Chiefs’ coach Reid praises Patriots, Belichick after loss

The Patriots were back to being healthy again on Saturday, with wide receiver Julian Edelman returning from his broken left foot, left tackle Sebastian Vollmer coming back from an ankle sprain, and tight end Rob Gronkowski able to play after being questionable and missing practices leading up to the game.

In an AFC divisional playoff game against the New England Patriots, a contest that was in New England’s hands from almost start to finish, the Kansas City Chiefs had a chance to make things interesting late in the fourth quarter. “The chemistry was clicking tonight”. “Just overall we did what we had to do to get that W”. If the Steelers win, New England is home. Turns out there was no need to worry.

Conversely, New England’s Bill Belichick has lost just one playoff divisional round test at home as the Patriots’ head hoodie: To the Jets in 2010-11 and (not a misprint) quarterback Mark Sanchez. No return since MacArthur’s to the Philippines seemed as uplifting as was Edelman’s return to New England’s offense on Saturday. WR Keshawn Martin, who caught a 42-yard pass from Tom Brady on New England’s second scoring drive, signed a two-year contract extension worth a reported $3 million…. Somehow it all came together to keep Brady upright.

Instead, Brady drove the Patriots 98 yards for a touchdown and capped the possession with a 1-yard touchdown run.

That score was set up by the play that drew the loudest cheers here, an adrenaline-pushing plod to the goal line by the 38-year-old Brady, who was ruled short of a touchdown but forced the ball over on a quarterback sneak on the next play. Instead of acting as a distraction, last week’s chaos may have re-ignited that aggravation for the team to use as fuel. And Brady hit Gronkowski from 16 yards in the third. Boom-boom-boom. Brady to Edelman for 11 on third-and-10.

With Reid calling the plays, he didn’t rush getting them to quarterback Alex Smith, who incredibly at times relayed them to the offense in a huddle.

“I mean, it’s just good to be out there with them”, a sheepish Edelman told the NFL Network after the game.

Imagine the emotions for Jones.

Jones’ status was uncertain after he wandered into a Foxboro police station last weekend, shirtless and disoriented. Indeed, Reid offered praise to the Tom Brady-led machine that had just ploughed through his team, one that ended the Chiefs 11-game winning streak in the process.

Smith finished 29-of-50 for 241 yards and ran for 44 yards.

The Patriots’ only remaining active linebackers are starter Dont’a Hightower and backups Jonathan Freeny, Darius Fleming and Dekoda Watson.

Even though New England’s offensive attack relies so heavily on passing, McDaniels found a way to get White involved and into space against the Chiefs on a screen, which could be a weapon in future matchups.

And let’s not forget the special teams. “He always has an answer, and he did a great job today”. “So that was good team, complementary football there in all three units”.

Edelman was on the field at the end of the game and a couple of reports said that the receiver looked a little hobbled as he walked off and he was seen leaving the x-ray room following the win. Gronkowski and Edelman combined for 17 catches and 183 yards. There was luck involved, for sure, but it was also an aggressive call from the black-eyed Belichick.

“We were happy to get the win”.