In a surprising turn of events, New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien has publicly backed running back Ezekiel Elliott's recent critique of the team's tempo during their defeat against the Kansas City Chiefs. Following their 27-17 loss at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, Elliott expressed his belief that the Patriots could have played at a faster pace, especially considering the score deficit. Contrary to expectations, O'Brien agreed with Elliott's assessment during his media availability on Tuesday.

Elliott's comments, as reported by NESN.com's Zack Cox, called attention to the team's offensive strategy in the final quarter of the game. "I think we could have gone a little faster, just definitely being down three scores in that last quarter," Elliott said. However, he also acknowledged that ultimately, the decision was not up to him.

This drew speculation that Elliott's remarks were directed at Bill O'Brien, who is responsible for managing the team's offensive plays. Yet, to the surprise of many, O'Brien supported Elliott's viewpoint during his press conference. "We were trying very hard to get into a tempo, but we just weren't able to do it," O'Brien told reporters, as cited by the Boston Globe's Khari Thompson. "I would say that Zeke's on the money. We're trying to go faster there. We didn't get it done. We didn't do a good enough job of going faster. So put that one on me."

O'Brien specifically referenced a critical possession that started deep in their own territory, at the 1-yard line, with just 3 minutes and 54 seconds left on the clock. Despite an initial quarterback sneak by Bailey Zappe that provided some breathing room, the Patriots were unable to pick up the tempo as desired. The second play came 36 seconds later, followed by another 39 seconds before their third-down play. This added delay hindered their chances of a comeback as they trailed 27-17 at the time.

Unable to sustain the necessary momentum, the Patriots ultimately failed to convert on a crucial fourth-and-4 from their own 7-yard line, with just 2 minutes and 35 seconds remaining. The Chiefs subsequently sealed their victory by kneeling the ball four times.

Looking ahead, the Patriots and Elliott will travel to face the Denver Broncos on Christmas Eve for a Week 16 matchup. Meanwhile, the Chiefs will enjoy a home game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Day.

The surprising agreement between Elliott and Coach O'Brien has sparked conversations within the Patriots' fan base, as they speculate on the team's offensive strategy moving forward. Can the Patriots make the necessary adjustments to execute a faster pace of play? Only time will tell.