Patriots Surpass Chiefs To Advance To Fifth Straight AFC Championship Game

The New England Patriots are used to the AFC Championship title game, having advanced to it four years in a row and ultimately winning a Super Bowl last year. Yet again, the Patriots had a chance of advancing again in their divisional playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday at home.

The Patriots jumped the gun in the first half in dominating the Chiefs with a touchdown pass from quarterback Tom Brady to tight end Rob Gronkowski and Brady executing a quarterback sneak for a score of his own. After two field goals by Chiefs kicker Cairo Santos before halftime, another Gronkowski touchdown in the early third quarter brought the score up to 21-6. The Chiefs would retaliate back with a 10-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Alex Smith to wide receiver Albert Wilson to bring the score to 21-13. After two field goals by Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski, the Chiefs brought the score within one touchdown after a running score from running back Charcandrick West, but was too late and solidifying the Patriots with a victory and berth in the AFC Championship game.

“It’s pretty special to get back to another AFC championship game,” said Brady, who finished with 302 passing yards and two touchdowns. “It’s pretty cool. It’s hard to do, man. You’ve got to grind throughout the entire year. There’s only four teams playing next week and we’re one of them. That game means a lot.” Gronkowski finished with 83 receiving yards and two touchdowns while returning wide receiver Julian Edelman finished with 100 yards. Smith finished with 246 passing yards and one touchdown for the Chiefs.

The Patriots will travel to Denver next week to face the Broncos in the AFC title game, where Brady and Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will face each other for the fifth time in the playoffs and 16th time overall in their careers.

Photo: FOXBORO, MA – JANUARY 16: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots scores a touchdown in the second quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)