The New England Patriots are going back to the AFC Championship game for the fifth straight year with today’s 27-20 nervous victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at Gillette Stadium.
Patriots tight end ROB GRONKOWSKI a 2015 All-Pro and 2016 Pro Bowl selection, saw to it that Pats made their fifth straight AFC Title game appearance with a performance that further cements why he is the best tight end in the NFL today. He comes through for the Pats in the regular season and he has a playoff history that is the envy of any tight end who has ever played in the NFL.
Today he caught 7 passes for 83 yards and 2 scores, with his last score giving the Patriots all the points they would need in the closely contested (especially late in the fourth quarter) contest.
Those two touchdown receptions by Gronkowski gave him eight touchdown receptions, which is the all-time record for touchdown receptions by a Patriots player in the playoffs.
The previous record holder was receiver DAVID GIVENS (he played for the Patriots from 2002-2005) who had seven touchdown catches in eight career playoff games. Gronkowski got the record for most touchdown receptions in the playoffs in nine career playoff games.
The Patriots received a lot of help not only from Gronkowski, but from the man who threw the tight end those passes in quarterback TOM BRADY (28 of 42 for 302 yards, 2 touchdowns and no picks). 
Brady was efficient today mainly because of his brain. But also he received tremendous help from his offensive line, who gave him so much time to go through his progressions.
The Patriots (12-5) will oppose the winner of tomorrow’s AFC Divisional playoff matchup between the Denver Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
As for the Chiefs (11-6) this is the first time they’ve advanced to this round of the playoffs since the 2003 season when they lost to the Indianapolis Colts 38-31.
The Patriots scored the first points of the game when on 3rd and 7 from the KC 8 yard line, Brady found Gronkowski near the left pylon of the end zone versus super-tight coverage from Chiefs cornerback SEAN SMITH. With 10:23 left in the first quarter the Pats took a 7-0 lead.
Up 7-3, the Patriots went to work on that lead with a 3rd and goal touchdown dive of 1 yard by Brady. That touchdown by Brady gave the Pats a 14-3 lead with 3:23 remaining in the second quarter.
As if the Patriots needed the Chiefs’ help, the Patriots received a gift from Chiefs running back KNILE DAVIS (43 yards total offense) who fumbled at the NE 31 yard line after a 9 yard gain. The fumble was recovered by Pats outside linebacker DONT’A HIGHTOWER (6 tackles and a fumble recovery) at the same yard line that Davis fumbled the ball on. That fumble recovery by Hightower set up a left corner of the end zone 16 yard touchdown reception by Gronkowski to give the Pats a 21-6 lead with 8:24 left in the third quarter.
The Chiefs showed that they weren’t gonna go away quietly in this game as they scored a crucial touchdown very late in the third quarter. On 1st and 10 from the NE 10 yard line, Chiefs quarterback ALEX SMITH (29 of 50 for 246 yards, 1 touchdown pass and no picks) found receiver ALBERT WILSON (5 catches for 57 yards and 1 score) for a 10 yard touchdown near the right middle corner of the end zone. With 2:12 left in the third quarter the Chiefs cut the Patriots’ lead to 21-13.
The Pats added to their lead with a successful 40 yard field goal by 2016 Pro Bowl selection, kicker STEPHEN GOSTKOWSKI. With 14:46 left in the game the Pats had a 24-13 lead.
Then a little bit later in the fourth period, Gostkowski served up his second successful field goal of the game. This time it was a 32 yarder that gave his team a 27-13 advantage with 10:20 remaining in the contest.
Second year Chiefs running back CHARCANDRICK WEST (17 carries for 61 yards and a 1 score) gave his team some hope, when he took a Smith handoff to his right where he found some open space to score a crucial touchdown. With 1:13 left on the game clock, the Chiefs cut the Patriots’ lead to 27-20.
And not too long after that West touchdown run, the Patriots pretty much ended the Chiefs season when Gronkowski secured a CAIRO SANTOS onside kick at the KC 45 yard line. From there, the Pats used plays that would snatch precious seconds off the clock just in case the Chiefs got the ball back.
