Patriots vs Chiefs Game Thread

The 2018 NFL Playoffs continue today with the second of two conference championship games. In the AFC Championship game the New England Patriots hit the road to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in what promises to be one of the coldest, most inhospitable environments for an NFL game in recent memory.

The 12-5 New England Patriots come into this game looking more vulnerable than they have in years. Tom Brady is finally beginning to show signs of age related decline. Rob Gronkowski is no longer the unstoppable force he once was; he has taken a terrible beating over the years and it is beginning to show. Josh Gordon is lost to yet another substance abuse suspension. The secondary is old and beginning to show it. The Patriots put together an unsightly 3-5 record away from Gillette Stadium this year. These are not the nearly invincible Patriots we have gotten used to seeing. Yet for all their uncharacteristic vulnerability, the Patriots still managed to destroy the Los Angeles Chargers last week and now stand just one game away from the Super Bowl. The Patriots are still a team to be reckoned with, but they’ll have to overcome a road trip to one of the toughest places to play in the NFL and beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium to earn a trip to the Super Bowl.

Standing in the way of the Patriots going to yet another Super Bowl are the Kansas City Chiefs, AFC West champions and the #1 seed in the AFC. The 13-4 Chiefs feature precious little in the way of defense, but they have a wildly entertaining and prolific offense led by sophomore sensation Patrick Mahomes at quarterback. Mahomes is a top MVP candidate, having thrown for a ridiculous 50 touchdowns, leading the most prolific offense in the NFL. Pro Bowl targets Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce help Mahomes make this Chiefs offense nearly impossible to stop. Perhaps the wind and the arctic temperatures will do what opponents have been unable to do and slow down the Chiefs juggernaut.

We end the conference championship games with a gem of a matchup between a legendary quarterback and a legend in the making. It’s the Patriots and the Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady putting on a show to end a great day of football.

Grab a seat, get some popcorn and enjoy the show everybody.