (10:11) 7-H.Butker 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
2. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q1 45:18 · NE 21 · Score 0-6
   (:18) 7-H.Butker 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
3. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 39:36 · KC 25 · Score 3-6
   (9:36) 6-N.Folk 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.
4. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q3 15:49 · NE 6 · Score 3-12
   (:49) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 10-T.Hill for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q3 15:42 · NE 15 · Score 3-13
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
6. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 13:50 · KC 4 · Score 9-13
   (13:50) (Shotgun) 4-J.Stidham pass short left to 15-N.Harry for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 13:45 · KC 15 · Score 10-13
   6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.
8. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q4 9:01 · NE 6 · Score 10-19
   (9:01) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 17-M.Hardman for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q4 8:57 · KC 75 · Score 10-25
   (8:57) (Shotgun) 4-J.Stidham pass short left intended for 11-J.Edelman INTERCEPTED by 32-T.Mathieu at NE 25. 32-T.Mathieu for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q4 8:48 · NE 15 · Score 10-26
    7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.