Patriots Roundup: On Christmas Eve, Can Pats Stop Russ From Cooking?

FOXBOROUGH, MA — A loss against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday didn't matter much for the Patriots season. The team finds itself in a unique spot: Already eliminated from playoff contention, with fans eyeing the potential coaching carousel and mock drafts from scouts and writers.

The struggling Pats limp into a Christmas Eve matchup with the Denver Broncos this week in what is certainly the least hyped version of any Sean Payton vs. Bill Belichick coaching matchup anyone could have dreamed up.

Denver, however, is still in the playoff hunt, so can a feisty Patriots defense hold off Russell Wilson and the Broncos?

To be determined. Here's what's been happening around the team in the leadup to the game:

A Window Into Taylor Swift

Quite literally, fans at Gillette got a window into the world of Taylor Swift when many of them crowded an endzone concourse to stare at her through a window into her suite.

Swift confirmed a weeks worth of gossip on Sunday when she appeared on the video board at the New England Patriots game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Swift and Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce are in a very public relationship, which has become one of the major topics of the NFL season.

The singer also has a long-storied relationship with Gillette Stadium.

But when Swift was shown on the video board, the reception was mixed from fans at Gillette. After an initial wave of cheers, Swift was met with boos from Patriots diehards who were rooting against her newly-beloved Chiefs.

Swift initially waved to the crowd, but as cheers turned to boos a look of playful exasperation took over her face before she blew a half-hearted kiss to the crowd.

It was the pop superstar who got the last laugh, however, as the Chiefs defeated the Patriots 27-17.

Foxborough High School State Champs Celebrated

The Kraft family welcomed head coach Jack Martinelli and his team to Gillette Stadium on Sunday afternoon in a continued celebration of their recent state championship victory.

Foxborough players and staff took in pregame warmups from the field, were personally congratulated by Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft and joined the Patriots cheerleaders by the team tunnel as the Patriots took the field ahead of kick-off.

Additionally, Martinelli and team captains Shane Henri, Sullivan Kenneally, Lincoln Moore, Brandon Mazenkas-O’Grady, Tony Sulham and Nathan Urman joined music legend Jon Bon Jovi at the top of the Gillette Stadium Lighthouse for the Keeper of the Light pregame ceremony.

The Warriors captured the Division V crown by besting top-seeded Hanover 48-21 at Gillette Stadium on Dec. 1, marking Foxborough’s first state title since 2006.

In October, 42-year head coach Martinelli notched his 300th career win, becoming just the seventh coach in the history of Massachusetts high school football to hit 300 career wins, and only the fourth to hit the milestone all with one school.

Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers has been activated from injured reserve, but Patriots fans and those across the NFL landscape won't see him play again this season. The move is made so Rodgers can continue practicing with the team, Robert Saleh said to the media on Wednesday.

Rodgers confirmed on "The Pat McAfee Show" this week that he won't be returning from his Achilles injury, a feat that, if he were to complete it, would be historic given the general timeline for the injury.

The quarterback also confirmed that the Jets being out of playoff contention played a key role in the decision, something league insiders have long believed to be the case.

This means Patriots fans won't see Rodgers grace the field at Gillette this season. Still, Rodgers noted that he intends to play beyond next season, giving Pats fans hypothetical confirmation that they will have a chance to face Rodgers as a division opponent in the future.

How To Watch, Listen

Kickoff: Sunday, 1 p.m.

Broadcast: NFL Network and ABC

Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub