Patriots Gridiron News: Julian Edelman defines playoff dominance

In the New England Patriots 41-28 rout of the Los Angeles Chargers in the Divisional Round playoff game, Julian Edelman once again showed his relentlessness.

There is only one word that would describe the career of New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman and that word is relentless.

On Sunday, the 32-year-old receiver was simply too much for the Los Angeles Chargers defense to handle.  Connecting with Tom Brady for 9 receptions for 151 yards, Edelman turned back the clock demonstrating why he is such a force on the field.

His relentless nature on the field set the tone on defense as he took catches over the middle and battled for every inch of yardage he could get.  Reminiscent of past playoff performances, Julian Edelman rose to the occasion against a team many said the Patriots weren’t supposed to beat, even at home.

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With fire in his eyes and determination in his heart, what Edelman did at Gillette Stadium on Sunday was simply spectacular and showed fans that former Kent State quarterback is back to being completely healthy following an ACL tear that ended his 2017 NFL season before it even started.

Furthermore, he showcased what the team was missing during the playoffs last season.  Sure, they got gutsy performances out of Danny Amendola and Chris Hogan during their run to Super Bowl LII, but that fire of Edelman was surely missed.

Whether it was throwing a touchdown in the AFC Divisional Round game against the Baltimore Ravens back in 2015 or catching a football over the middle through three defenders in the team’s epic comeback win against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI, Julian Edelman is proving with each playoff game moving forward that he is just a player who excels on the playoff stage.

And then there is the symbolic history of it all.  With his performance on Sunday, the man fans call “Minitron” moved up to No. 2 on the NFL All-Time postseason receptions list behind the great Jerry Rice, a feat he simply chalked up as simply “cool.”

"“I great up close to that family and he’s the [Great of All-Time].  Anytime you’re in the same sentence with him, you pinch yourself,” Edelman said following the game Sunday.  “It’s pretty cool but it doesn’t mean anything unless you win though.”"

You see, that is what makes Julian Edelman such a little force.  He has a burning passion for a game that fuels his desire to leave everything he got on the football field.  His impact in the playoffs are unmeasurable.

On to Kansas City

What Julian Edelman gave the New England Patriots last Sunday will be needed in the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

Cold weather and all, the reliability of Edelman will be something Tom Brady leans on in this game when he needs to get the ball out quickly.  Knowing Edelman will fight for a ball allows Brady to throw to a spot on the field.  It also allows him to use the middle of the field.

With the Chiefs’ secondary being their weakness, both Brady and Edelman will certainly challenge them with a short passing game that will complement the run game in keeping the Chiefs’ offense off the field. How effective Julian Edelman is will also open up some things in the middle of the field for Rob Gronkowski.

In all, expect another big playoff performance out of Edelman.  It may not all be in the passing game, however.  The New England Patriots receiver could make his greatest impact on special teams.  If there are some punts in this game, he is also capable of breaking a big return.  In this game, that could be a defining kind of play.