Rob Gronkowski Helps To Send Chiefs Home With Big Game

Edelman converted a 3rd-and-10 play on the Patriots’ first drive with an 11-yard catch, and Gronkowski converted a 3rd-and-13 with a 32-yard reception and then a 3rd-and-7 with an eight-yard touchdown catch to cap off the first drive.

The Chiefs offense couldn’t get their passing together like Brady, as their quarterback Alex Smith threw a career high of 50 passes, but averaged less than 5 yards per attempt. It’s an unusual decision considering the Chiefs ran the ball at an average of 4.2 yards per carry.

As a result, the Patriots are on their way to their fifth consecutive AFC Championship Game against either the Denver Broncos or Pittsburgh Steelers, who play Sunday. The Patriots were without Gronkowski for three playoff games from 2012-2013 and they lost two of them.

This will be Brady’s 10th appearance in an AFC Championship Game, as he looks to help the Patriots defend the Super Bowl championship they won a year ago over the Seattle Seahawks.

The Chiefs came into the game on an 11-game winning streak dating to the seventh game of the regular season. It remains to be seen whether any members of Reid’s current staff will go with him. “There’s only four teams playing next weekend and we’re one of them”. With New England facing a second-and-12 in the final minute, he caught a pass that deflected off Kansas City’s Tamba Hali for 12 yards for a clinching first down. But on Saturday night the reigning Super Bowl champs sprang back to life on schedule, again looking healthy and sturdy enough to handle the mean business of NFL playoff football – their specialty. But Gronkowski came down with the kick and the Patriots drained the remaining time. Danny Amendola had two catches for 18 yards. “You have to grind throughout the entire year. The chemistry was clicking tonight”, said Gronkowski, who was held out of two practices in the week leading up to the game due to right knee and back injuries.

Belichick’s team turned the Chiefs’ only turnover into points after Knile Davis coughed it up on the first drive of the second half.

Brady, drilled by a pair of Chiefs’ defenders on the play, seemed possessed on the sidelines as the Patriots’ challenged for what they believed was a touchdown. The Chiefs scored yet another touchdown in the third quarter and kept the pressure against the Texans to win the wild card, 30-0. The Chiefs also got basically no bounces, as every tipped pass from Brady either found the turf or a New England receiver.

At 5-feet-10 and 200 pounds, Julian Edelman one of the smallest guys on the Patriots roster.

But New England was clearly energized from the first series, when the Patriots drove 80 yard on 11 plays. “At the same time we will sit down and talk about it when we talk about it, but right now I’m just thankful for my teammates, my coaches and everybody that has something to do with me going back on the field this year”. Did the players fail him or was he genuinely spooked by the situation?

Santos added another field goal with less than 15 seconds to go in the second quarter to cut the Patriots lead to 14-6 into the half. “It’s pretty special to get back to another AFC Championship Game”. A calm settled over Gillette Stadium on the Patriots’ opening drive. The Chiefs certainly didn’t show much urgency on the drive, and finally saw their hopes for an upset fizzle when Gronkowski caught the ensuing onside kick to seal the win for New England.

NOTES: New England LBs Jamie Collins (back) and Gerod Mayo (shoulder) left the game in the third quarter because of injuries….