Brady and Patriots outlast the Chiefs in an overtime thriller for another AFC title taken at Arrowhead Stadium (2018 AFC Playoffs)

(Adam Richins/Boston Sports Journal)

2018 AFC Playoffs

Brady and Patriots outlast the Chiefs in an overtime thriller for another AFC title

By Christopher Price

Jan 20, 2019 • 10:47 am

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KANSAS CITY -- Next stop, Super Bowl LIII.

The Patriots won a wild one against the Chiefs Sunday night in Arrowhead, outlasting Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City in the AFC title game, 37-31, to reach their third consecutive Super Bowl.

Pushed into overtime after a late drive from Mahomes and the Chiefs, Brady guided a masterful drive on the first series of the extra session, hitting Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman with passes before Rex Burkhead plunged over from two yards out to give the Patriots another AFC title.

Brady finished 30-of-46 for 348 yards with one touchdown and a pair of interceptions. Edelman had seven catches for 96 yards, while Sony Michel had 29 carries for 113 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Mahomes and the Chiefs were terrific in defeat, as the young quarterback went 16-for-31 for 295 yards and three touchdowns.

The Patriots were in unquestioned command in the early going, as Brady engineered the longest postseason drive of his career, a 15-play, 80-yard sequence that was capped off by a 1-yard plunge by Michel into the end zone. The Patriots added to their lead late in the second when Brady hit Phillip Dorsett with a 29-yard scoring strike to make it 14-0 at halftime.

Meanwhile, the defense was doing more than its share of work to smother the Chiefs — Sunday marked the first time all year the high-octane Kansas City offense was held scoreless over the first four two quarters.

But predictably, the Chiefs answered quickly at the start of the third quarter — just 2:04 into the second half, Kansas City got on the board with a 12-yard pass play to Travis Kelce to cut the New England lead in half. The Pats answered with a 47-yard field goal with 4:02 left in the third to stretch their lead to 17-7, but a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown catches (both from Damien Williams) pushed Kansas City to a 21-17 lead. It marked the first time New England trailed in a game since mid-December.

That set the stage for the wild finish, which saw the teams trade scores before the Patriots eventually took a 31-28 lead with just over 30 seconds remaining when Rex Burkhead plunged in from the 4-yard line. Mahomes had one final drive left in him, which got the Chiefs a 39-yard field goal with eight seconds left to force the extra session.

IN-GAME NOTES



9:19 p.m.: That's it. Pats win. Back to the Super Bowl.

9:04 p.m.: Brady to Hogan. It's been interesting we haven't seen a lot of Michel down the stretch, and Burkhead starts here in overtime.

9:02 p.m.: Pats win the toss and will receive.

9:00 p.m.: Overtime. First time in NFL history there are two postseason OT games on the same day.

8:58 p.m.: Chiefs are kicking it here.... and it's good. Eight seconds left. Looks like we're headed for overtime.

8:50 p.m.: Rex Burkhead punches it in, and the Pats are up with 39 seconds left. Chiefs have one time out left.

8:48 p.m.: There's the Gronkowski moment. Gets them inside the 5 with 37 seconds left. Say what you will about the Pats, when it comes to high-stakes football, they never seem to play boring games.

8:46 p.m.: No catch. Pats faced with third and long here.

8:44 p.m.: And now, we wait. I don't think Hogan caught it.

8:39 p.m.: So there's 2:03 left, Brady has the ball and three timeouts, and is down four. It's in his hands now.

8:36 p.m.: Such an incredible back and forth. Jones with a great PBU. but the Chiefs answer there. KC got away with a pick play there that leads to a touchdown. With the extra point, it'll be 28-24 with 2:03 left in regulation. Third TD of the game for Williams.

8:31 p.m.: Big chance here for the New England defense.

8:28 p.m.: Michel wasn't even touched, and Arrowhead goes silent. It's 24-21 with 3:32 left in regulation.

8:27 p.m.: Rex Burkhead and Chris Hogan making plays down the stretch in the biggest game of the year. Just like we all thought.

8:25 p.m.: Thinking this is where Gronkowski emerges again for a wake up the echoes moment.

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8:22 p.m.: And now, we wait. Again. If it stands, a hell of a catch by Hogan. (It stands.)

8:14 p.m.: Kansas City answers, and it's the first time the Patriots have trailed since the second half of the Steelers game -- 21-17 with 7:45 left in regulation. If New England ends up losing this, the Pats will be able to lament a bunch of missed opportunities.

8:10 p.m.: So much for that drama. Kansas City ball on the second pick of the game for Brady.

8:09 p.m.: The Chiefs have diagnosed the Pats run game ... numbers are way down here in the second half.

8:08 p.m.: Pats ball.

8:03 p.m.: Well, this will be interesting. ... Now, we wait. (I don't think it touched him, but I don't know if there's enough there to overturn.)

7:57 p.m.: Ouch. Not getting that will open the Pats up to some second-guessing if they end up losing up a few. (Not sure why you don't go with the QB sneak there...)

7:55 p.m.: This is starting to feel a little like the 2006 divisional playoff against the Chargers.

7:53 p.m.: New England starting to get into a nice rhythm here as it approaches the red zone.

7:49 p.m.: Pats really need an answer here to slow some of that momentum.

7:46 p.m.: The Chiefs cut it to three with a tidy little drive that ends with a touchdown pass from Mahomes to Williams, and is augmented with a PI call on Jonathan Jones. It's 17-14 with 14:51 left in regulation.




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Just like we all thought


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PRE-GAME NOTES


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He good








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Game:


TV:
Jim Nantz
Tony Romo


Online:


Radio:
Bob Socci
Scott Zolak


Online: 


Betting line:


Weather




Your pregame reading list:






















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