Following the New England Patriots’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15, a report came out of Foxborough that an apparent officiating mishap had left some footballs underinflated in the first half. On Friday, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick confirmed that there indeed was an issue involving the six kicking balls used.
Per Belichick, it did not take New England long to notice.
“We were aware of it in the first quarter,” he said.
Unlike the footballs used by each offense, those used on special teams are handled exclusively by the officiating crew ahead of each game.