New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) slips away from Los Angeles Chargers free safety Derwin James (33) during the first half of Sunday’s AFC divisional-round playoff game in Foxborough, Mass. Michel scored three touchdowns to help the Patriots win 41-28.FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady recognizes there are some who believe his team is nearing the end of its run of unprecedented playoff success.
On Sunday, Brady and Co. took their first step toward possibly silencing those voices a little longer.
Sony Michel ran for 129 yards and three touchdowns as the Patriots beat the Los Angeles Chargers 41-28 in a divisional-round matchup to earn their eighth straight trip to the AFC championship game.
The top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs, who won the AFC West and routed the Indianapolis Colts 31-13 on Saturday, will host second-seeded New England next Sunday at 6:40 p.m. The Patriots beat the Chiefs 43-40 on Oct. 14 in Foxborough, where New England was 9-0 this season.
It will be the 13th conference championship game appearance by the Patriots during the era that includes both Brady and coach Bill Belichick, who took over in 2000, the year Brady was a sixth-round draft pick.