Monday Night Football Week 4: TV Schedule, Live Stream for Patriots vs. Chiefs

Through three weeks of the 2014 NFL season, Monday Night Football has yielded some breathtaking, down-to-the-wire games. Expect that trend to continue in Week 4 when the New England Patriots travel west to take on the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Patriots haven't looked overly impressive so far this season—they barely squeezed past the winless Oakland Raiders in Week 3—and will be looking to make a statement on Monday. The Chiefs look to be improving each week, culminating in a dominant victory—the team's first of the season—over the Miami Dolphins.

Both of these teams reside in highly competitive divisions where one loss can severely hinder the possibility of contending for a favorable position in the postseason. As we prepare for some more compelling football, let's first take a look at the game's complete viewing information and outlook.

Viewing Information

When: Monday, September 29

Where: Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Channel: ESPN

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Preview and Prediction

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

The Patriots have won the AFC East in 10 of the last 11 seasons; however, they'll need to make some serious improvements if they are to continue that trend this season.

Some lackluster offensive line play has led to some struggles for Tom Brady and Co. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), the Patriots have the league's worst pass-protecting line with a rating of negative-21.7 points. That's led to New England's 27th-ranked passing offense heading into Week 4, averaging just 196.3 yards per game.

That's not exactly comforting against a Chiefs team that has accumulated nine sacks through three games this season. Mark Schlereth added to the criticism with some strong words, via NFL on ESPN:

Making matters worse, the team's running game isn't exactly consistent. Leading ball-carrier Stevan Ridley sandwiched one stellar performance between two poor ones. Here's a look at his stats through three games this season:

Opponent	Rush	Yards	YPC	TDs
Dolphins	8	21	2.6	0
Vikings	25	101	4.0	1
Raiders	19	54	2.8	0

The lack of a viable passing attack combined with a shaky running game doesn't bode well for New England. This offense is chock-full of playmakers, but if Brady can't get the necessary time to deliver the ball with accuracy, that becomes a moot point.

New England's saving grace is its defense. After several key offseason transactions, this unit is greatly improved. Through three weeks, the Patriots own the league's best pass defense, allowing just 168.7 yards per game. No slouch on the ground, New England is ranked 12th against the run and third overall in average yards allowed per game.

BJ Kissel of KCChiefs.com tweeted another impressive stat regarding the Patriots defense:

The Chiefs lost two straight games to begin the season; however, as brutal as their Week 1 defeat by the Tennessee Titans was, they looked far better against the Denver Broncos—a Denver goal-line stand in the game's waning seconds prevented a trip to overtime.

Kansas City continued to ride momentum into Week 3, pummeling the Miami Dolphins by a score of 34-15 en route to its first victory this season.

Alex Smith looked fantastic against the Dolphins, completing 19 of his 25 passing attempts for 186 yards and three touchdowns. He was complemented nicely by Knile Davis, who rushed 32 times for 132 yards and a score, forging a well-balanced attack.

Smith's recent performance had head coach Andy Reid singing his praises:

Although, like the Patriots, the Chiefs have a shaky offensive line situation. Smith was sacked five times in Week 3, and that was a testament to a unit ranked 31st in pass protection with a negative-18.6 rating, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Luckily for Kansas City, it gets its best playmaker back against the Patriots, as running back Jamaal Charles has been declared probable, according to Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star:

The return of Charles will benefit Kansas City's offensive line, as Smith will be able to get rid of the ball quickly, utilizing the speedy back as a security blanket out of the backfield.

This contest will come down to which offensive line can hold up under pressure on Monday night. Looking at recent performances by Kansas City's pass rush, and taking into consideration Brady's inability to throw downfield this season, the upper hand goes to the home team in a very close game.

Prediction: Chiefs 20, Patriots 17