Patriots run defense will face a test this week in Kansas City

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The New England Patriots play the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night football, one of the key match ups be how well the defense can stop the running game of the Chiefs.

Coming into the game the Chiefs have the 14th ranked running game averaging 4.2 yards per carry. This is being done without Jamaal Charles, one of the premier running backs in the NFL. Charles was hurt early in the second game of the season and hasn't played since then. Although he was limited in practice this week he is expected to play.

Stepping up in his absence has been Knile Davis. He has rushed for 211 yards and three scores. Showing that the Patriots will have to prepare ways to stop both Charles and Davis

Houston Chronicle

They didn't miss a beat last week without him," Wilfork said. "This is a team that wants to run the football, that's what they do, they're built to run the ball. We have to be able to stop all of them when it comes down to it.

They both run downhill, they both test the edges, they both catch the ball out of the backfield, they both block. They're built differently but at the same time, they run hard, like a big back," he said. "We have to do a real good job up front of playing well, in the run game and the pass game, because they use them so much everywhere on the field.

Bill Belichick echoed Wilfork's statements

Davis is strong ... and he breaks tackles, he's got good lower body strength, hard guy to bring down.

Charles has good playing strength, too, but he's more elusive, great quickness, acceleration. They're different, but they're both very good. They both can hit the home run ball, they've both got great long speed — they have that in common — but their styles are a little bit different.

The Chiefs have another element to their running game, QB Alex Smith. He ranks second right now among all quarterbacks with 95 yards rushing. Running quarterbacks have always presented problems for the Patriots.

I'm not saying he wants to run 10, 15 times a game, but when he has to, he does it, and he makes plays," Wilfork said. "And it's not like he's sliding. A lot of times you think he's going to slide and he cuts back and kind of catches defenses by surprise because he's not sliding. He's a smart football player.

Look for Jaime Collins to be playing the role of QB spy this weekend. Hopefully they can utilize him correctly and he can contain Smith if he decides to run or turn to a pass rusher if he stays in the pocket.

The Patriots and their 11th ranked run defense will be tested this weekend. As long as they stay disciplined they should be able to keep the Chiefs running game in check.

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