Sundays set up afternoon showcase versus the New England Patriots is now a primetime Monday clash after COVID-19 struck the NFL this week. A game with AFC playoff implications all of a sudden has even bigger stakes concerning the health of the NFL season. Pro Football Talk reported on Sunday that the Patriots prepare to travel on 2 airplanes to Kansas City– one with players who were potentially exposed to the contaminated gamer and the other with gamers who didnt have close contact. The NFL has actually currently delayed this weeks Pittsburgh Steelers-Tennessee Titans matchup following an outbreak amongst the Titans. The last thing the NFL and its players desire to see is more cases surfacing from Mondays video game.
For the 2nd straight week, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs discover themselves in a Monday night match versus a top AFC competitor.
This wasnt the strategy.
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Webcam Newton wont remain in the Patriots lineup on Monday. (AP Photo/John Froschauer) More.
Can Patriots complete without Newton?
Hoyer, an 11-year veteran who began in brief stints with the Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans and Chicago Bears, invested 5 seasons supporting Tom Brady in New England and is familiar with the Patriots system.
Hell deal with maybe the most difficult test of his profession on Monday versus the Super Bowl champ Chiefs fresh off a 34-20 win over the Baltimore Ravens that wasnt as close as the score recommends. What was billed last Monday as matchup between the two leading teams in the NFL was a lopsided affair well in favor of the Chiefs, who have started the season 3-0.
[Enjoy live NFL video games on the Yahoo Sports app, heres how] The 2-1 Patriots were growing in their first year without Brady, thanks mostly to the resurgence of 2015 league MVP Newton as one of the games most dangerous and vibrant weapons at quarterback. The single imperfection on their record arrived after they fell one yard except beating Russell Wilsons Seattle Seahawks on the road in Week 2.
Now the Patriots will likely turn to a ball-control offense under Hoyer and hope their defense can slow Mahomes electrical offense enough to keep things close. It will be a tall task, specifically considering the added weight of the COVID-19 scare surrounding the team.
High stakes for NFL.
Pro Football Talk reported on Sunday that the Patriots plan to travel on two airplanes to Kansas City– one with players who were potentially exposed to the contaminated gamer and the other with players who didnt have close contact. Just one gamer has tested positive for New England, however COVID-19 can take days after exposure to render positive tests results. Players can have the virus without testing favorable.
Which again speaks to the larger stakes connected to Mondays video game. The NFL has already delayed todays Pittsburgh Steelers-Tennessee Titans matchup following a break out among the Titans. The last thing the NFL and its gamers want to see is more cases surfacing from Mondays game.
Hoyer expected to begin
No matter his health status, Newton will not play in the game that the NFL confirmed for Monday after neither group reported more positive tests on Sunday. The Patriots are anticipated to begin veteran Brian Hoyer in Newtons place, according to NFL Networks Ian Rapoport.
Web cam Newton will not play in AFC face-off
The matchup was slated to pit Mahomes against a resurgent Cam Newton as the previous Carolina Panthers quarterback has revitalized his profession in his very first three games in New England. The Patriots placed Newton on the COVID-reserve list on Saturday, and the NFL held off the match after the Patriots revealed that a player had actually tested positive for COVID-19.
The NFL also verified that a gamer for the Chiefs evaluated positive for COVID-19.
Newtons placement on the reserve list validates that hes possibly been exposed to the coronavirus. He addressed his health on Sunday in an Instagram post thanking fans for their support while swearing to “take this time to get healthy.”
But Sundays arranged afternoon showcase versus the New England Patriots is now a primetime Monday clash after COVID-19 struck the NFL today. A game with AFC playoff implications all of an abrupt has even larger stakes worrying the health of the NFL season. It kicks off a 5:05 p.m. ET and can be live-streamed the Yahoo Sports app.
