Patriots vs. Chiefs final score: Kansas City builds lead early, holds on for tight win

Kansas City had just enough defensive strength to hand the Patriots their third loss in five games Sunday in Foxborough, only managing three points after halftime but still clinching the AFC West with a 23-16 win.

The game prompted lengthy discussions of multiple missed calls by the referees. The most egregious wiped what should have been a New England touchdown off the board, and because coach Bill Belichick had already used all of his challenges, the referees couldn't correct the error.

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That touchdown would have cut Kansas City's lead to 23-19 (pending the extra point) early in the fourth quarter. Instead, after the field goal, the Patriots deficit remained at a touchdown, 23-16, and they couldn't find the end zone on their final two possessions. The Chiefs batted down a fourth-down pass from New England quarterback Tom Brady in the end zone with about a minute remaining to seal the win.

Brady was 19-for-36 through the air, picking up 169 yards, throwing one touchdown and one pick.

The Patriots scored a touchdown on the game's opening drive and then picked off Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes to on the following possession. But they didn't score again for the rest of the first half, while the Chiefs scored two touchdowns and two field goals to hold a 20-7 lead at the break.

Mahomes finished 26-for-40 passing for 283 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

A field goal to start the second half pushed that advantage to 23-7, and then Kansas City began to slip up. A blocked punt and fumble on consecutive possessions led to 10 New England points, and likely would've turned into 14, if not for the missed call.

The win clinched the AFC West for the Chiefs (9-4), while the Patriots (10-3) couldn't further distance themselves from the second-place Bills (9-4).

Sporting News tracked live score, updates and highlights from Patriots vs. Chiefs in NFL Week 14. Follow along below.

Patriots vs. Chiefs final score

Patriots vs. Chiefs scoring plays

First quarter

12:34 — Patriots quarterback Tom Brady 37-yard pass to wide receiver Julian Edelman (flea flicker). XP good.

7:12 — Chiefs 48-yard field goal, kicker Harrison Butker.

Second quarter

13:04 — Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes 48-yard pass to Mecole Hardman. XP good.

9:33 — Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce 4-yard run (wildcat). XP good.

0:59 — Chiefs 31-yard field goal, kicker Harrison Butker.

Third quarter

8:36 — Chiefs 41-yard field goal, kicker Harrison Butker.

4:23 — Patriots running back Brandon Bolden 10-yard run. Two-point conversion no good.

Fourth quarter

11:42 — Patriots 29-yard field goal, kicker Nick Folk.

Patriots vs. Chiefs updates, highlights

Final: Chiefs 23, Patriots 16

7:37 p.m.: TURNOVER ON DOWNS, Patriots. Brady looks for Edelman in the end zone on fourth-and-3 from the 5, but his pass is broken up. Kansas City will kneel it out.

7:31 p.m.: Brady scrambles for a fourth-and-6 conversion. The Patriots are in the red zone.

7:28 p.m.: The Patriots go into their bag of tricks late in the game.

7:03 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, Patriots. Well New England should have had a touchdown, but the referees ruled N'Keal Harry out of bounds when he wasn't, just before he dove for the pylon. Bill Belichick already used two challenges (one successful), so he couldn't ask for a review. Rough stuff. Chiefs 23, Patriots 16.

End third quarter: Chiefs 23, Patriots 13

6:54 p.m.: It's coming apart a bit for the Chiefs. Kelce fumbles, and New England recovers. May have been a long return if not for the referees initially ruling Kelce was down.

6:39 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, Patriots. Brandon Bolden from 10 yards out. Two-point conversion no good, as the Chiefs stuff a run. Chiefs 23, Patriots 13.

6:36 p.m.: BLOCKED PUNT, Patriots. One play after failing to pick up a fumble, New England gets the momentum play it needed. If Nate Ebner hadn't blocked it, Justin Bethel would have. Atrocious protection from the Chiefs.

6:31 p.m.: The Patriots go three-and-out. A putrid performance on offense from them; 95 combined yards on the past seven drives.

6:24 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, Chiefs. On the opening drive of the second half, Kansas City takes 6:14 off the clock and kicks another field goal. New England needs an answer badly. Chiefs 23, Patriots 7.

Halftime: Chiefs 20, Patriots 7

6:01 p.m.: The Patriots fans boo as the game heads to halftime.

5:58 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, Chiefs. Kansas City tacks on 3 more with 58 seconds left in the first half. Chiefs 20, Patriots 7.

5:31 p.m.: TURNOVER ON DOWNS, Patriots. New England goes for it on fourth-and-7 from the 27, and Brady misses Edelman. Kansas City takes over.

5:22 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, Chiefs. Out of the wildcat, Travis Kelce takes the direct snap and keeps it on the option. He's in from 4 yards, and Kansas City takes advantage of the short field. Chiefs 17, Patriots 7.

5:17 p.m.: INTERCEPTION, Chiefs. Brady gets got by Bashaud Breeland on the first play of the drive.

5:12 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, Chiefs. Mahomes goes deep to Mecole Hardman, who makes a man miss and gets into the end zone for a 48-yard go-ahead score. Chiefs 10, Patriots 7.

5:09 p.m.: A big third-down conversion for Mahomes and the Chiefs.

End first quarter: Patriots 7, Chiefs 3

4:59 p.m.: BLOCKED FIELD GOAL, Chiefs. The Patriots try a 41-yard field goal, but Kansas City blows up the line and blocks it.

4:49 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, Chiefs. After a New England three-and-out, the Chiefs string a nice drive together, mostly with three completions by Mahomes. They stall on a third-and-2, though, and Harrison Butker is good from 48. Patriots 7, Chiefs 3.

4:36 p.m.: INTERCEPTION, Patriots. Patrick Mahomes makes a bad decision, and J.C. Jackson picks it off. Bad start for the reigning MVP.

4:30 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, Patriots. Tom Brady to Julian Edelman for 32 yards on a flea flicker. Patriots 7, Chiefs 0.

4:30 p.m.: And another pass interference penalty on another third down moves the chains again for New England.

4:28 p.m.: A pass interference penalty on third down moves the chains for New England.

4:25 p.m.: Strong coverage from the Chiefs on the openig kickoff, and the Patriots will open inside their own 20.

2:39 p.m.: The equipment is there, and not a moment too soon.

1:44 p.m.: A bizarre start.