And here we go! The 2019 playoffs conclude with the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship. The game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. PT on NBC, with Jim Nantz and Tony Romo in the announcer booth.
The Chiefs have been playing lights out for 2019, thanks to possible MVP candidate Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes took over from Alex Smith, who himself had a productive 2017 and has 50 touchdowns for 2018. The Chiefs have lost four games in 2018, three on the road and one at home, all to playoff teams. While they have crazy weapons in tight end Travis Kelce, and wide receiver Tyreek Hill, they also have an achilles heel for defense. They faced the Patriots during the 2018 regular season and lost in the final minutes. The difference is they face the Patriots at home as opposed to their first meeting that took place in New England. Andy Reid has one more game to win in order to have a Super Bowl return, somewhere he hasn’t been since coaching the Philadelphia Eagles and quarterback Donovan McNabb.
The Patriots are not at home and will be traveling through KC to get back to the Super Bowl yet again. They are the AFC’s No. 2 seed, but despite their long track record of Super Bowl appearances and current playoff seeding, have convinced themselves they are severe underdogs. Whatever. Despite their seeding all four of the Patriots’ losses have come against teams not in the playoffs. All of them on the road.
The afternoon features the Chiefs as a field goal favorite over the Patriots, which makes the Patriots less of underdogs than they may want. The Chiefs are scoring over 32 points a game at home, while the Patriots are giving up six more points per game on the road than they are at home. New England is not nearly as good on the road, and it’s going to show in this one. Despite the cold, I think this will be a high scoring game that will have the Chiefs on top and returning to the Super Bowl.
New England Patriots at Kansas City Chiefs
Where: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
When: January 20, 2018 | 3:30 p.m. PT
TV: CBS
Announcers: Jim Nantz (play-by-play) Tony Romo (commentary)
Radio: Chiefs Radio | Patriots Radio
Online Streaming: CBS Sports (note you’ll have to make a free trial or subscribe to their all access feature. Because, CBS)
Odds: Chiefs, -3
Patriots blog: Pats Pulpit
Chiefs blog: Arrowhead Pride