Chiefs, Patriots still alive thanks to interchangeable parts

He threw a career-high four interceptions, as the Chiefs whipped the Patriots 26-16.

The teams split their regular season meetings, with the Patriots winning 34-3 at home in 2011, while the Chiefs got back at them by winning 41-14 in their own field in 2014.

It’s a classic Patriots play. The Patriots’ horrific patch-work offensive line almost killed the man. Brady absorbed 11 sacks and 34 hits in those four losses. Of those seven wins, five of them came against teams that failed to finish over. Those guys, they make plays when their number is called upon.

And that’s where it starts. And even though Hali and Houston have been dealing with injuries this season, Vollmer doesn’t think that matters much. This is a team filled with veterans who have made postseason runs before, which should give the Patriots an advantage. He is banged up and so is the Kansas City front that he will face, including Justin Houston, Tamba Hali and Dee Ford. And don’t sleep on interior linemen Jaye Howard and Allen Bailey, who both benefit when attention is shifted elsewhere. “It’s just part of the game and it’s a physical game”.

In an interview with WEEI’s Dennis and Callahan, the New England Patriots quarterback shared his two cents on their upcoming opponent.

In one of the only years during the Brady-Belichick era that the Patriots felt far away from Super Bowl favorites, the 2005 season ended prematurely and in disappointing fashion when the Denver Broncos beat the Pats 27-13 ten years ago today.

“It was a great opportunity to see Howie again, and Mr. Lurie, and have a chance to talk with them”, Pederson said.

“I hope so. He’s been working pretty hard at it”, Brady said.

The Patriots always seem to stay afloat regardless of who is out with injury, but they’re going to have to dig deep against the Chiefs phenomenal defense. His nine interceptions, including one in the playoffs, are a byproduct of that. I think the coaching staff has done a great job of putting us in the best position possible to be successful. “He’s big. He’s athletic. I mean, I’ve heard of things happening, but I haven’t had any of those problems”. But Alex Smith had to go and have the oddest career in the history of pro football and ruin it for all of us.

Branch, Akiem Hicks (acquired in a trade from New Orleans earlier in the season) and Malcom Brown (the team’s top pick in last May’s draft) have provided a stout interior while also capable of collapsing the pocket on passing plays. Overall, Peters left a lot of underneath room.

Brady said he is hopeful that wide receiver Julian Edelman will be back for Saturday’s game at Gillette Stadium. But the bigger gains will come over the middle, especially in nickel packages if Mauga is responsible for the underneath zone to his side. Edelman has been on the sidelines since suffering a knee injury in week 10 against the New York Giants. It’s not a given the Patriots will win, but they certainly have the edge.

The Texans are bad, but they looked incompetent thanks to a almost flawless performance from the Chiefs’ defensive line, linebackers, and secondary. Brady will diagnose the Chiefs’ coverages before each snap because they’re rarely complicated, save for the occasional third-and-long blitz look. While Conley only picked up 17 receptions for 199 yards and a touchdown in the regular season, the one game that Maclin missed against the Steelers, Conley collected 6 receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown.