NFL Divisional Recap: Patriots Top Chiefs, 27-20, Advance To AFC Title Game

Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes to Rob Gronkowski, and the New England Patriots beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-20, in the AFC divisional playoffs in Foxborough, Mass. on Saturday. With the victory, New England snapped Kansas City’s 11-game win streak and advanced to their fifth consecutive AFC title game.

The Patriots never trailed, marching 80 yards on the game’s first drive which ended with Brady’s eight-yard touchdown pass to Gronkowski. New England added another score when Brady plunged into the end zone from a yard out with 3:23 left before halftime.

The Chiefs managed just two field goals from Cairo Santos in the first half and trailed 14-6 at intermission.

Kansas City got the ball back to start the second half, but their first drive ended when Knile Davis fumbled at the Patriots’ 40-yard-line. The ensuing drive saw Brady find Gronkowski for a 16-yard score that pushed the New England lead to 21-6 with 8:24 left in the third quarter.

The Chiefs rallied for two late touchdowns, including Charcandrick West’s 1-yard run with 1:13 to play, but it wasn’t enough to beat the defending Super Bowl champs.

Brady finished 28-for-42 passing for 302 yards and the two touchdowns. He was not sacked in the game.

Patriots receiver Julian Edelman, who missed his team’s last seven games with a broken foot, caught 10 passes for 100 yards.

New England will meet the winner of Sunday’s Pittsburgh-Denver game next Sunday for the right to go to Super Bowl 50.