HALL OF SHAME

Loss near top of Belichick-era list

The 42-27 loss the Chiefs hung on the Patriots Thursday night ranks high in the pantheon of the worst regularseason losses of the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era in New England. A look at some of the other candidates since Brady became the starter in 2001: Sept. 7, 2003: Bills 31, Pats 0

Days after Belichick cut Lawyer Milloy, the safety joined the Bills and helped former Pats quarterback Drew Bledsoe lead a rout of their old pals in Buffalo. The loss spurred a few days worth of panic in New England, before the Patriots rattled off 17 wins in their next 18 games en route to the Super Bowl XXXVIII title.

Dec. 20, 2004: Dolphins 29, Pats 28

In the final few minutes, the lowly Dolphins (who came into the game 2-11) scored two touchdowns in a 44-second span to shock the Pats in Miami. Brady threw four interceptions, including one that set up the winning score in the Monday night contest. The loss, however, was a small blemish on a 14-2 campaign that ended in the Super Bowl XXXIX title.

Sept. 21, 2008: Dolphins 38, Pats 13

The Dolphins exploited a Pats squad still reeling from the loss of Brady (knee) for the season. They introduced the wildcat fad to the NFL, and the Pats were not even close to ready. Ronnie Brown scored four rushing touchdowns to power the Dolphins, who ended up edging the Pats for the division title later in the year on a tiebreaker.

Nov. 30, 2009: Saints 38, Pats 17

Drew Brees threw for five touchdowns against the Pats defense as New England was embarrassed in a Monday night contest in New Orleans. The loss was part of a stretch of three in four games for the Pats.

Sept. 29, 2014: Chiefs 41, Pats 14

In what was maybe the low point of the Brady era, the Chiefs ran the Pats out of Kansas City in another Monday night meeting. They scored the first 27 points before finally chasing Brady out of the game. But Belichick, who after the game dismissed a question about whether he'd consider removing Brady from the starter's role, would repoint the Pats who went 13-2 down the stretch en route to the Super Bowl XLIX title.

STAFF PHOTOS BY MATT STONE AND MATT WEST WORST LOSS: Bill Belichick tosses his Surface tablet in disgust during the 2014 shellacking by the Chiefs.

BAD START: Tom Brady sits on the bench during Thursday’s loss.