NFL Latest: Score close, but Pats look to be in control

It was the eighth postseason receiving touchdown of Gronk’s career, giving him the most all-time among tight ends and the most in Patriots history.

The New England Patriots are down a couple of linebackers against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Patriots defensive lineman Chandler Jones forced Knile Davis’ fumble on the Chiefs’ first possession of the second half, then Brady added another touchdown pass to Gronkowski to make it 21-6. Pinned at their 2 after Danny Amendola slammed Chiefs punt coverage man Jamell Fleming as Fleming was trying to down a punt, the Patriots got off their goal line with a 42-yard completion to Keshawn Martin. They will either play the Denver Broncos or the Pittsburgh Steelers. A delay-of-game penalty on third-and-9 pushed the ball back to the 14, and Alex Smith’s pass to Chris Conley fell incomplete, setting up Santos’ 32-yarder.

If the Patriots win, they will advance to the AFC Championship game.

The New England Patriots played turnover-free football and wore out the Kansas City Chiefs with big passing plays Saturday for a 27-20 victory in an AFC divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium. But with Jeremy Maclin clearly hobbled by his ankle injury, the Chiefs just didn’t have enough offensive firepower to keep up with the Patriots, and couldn’t punch the ball into the end zone early, settling for two short field goals. The Patriots didn’t really try to run the ball, but New England had no problem keeping the quarterback clean.

Quarterback Tom Brady will also be grateful for the return of left tackle Sebastian Vollmer, who was also listed as active after leaving the field with an ankle injury in the penultimate game of the season.

Jones’ status was uncertain for the game Saturday against Kansas City after he wandered over to a police station last Sunday, shirtless and disoriented, leaving his house reeking of burnt marijuana.

The Chiefs scored a field goal on the first drive, cutting the lead to 7-3. “Because we’re better”, said Blake May who flew in from Kansas City for the game.

With the Patriots finally (mostly) healthy, it’s hard to watch this team and not think of them as the favorites to come out of the AFC. Bill Belichick told his team to kick if it won the coin toss, which it did.