What to know for fantasy: Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes is coming off of a career-high 40-point performance. Matchup rating: 67.4 | Spread: KC -10.5 (49), What to watch for: Can the Chiefs crack the code of Stephon Gilmore? Broncos coach Vic Fangio said on a Wednesday video call that none of his players have expressed any concerns about traveling to New England, and as far as he’s concerned, it’s all systems go for the 4:25 p.m. kickoff. -- Adam Teicher, Bold prediction: Patriots running back James White's return to the team provides a spark, and he will have a receiving TD, becoming the fastest RB in NFL history to reach the 25-TD reception mark (80th regular-season game). Brian Fluharty/USA TODAY Sports Images, NFL Odds: Broncos-Jets ‘Thursday Night Football’ Pick For Week 4, NFL Reschedules Titans-Steelers Game Again After More Positive COVID-19 Tests, Matt Chatham, Nick Kosmider Discuss Patriots’ QB Situation Vs. Broncos, Jarrett Stidham Explains ‘Mindset’ About Unpredictable Patriots Journey, Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes Explains Postgame Embrace With Stephon Gilmore, Patriots List Four Players On Projected Injury Report After Canceling Practice. Brian Westbrook currently holds the record with 25 in 87 games. (That number was 1.08 last season). Gilmore hasn’t played poorly this season but he hasn’t looked like the best cornerback in football, either. Stat to know: The Chiefs' Hill has two receiving touchdowns of 20-plus yards this season, tied for the second most in the NFL. Gilmore and the rest of the Patriots’ defense will face one of their toughest challenges of the season this Sunday against Patrick Mahomes and the 3-0 Kansas City Chiefs. The Patriots canceled Wednesday’s practice after star cornerback Stephon Gilmore tested positive for COVID-19, a league source confirmed. What's next for Bill Belichick and the Patriots? '', Newton, who is also reported to be asymptomatic, according to Fox Sports, also reached out via social media, tweeting a picture of himself in a mask with the message, "Wear your mask — keep your distance. • Full schedule » | Standings » “It’s a big opportunity for us to go out there and make plays and play aggressive and go out there and do whatever we can to win.”. PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 17: Stephon Gilmore #24 of the New England Patriots reacts against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 17, 2019 … White: 44 completions allowed on 84 targets for 532 yards, 202 air yards, no touchdowns, six interceptions, and that 43.9 passer rating allowed. In four games against Kansas City since he arrived in New England, Gilmore has allowed just five catches for 84 yards when targeted. • Full schedule » | Standings » His 1.68 yards-allowed-per-coverage-snap average through three games is tied for 77th among the 98 corners with at least 50 coverage snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. The NFL’s chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills, explained the league’s decision to play the game during an interview on NFL Network. The new-look Patriots are still finding ways to win ... Chiefs CB Sneed to IR with broken collarbone ... Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes presented with dual problems in Patriots, October. According to The Athletic, Gilmore, who played every defensive snap against the Chiefs, was among that group. Gilmore has allowed just five catches for 84 yards when targeted as the nearest defender in coverage in those games, according to the NFL's Next Gen Stats. Gilmore, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, was officially placed on the COVID-19 reserve list Wednesday. Bill Belichick, who normally meets with the media Wednesday, is expected to speak to reporters Thursday morning with an update on the team’s plans. Can Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs solve Patriots' Stephon Gilmore? “They have great speed. Fellow Patriots corners J.C. Jackson and Jonathan Jones rank fifth and 59th, respectively. The NFL has adjusted its policies on players returning from the COVID-19 reserve list. "We’re just confident here that the league, along with the players' union, is going to handle everything correctly, but nothing has been done or said either way other than plan as normal,'' Fangio said. If the Patriots’ strategy from recent years holds, Gilmore’s primary assignment likely will be wide receiver Sammy Watkins, who has 15 catches on 20 targets for 155 yards and a touchdown this season. That’s why you play the game, to go out there and compete against good teams.”, Thumbnail photo via "Cam Newton was wearing a mask, he was wearing his tracking device, and everyone around him was wearing a mask,'' Sills said in reference to the video footage. If Gilmore or Newton are asymptomatic and can return two negative tests 24 hours apart since their initial positive test, they can receive permission from a team doctor to return to play. He took to Twitter Wednesday afternoon to post that he was “asymptomatic” and to remind people take the virus "seriously. Enhance your NESN experience by creating an account today, By creating an account, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy, Penalties have been an issue for the Patriots' star corner. He picked off two passes in Sunday's Week 15 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, and he returned one of them for a touchdown. The Patriots are scheduled to host the Broncos on Sunday afternoon and will continue their preparations remotely with the possibility they can return to the practice field Friday. Sills said the NFL conducted contact tracing, viewed video of Newton at Gillette Stadium, and tested players and staffers numerous times before the game. Patriots put RB Michel on IR, activate RB Harris, Sources: No new positives for Titans; Pats-KC on, Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes presented with dual problems in Patriots, October, Best bets for Monday's NFL slate: Patriots-Chiefs, Falcons-Packers, Patriots-Chiefs going to Monday pending tests, Patriots 7-point underdogs for third time in the past 18 seasons, Mahomes: Chiefs' Kelce won't be babysitting, Patriots prepare for opportunity to show they can measure up to Chiefs, Chiefs added 'wrinkles' on Monday that impress Mahomes and Belichick, The new-look Patriots are still finding ways to win, Chiefs CB Sneed to IR with broken collarbone. Many of New England’s 2019 flaws came into clarity in that loss, but something we perhaps did not expect to see was Stephon Gilmore on the wrong end of … When these teams met last December, Mahomes was just 2-for-6 for 13 yards when targeting Watkins with Gilmore in coverage. No Chiefs have tested positive for the virus since practice squad quarterback Jordan Ta’amu did so last Friday. That's the same number of such games as Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan combined over that stretch. Could Stephon Gilmore have spread COVID-19 to the Chiefs? In light of the increased number of positive tests around the league — the NFL and NFLPA reported that 26 positives were recorded (11 players and 15 other personnel) from Sept. 27 to Oct. 3, up from 6 (2 and 4) during the previous period from Sept. 20-26 — Sills said “every option is on the table,” including pausing the season. • Depth charts for every team » Through three games this season, it hasn't been an ideal start for the 2019 NFL's Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore. Gone is the mandatory five-day waiting period for asymptomatic players. New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore has been one of the most outstanding players of the 2019 NFL season. New England’s star cornerback was flagged twice for DPI during the Patriots’ season-opening win over the Miami Dolphins and once in Sunday’s victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. He lost a tough matchup against Seattle’s D.K. -- Mike Reiss, Follow the NFL all season longEverything you need this week: Quarterback Cam Newton returned a positive test last Friday, and the club also placed rookie Bill Murray on the COVID-19 reserve list, though it’s unclear if the practice squad defensive tackle tested positive or was exposed to someone who had been. We’re not going to back down. ... Sammy Watkins vs. Stephon Gilmore… Stephon Gilmore named Associated Press 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Gilmore becomes the first New England Patriot to win DPOY, an accolade that … Stephon Gilmore (left) is about to hit Chiefs Travis Kelce following a catch on Sunday.