We have yet another deflategate situation involving the New England Patriots and this time, it does not involve Tom Brady.
According to Mark Daniels of MassLive.com, there was a massive error by the officiating crew in this past Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs that caused the footballs used by each team’s kicking units to be underinflated by two pounds.
After complaints were made, officials took balls meant for each team’s kicking units into the locker room at Gillette Stadium at halftime Sunday and it was discovered the balls weighed 11 pounds per square inch. NFL rules state that balls must be inflated between 12.5 PSI and 13.5 PSI.
“They were all sitting around at 11 PSI. The threshold is usually 13.5,” a source told MassLive. “[The Patriots] told the refs they were a little underinflated or they felt that way. At halftime, they confirmed and obviously put air in them.”
It certainly made a difference as Patriots kicker Chad Ryland and Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker both missed field goal attempts in the first half. One from 39 yards out and another from 41.
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The 39-yard attempt was Butker’s first missed kick of the year and it turned out that wasn’t his fault. Butker ended up making two of his three field goals in the game, including a 54-yarder, and all three of his extra point attempts.
The footballs weren’t a problem in the final two quarters.
The Patriots fell to 3-11 in the loss to the Chiefs on Sunday while Kansas City snapped a two-game losing skid. With a 9-5 record, they still hold the lead in the AFC West and will attempt to clinch a postseason spot this weekend for the ninth straight year.
The Patriots are already eliminated from playoff contention.
