Brady, Belichick Brilliant in AFC Championship Game OT Victory

Chiefs lose at home 37-31 as Mahomes and Reid come up short

First time AFC and NFC Championship games both end in OT
After winning the coin toss, Andy Reid decided to defer an in doing so, gave Tom Brady and the Patriots offense the ball to open the game. Scripted or not, and similar to the rout against the Chargers the prior week, Brady moved NE 80 yards in 15 plays and over eight minutes later for an easy opening drive culminating with a Sony Michel rushing TD. The next drive was of the same level of efficiency except for an errant throw from Brady to Gronk at the KC 1 which was picked off in the end zone.

With NE dominating the first half time of possession 21 minutes to 9, the Pats finished off the first half with a classic 90 yard TD drive to lead 14-0 at the break. Mahomes could not muster up a drive in the half as the NE line took control over the Chiefs on both sides of the ball. Chiefs had not been shut out in a half all season.

In the 2nd half, KC got on track with an opening TD pass from Mahomes to star TE Travis Kelce to cut the lead in half, 14-7. A Gostowski FG made it 17-7 Pats heading into the craziest 4th quarter/ OT you’ll ever see.
38 points in a wild 4th quarter sends game into overtime.

Nine seconds in to the final quarter, Mahomes hit RB Damian Williams for a TD to bring it to 17-14, then Mahomes again hit Williams for a TD, this one from 23 yards for KC to take their first lead of the game 21-17. A comeback in the making. Only 7 ½ minutes to go. But TB-12 had more up his sleeve. A 75 yard drive resulted in another Sony Michel TD to flip the score to 24-21 NE with 3 ½ to play. A minute and a half later, Williams rushed for a KC score- 28-24 KC!

But Brady was still alive. Two minute warning. Down by four. Could you even doubt it? Holy crap, Brady throws an interception! KC can run out the clock for the win. Crowd goes wild. Hold on a minute, Penalty. Dopey right defensive end Dee Ford lined up offside by six inches, and they called it. No INT. Brady back behind center. A buck-twenty later, Burkhead shuffled in for a 4-yard run to put the Pats ahead with 40 seconds to play. Pats 31-28. By the way, Chiefs coach Andy Reid wondered why the ref didn’t give Dee Ford a heads up that he was offside. Andy, maybe in the spirit of the game, in the first quarter a ref could whisper to the encroaching player, but late in the 4th? I’m sorry Walrus, you’re reaching here.

Are you kidding me? Pats must be tired, the kid Mahomes, the new star against the 41 year old fossil. Two clutch Mahomes passes of 21 and 27 yards and with 8 seconds to go, a 39 yard Butker FG ties it up, overtime, here we go! 31-31. The freezing crowd goes insane.
So these two offenses that can’t be stopped head into OT. 38 combined 4th quarter points, 24 by KC. The rules stipulate that each team gets a possession unless the team that receives the kickoff scores a TD. New England wins the toss. 41 year old Brady on the field. On the road. Against the #1 seed, 13-4 Chiefs. Pats 3-5 on the road. First and 10 from their own 25. 75 yards for a third straight Super Bowl.
Brady miraculously converts on three consecutive third downs. Beautiful throws and catches, brilliant routes. Patterson Edelman and Gronk. KC defense is panting. Burkhead to the 4. Burkhead TD. Pats win. Super Bowl. Brady 30-46, 348 yards. Incredible!

Mahomes negated opportunity in OT

It’s a complete crime not just a shame that Patrick Mahomes was not afforded the opportunity to match his opposite number. A cryin’ shame that KC doesn’t get a chance to tie and/ or win. Don’t give me that crap that if the defense can’t stop them, it should be over. The Chiefs by all means deserve that chance. Don’t hand me that, we want to protect against injury BS.
If both teams don’t get the opportunity to possess the ball, then playoff overtime should be timed, maybe a 10 or 15 minute period, like another quarter, would be fair. Yes, it’s better now than Sudden Death, when a FG would win it, but this is ridiculous. Brady wasn’t going to be stopped on this day and in the name of common sense and fairness. KC deserved a chance at a win or go home drive.
At the end of this crazy day, both road teams won, both were underdogs by 3 points, both in overtime. Controversial calls and non- calls. Missed and withheld opportunities. KC Defensive coordinator Bob Sutton takes the blame for Dee Ford’s inexcusable blunder and gets fired.
Two conference championship OT games. First time ever!

What a Sunday! The old man is at it again.

-HB