The New England Patriots will play the underdog role on Sunday when they take on the Kansas City Chiefs. Here are five offensive players who must step up.
In defeating the Los Angeles Chargers 41-28 in the AFC Championship game, the New England Patriots put together perhaps their best complete team effort of the season.
While it couldn’t have come at a better time, they will need to duplicate that performance going on the road in the AFC Championship game against the high-powered Kansas City Chiefs.
What made Sunday’s performance so thrilling was seeing Tom Brady convert back to the quarterback everyone knows he is. Age is starting to become a factor, but he showcased Sunday that he can still rise to the top of his game in big games. Passing for over 300 yards and a touchdown, Brady was motivated and effective.
He was effective because his playmakers showed up. James White was outstanding racking up double-digit catches and Julian Edelman was well…Julian Edelman.
There was even a Rob Gronkowski of old sighting. Combined with an effective running game, the New England Patriots proved against the Chargers that they can move the ball in different ways. With the cold weather expected in Kansas City and with the loud noise of Arrowhead Stadium, Brady and the Patriots are going to have to be just as balanced on offense.
Whether it turns into a shootout or an old fashioned low-scoring slug fest, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is going to have to be creative and all the team’s playmakers will have to be ready because the Chiefs’ defense, despite their struggles all season long, looked good against Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts.
Therefore, the challenge for the New England Patriots will be to find matchups to exploit, which leads to these five offensive players who will be key to rolling past the Kansas City Chiefs and advancing to Super Bowl LIII.
Chris Hogan
If there is ever a time for Chris Hogan to have a big game, it will be now.
While former New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola and current teammate Julian Edelman have made names for themselves as big playoff performers, Hogan has had a knack for having big games in the postseason as well.
More from New England Patriots
- Former Patriot Stevan Ridley Put Kevin Hart in a Wheelchair
- 3 Patriots Who Can Clinch a Roster Spot in Final Preseason Game
- Patriots Get Win Over Division Rivals Before Season Even Begins
- New Massachusetts Sportsbook Promos: $450 Bonus to Bet on Your Patriots at Caesars + DraftKings
- Ezekiel Elliott Reveals 3 Reasons Why He Signed With Patriots
Let’s not forget that 180-yard receiving game he had against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship back in 2017. With key catches in Super Bowl LI and Super Bowl LII, Hogan is a playmaker Tom Brady usually finds.
So, in other words, Chris Hogan is due for one of those big performances. Going against a Kansas City defense that has struggled in the secondary, this is exactly the kind of game where Hogan will be the open man, especially with emphasis on Julian Edelman, James White and Rob Gronkowski whenever he goes out for passes.
Particularly, watch Hogan in red zone situations. He is typically that wide receiver Brady finds in the back of the end zone, especially when he has some time to throw in the pocket.
James Develin
A fullback as a key offensive player?
Neck roll and all, New England Patriots fullback James Develin has been a major factor in what the team does in the running game. In turning back the hands of time, the Patriots’ offense has turned to a physical ground attack that both controls the clock and sets up Tom Brady in the running game.
His pure physicality in the trenches has complimented the running style of Sony Michel tremendously. But, don’t think for one second that James Develin will just be used as a blocker.
He has gotten the ball in short-yardage situations a lot more frequently this season. In last week’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Devlin converted on two third-and-1 opportunities. Let’s not forget his 4 rushing touchdowns during the regular season.
Oh, and he also has the ability to catch the ball, serving as another tight end in certain packages.
In a game in which the little things may impact the end results in a major way, a player like James Develin could just emerge as an unsung hero.
Rex Burkhead
The New England Patriots will continue to rely on their running backs in a major way against the Kansas City Chiefs.
With the performances of both James White and Sony Michel against the Los Angeles Chargers, look for Rex Burkhead to get his opportunity against the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game.
A versatile running back who can do everything, Burkhead is capable of making big plays in the running game, passing game and on special teams. It is almost a sure bet he will make some sort of impact in this game.
If the Chiefs have any success taking away James White and Julian Edelman in the passing game, Tom Brady will look Rex Burkhead’s way much more. We’ve seen flashes of his effectiveness in the New England Patriots offense over the last two seasons, but due to injury, it feels he has never really settled in.
Now that he is health and looking good, expect Rex Burkhead to be used in multiple ways. Don’t rule out formations where both James White and Burkhead are lined up in the backfield.
Rob Gronkowski
This one is a given. If Rob Gronkowski finds within him another monster game catching the ball, the New England Patriots win this game.
With all the talk about Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce as the best tight end in the NFL, don’t rule out the Gronk of old emerging. With how great he was blocking for the team against the Los Angeles Chargers, he may leak out for a couple big plays, just like he did in the two teams first matchup.
He does still have a big game in him and expect Tom Brady to target him a big more in this game, even with Chiefs safety Eric Berry available to play in this game.
For Rob Gronkowski to be effective in the passing game, he doesn’t really have to separate from defenders with his speed, if they can get him the ball in space, he is still capable of breaking tackles and getting extra yardage.
The one reception he did have in the AFC Divisional round game proved that. On a quick slant from Tom Brady, Gronkowski broke a few tackles like the Gronk of old and scampered for a 25-yard gain.
You better believe the New England Patriots will revisit that a couple of times in this game.
Tom Brady
Betting against Tom Brady in these types of games is like waking a sleeping giant.
Following last Sunday’s 41-28 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, Brady put his haters and doubters on notice by letting them know he heard and hears all the noise about his decline.
There is no doubt the young phenom Patrick Mahomes II is a rising star in this league, but 42-year-old Brady is not ready yet to pass the torch. If the offensive line plays the way they did against the Chargers, Brady will make plays with his arm.
But, if they let the noise and the atmosphere get to them, Brady has to make quick reads and get the ball out quickly. He has to evade the ball tipping ability of Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones and not force passes that result in interceptions.
In returning to the scene in which he had his worst performance as an NFL quarterback in 2014, there is something about his game and matchup that may just bring out the best in Tom Brady.
While critics aren’t buying the underdog card, Brady and the New England Patriots know not many are expecting them to win. The high-powered Kansas City Chiefs are the favorites to advance to Super Bowl LIII.
They aren’t expected to win on the road. But, when they aren’t expected to do something, the Patriots under Bill Belichick usually do the unexpected.