FOXBORO, Mass. — Adam Vinatieri lined up for the field goal, just 32 yards away from a last-minute win for New England. It hit the right upright.
No good.
Kansas City escaped with a 16-14 victory last season, and the Patriots, 4-0 going into the game, began their plunge to the NFL's depths. Now comes the rematch in one of the least anticipated Monday night games of the season.
That doesn't mean it won't be exciting — not with two of the last six Monday night games decided on final-play field goals or with Kansas City's 17-16 loss in its last game to previously winless San Diego on John Carney's 52-yard field goal with 2:14 left.
Or with Vinatieri's determination to build on his 14 straight successful field goal attempts, the second longest active streak in the league.
"The thought of last year's game is not going to really enter my mind. We have enough to worry about this year," Vinatieri said. "It would be nice to have a chance to redeem myself, though."
Starting with that loss, the Patriots are 7-17. They're 3-9 this season, including five losses in their last six games. The win, 16-13 over Cincinnati, came on Vinatieri's 22-yard field goal with three seconds left.
"Teams are very comparable in talent level," Vinatieri said. "It seems every week there's one or two games that are always won or lost by a field goal, so you have to embrace that and be ready for it and, if it comes down to that, be happy about it."
Kansas City's Todd Peterson did that, making his three field-goal attempts against San Diego, but he didn't get another chance after Carney's kick.
The Chiefs (5-7) have lost their last four games, but their current status as San Diego's only victim isn't particularly embarrassing to coach Gunther Cunningham. Four of the Chargers last five losses were by three points or less.
"You can't really worry about what people say," Cunningham said. "At this level, they're good players, no matter what the records are. It's like our team. Give or take a few points and we could be right up there."
The Chiefs have lost three games by three points or less and another by four.
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL