Albany Times Union

Pats overpower Chargers

Pats head to 8th straight AFC title game; Chargers haven’t reached one since 2007

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Tom Brady and the Patriots scored 31 consecutiv­e points en route to an easy 41-28 win to advance to their 8th straight AFC title game.

Sony Michel ran for 129 yards and had three touchdowns and the New England Patriots beat the Los Angeles Chargers 41-28 in the divisional playoffs on Sunday to earn their eighth straight trip to the AFC championsh­ip game.

New England (12-5) will play at Kansas City in next week’s AFC title game. The Patriots beat the Chiefs 43-40 in Foxborough in Week 6. The Patriots finished 9-0 at home this season.

It is the 13th conference championsh­ip game appearance by the Patriots during the Tom Brady-bill Belichick era.

“It’s going to be a good game,” Brady said of the rematch with the Chiefs. “They’re a good team. We played them earlier this year. I know everybody thinks we suck and, you know, we can’t win any games, so we’ll see. It’ll be fun.”

The Chargers (13-5) haven’t reached the AFC title game since the 2007 season.

Quarterbac­k Philip Rivers finished 25 of 51 for 331 yards, three touchdowns and an intercepti­on. He is 0-5 in games played in Foxborough, including 0-3 in the postseason.

Brady finished 34-for-44 for 343 yards and a touchdown. He improves to 8-0 as a starter against Rivers, who drops to 1-8 against New England all-time.

James White tied Darren Sproles’ NFL postseason record with 15 catches, totaling 97 yards.

New England scored on its first four possession­s of the game to build a 35-7 halftime lead.

Julian Edelman had nine catches for 151 yards.

The Chargers added three touchdowns in the second half, but it was much too late.

Los Angeles lost for just the second time on the road (8-2) and first time outside Los Angeles this season. In its past four trips to the playoffs, Los Angeles has lost in the divisional round.

“We dug ourselves a hole in the first half,” Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said. “One game doesn’t define where we are as a football team.”

Rivers connected with Keenan Allen for a 43-yard score on Los Angeles’ first offensive possession. It was the longest touchdown of Allen’s career, including the postseason. It turned out to be just a blip. The Chargers punted the four other times they had the ball in the first half.

The Patriots were efficient throughout the opening 30 minutes, going 5-for-5 in the red zone, 5-for-6 on third down and committing only one penalty.

New England didn’t go three-and-out for the first time until it punted with 3:32 left in the second quarter.

But Ryan Allen’s 48yard punt was fumbled by Desmond King, sending the ball rolling toward the sideline. The referees ruled the ball went out of bounds before New England’s Albert Mcclellan appeared to recover it. But the play was reversed after a challenge by Bill Belichick.

The Patriots scored four plays later when Michel crossed the goal line from 5 yards for his third touchdown of the half.

New England establishe­d the run early, creating big holes in a Chargers defense that ended the regular season ranked ninth in the NFL, allowing just 106 rushing yards per game.

Michel carried 16 times for 105 yards in the first half. He set the tone early, scoring from the 1 on the opening possession of the game.

The Patriots added scoring drives of 67, 58, 87 and 35 yards.

 ??  ??
 ?? Photos by Adam Glanzman / Getty Images ?? The Patriots’ Sony Michel ran for 129 yards against the Chargers, including this touchdown, one of his three in their AFC Divisional Playoff matchup.
Photos by Adam Glanzman / Getty Images The Patriots’ Sony Michel ran for 129 yards against the Chargers, including this touchdown, one of his three in their AFC Divisional Playoff matchup.
 ??  ?? Patriots quarterbac­k Tom Brady is 8-0 as a starter against rival QB Philip Rivers of the Chargers.
Patriots quarterbac­k Tom Brady is 8-0 as a starter against rival QB Philip Rivers of the Chargers.
 ?? Maddie meyer / Getty images ?? Patriots running back James White tied darren Sproles’ nfl postseason record with 15 catches for 97 yards on Sunday.
Maddie meyer / Getty images Patriots running back James White tied darren Sproles’ nfl postseason record with 15 catches for 97 yards on Sunday.

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