3. New England Patriots (12-5)
Overview: It’s safe to say that the Chargers never knew what hit them in Foxborough. Bill Belichick’s club played near-perfect football in the first half, scoring touchdowns on five of its first six possessions to take a 35-7 halftime lead. The Patriots outgained the Bolts in total yards, 347-128, after 30 minutes of play.
Tom Brady only threw one touchdown pass, but totaled 343 yards through the air. Rookie running back Sony Michel keyed a ground attack that amassed 155 yards as the 31st overall selection in 2018 ran for 129 yards and three scores. The Pats are now in their eighth-straight AFC title game. But Belichick’s squad was a disappointing 3-5 on the road this season.
Postseason History: Dating back to 2001 and under the guidance of Belichick, the Patriots own a 28-10 postseason record. Last Sunday’s 41-28 triumph over the Chargers was the franchise’s 35th playoff win, tied for the second-most in NFL history and one short of the record currently owned by the Pittsburgh Steelers (36).
This Week’s Opponent: Back in Week 6 on a Sunday night at Gillette Stadium, the Patriots survived a 31-point second-half outburst by the Chiefs, got a Stephen Gostkowski field goal on the final play of the game and handed Andy Reid’s team its first loss of the season, 43-40. This marks the Pats’ first visit to Kansas City since 2014.