Patriots haven’t been themselves on road

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots are going on the road again in the playoffs, a place that hasn’t always been kind to them in the Tom Brady era. New England was unbeatable at home this season, going 8- 0 during the regular season and rolling past the Los Angeles Chargers in the divisional round. Playing outside of Massachusetts has provided different outcomes. Brady is 8- 4 in AFC championship games with a 6- 1 record at home. But he’s just 2- 3 on the road in the conference title game, with both wins coming at Heinz Field in the 2001 and 2004 playoffs. New England was 35 in games away from Gillette Stadium during the 2018 regular season. The Patriots enter Sunday’s AFC title game at Kansas City trying to become the first team since the 1990s Bills to reach the Super Bowl after losing it the previous season. They haven’t won a road playoff game since beating the Chargers 24- 21 in the 2006 playoffs. “It’s tough to beat the No. 1 seed on the road. That’s the reality, just like we’re tough to beat at home when we’re the No. 1 seed,” Brady said. The Patriots also will have to deal with what could be the coldest temperature for a game in Arrowhead Stadium history. Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower said his focus will be on trying to contain the NFL’s top scoring offense and not the thermometer. “It’s definitely one of the hardest places to play. But, at the end of the day, it just comes down to executing,” Hightower said. The Patriots opened the week as a three- point underdog, the first time in 68 games, including playoffs, that Brady didn’t enter a week as the favorite. It’s why Chiefs coach Andy Reid is expecting Brady and the Patriots’ best effort on Sunday. “They’re a heck of a team, so I don’t get caught up in all that,” Reid said. “You’re talking about a dynasty, if there is such a thing, in the National Football League.” Brady didn’t hide his thoughts for the Patriots’ critics in the aftermath of their divisional-round win over the Chargers: “I know everybody thinks we suck and, you know, we can’t win any games.” But he tried to downplay being officially cast in the role of underdog this week. “It doesn’t change much for us, but it just kind of shows you what people think about what our chances are,” he said. At least one of his teammates didn’t play it quite as coyly. Receiver Julian Edelman posted # BetAgainstUs on his Twitter account accompanied with a video that featured highlights of the Chiefs’ season. The montage ends with shots of Brady and Edelman from New England’s comeback win in the Super Bowl against Atlanta two seasons ago. So, is being an underdog motivation? “If you’re not motivated this week you’ve got a major problem,” Brady said.