Report: Footballs in New England were deflated, but don’t blame Patriots this time
The special teams footballs used in Sunday’s game between Kansas City and New England were reportedly underinflated — not by the Patriots, this time — an ironic throwback to the Deflategate scandal that captivated the football world for parts of three seasons and led to penalties against the team and quarterback Tom Brady.
MassLive.com reported on Thursday that the Patriots complained to the officials during the first half of the Chiefs’ 27-17 victory that the balls used by the punters and kickers — which are specially marked, and referred to as “K-balls” — were too soft. They were tested at halftime and found to be inflated to 11 psi, the website reported, instead of the league-mandated minimum of 13.5 psi.
An NFL spokesman did not respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment. Patriots kickers were not available during Thursday’s open locker loom period. Chiefs coach Andy Reid said on Thursday that he hadn’t heard of any issues but told Patriots coach Bill Belichick turns away after shaking hands with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes after their game Sunday. reporters, “I’m not worried about all that.”
The Patriots told the website they sensed something was wrong when Kansas City’s Harrison Butker, who has put 87 percent of his kickoffs this season into the end zone for touchbacks, sent his game-opening kick only to the 3 yard-line. During the first half, both teams’ kickers missed field goals, including a 39-yard attempt that was Butker’s first miss of the season.
The balls were checked at halftime and fixed, the website reported. Butker made two field goals in the second half and every kickoff for both teams reached the end zone.
CHARGERS: NFL receptions leader Keenan Allen will miss his second straight game due to a heel injury.
The Los Angeles Chargers declared Allen out Thursday for their Saturday night home game against the Buffalo Bills.
Allen leads the league with 108 catches, a Chargers single-season record, and is fourth in yardage (1,243).
BILLS: The Buffalo Bills placed defensive tackle Jordan Phillips on injured reserve on Thursday after the backup had surgery for a wrist injury last weekend.
Phillips is expected to miss about three weeks, and now will be required to miss four games. He won’t be available to play unless Buffalo reaches the divisional round of the playoffs.
Starting safety Micah Hyde has been ruled out and will miss his second straight game with a neck injury when the Bills take on the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday.
Edge rusher A.J. Epenesa is listed as questionable after missing one game with a rib injury.