Pats turn to the run ... and are on another one, too

Foxborough, Mass. — This much is clear about the Patriots' latest run to the AFC championship game: it's come with a lot of introspection and reinvention on offense.

Gone are the days in which New England can just bank on Tom Brady piling up four-touchdown games on a weekly basis or can simply toss the ball in Rob Gronkowski's orbit in crunch time and expect great things to happen.

Brady, while not showing accelerated signs of decline at age 41, did look more human during his 19th NFL season with only one four-touchdown game and 11 interceptions — his most picks since 2013.

Gronk isn't as old as Brady, but he's certainly more beaten up and playing with a body that after multiple injuries and surgeries had him seriously thinking about retirement after last season's Super Bowl loss.

Following a regular season that saw New England lose five games — its most losses since 2009— Bill Belichick recognized the need for this team to lean even more on its collective offensive strength.

The result has been a team that has rediscovered its ability to run the football and wear teams down. New England did it successfully in Sunday's 41-28 divisional-round win over the Los Angeles Chargers . It will be needed again for New England to upend the Kansas City Chiefs team in the AFC title game.

"You can't get one-dimensional in these types of games," Brady said. "It's too tough against too many good teams. You get to this point and there's very little margin of error and you're going to have to be good in all phases. Running it, throwing it, kicking it, playing defense, everything."

Sony Michel scored three touchdowns and rushed for 129 yards against the Chargers. The three scores were the most ever by a Patriots rookie in a playoff game.

Michel's backfield mates were equally active. Rex Burkhead added a 6-yard TD run and James White's 15 catches tied Darren Sproles for the most receptions in a single game in NFL playoff history.

They had a season-best four rushing touchdowns. The 155 rushing yards also marked the Patriots' fifth time with 130 or more yards since their bye week. New England has not lost a game this season when rushing for 100 or more yards.

"It's all about trust and patience," Michel said. "We've got faith that coach is going to call the best play possible for us to succeed and guys are going to take pride in executing the play ... it's our job to do our job."