Running men: Patriots' backfield leads the way past Chiefs in AFC title game

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After Sunday’s dramatic win over the Chiefs, running backs coach Ivan Fears sat on his stool in the visitors’ locker room like a gridiron Buddha with a big smile, accepting congratulations from everyone who passed.

The veteran coach — who predates Bill Belichick on the New England staff — deserves all the accolades you can dream up. While the Patriots’ passing game has always been stocked with above-the-marquee talent, it’s been the work of his sons (Fears' terminology) on the ground that’s powered New England through some dicey situations this year.

Let's face it: Tom Brady hasn’t always been at his best. Rob Gronkowski has struggled at times, while Julian Edelman was in and out of the lineup at the start of the season. The truth of the matter is the rock-solid running game has been the most reliable part of the offense, all the way from the start of the regular season through Sunday’s AFC title game.

In the AFC title game, the backfield again rose to the challenge. Rookie Sony Michel had 29 carries for 113 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Tweener Rex Burkhead — given up for dead after an early-season injury — had 12 carries for 41 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime. And the always dynamic James White delivered again with 72 yards from scrimmage (23 rushing, 49 receiving).

It all added up to 176 rushing yards — the fifth-best postseason performance as a team in franchise history — as well as 248 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns in the Patriots 37-31 overtime win.



“We’re built for moments like this,” shrugged Michel after the game, the second straight playoff contest where he topped 100 yards on the ground.

The Patriots were clearly about controlling the clock and the tempo against the Chiefs, especially in the early going. New England ran the ball 25 times in the first half (vs. just 17 pass attempts) on the way to a 14-0 lead after two quarters. Given the stakes, it was a huge first step on the way to the victory.