Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Patriots advance to 8th AFC title game in row
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Sony Michel ran for 129 yards and had 3 touchdowns and the New England Patriots beat the Los Angeles Chargers 41-28 in the divisional playoffs on Sunday to earn their eighth consecutive trip to the AFC Championship Game.
New England 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 haven’t reached the AFC title game since the 2007 season.
Quarterback Philip Rivers finished 25 of 51 for 331 yards, 3 touchdowns and an interception. He is 0-5 in games played in Foxborough, including 0-3 in the postseason.
Brady finished 34 of 44 for 343 yards and a touchdown. He improved to 8-0 as a starter against Rivers, who dropped 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 seemed poised to keep Los Angeles in the game, connecting 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 of 6 on third down and committing 1 penalty.
New England didn’t go three-and-out for the first time until its fifth offensive drive of the day when it punted with 3:32 left in the second quarter.
But Ryan Allen’s 48-yard punt was fumbled by Des- mond King, sending the ball rolling toward the sideline. The referees ruled the ball went out of bounds before New England’s Albert Mc- Clellan appeared to recover it. But the play was reversed after a challenge by Bill Belichick.
The turnover proved costly, with the Patriots scoring just four plays later when Michel scored from the 5 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 106 rushing yards per game.
Michel carried 16 times for 105 yards in the first half.
He set the tone early, scoring from 1 yard on the opening possession of the game. It capped a 14-play, 83-yard drive in which he rushed 5 times for 15 yards and had a 9-yard reception.
The Patriots added scoring drives of 67, 58, 87 and 35 yards.
Michel became just the second Patriots rookie in franchise history to have a rushing touchdown in the postseason. He joined fellow Georgia alum, Robert Edwards, who ran for a touchdown as a rookie in New England’s