Patriots HC Bill Belichick addresses underinflated footballs vs. Chiefs

Though the six-time Super Bowl champion was relatively tight-lipped about the matter in classic Belichick fashion, just to get a confirmation on the report was notable.

MassLive's Mark Daniels broke the news on Wednesday, writing that members of New England's special team were "visibly upset in the locker room" following the group's 27-17 loss against Kansas City.

"After team complaints, officials took the 'K-Balls' into the locker room at halftime where they were discovered to weigh 11 pounds per square inch instead of the legal limit of 13.5, per sources." Daniels wrote. "The underinflated footballs didn’t travel as well in the Foxborough weather on Sunday and sources indicated that’s why Patriots kicker Chad Ryland and Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker missed field goals in the first half. Sources noted that the footballs traveled farther in the second half once inflated to the proper 13.5 PSI."

Sunday's circumstances involving the Chiefs and Patriots come nearly nine years following New England and retired three-time MVP quarterback Tom Brady's "Deflategate" scandal.

That situation began in the aftermath of the AFC Championship Game between the Patriots and Indianapolis Colts in January 2015, when officials discovered that footballs were underinflated during the first half of the Patriots' victory. A lengthy investigation followed, and Brady ended up being suspended for the first four games of the 2016 campaign. The team also was fined $1M and lost two draft picks.