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Wilner: Sorry, America, team you love to hate headed to Super Bowl

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady warms up during practice Wednesday in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots will visit the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC championship game on Sunday.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady warms up during practice Wednesday in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots will visit the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC championship game on Sunday. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady warms up during practice Wednesday in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots will visit the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC championship game on Sunday.

By Barry Wilner / The Associated Press 4 min read

photo New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees and the Saints host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday in the NFC title game.

AP pro football writer Barry Wilner makes his predictions for Sunday’s NFL conference titles games, with the Los Angeles Rams visiting the New Orleans Saints in the NFC (3:05 p.m., Fox) and the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the New England Patriots in the AFC (6:40 p.m., CBS).

NOT THEM AGAIN!

Sorry, America – at least outside of New England – but the team you love to hate is headed back to the Super Bowl.

Sure, there are negatives to point out with these Patriots. They haven’t looked much more than mediocre on the road. Their defense is vulnerable, especially against dynamic passers, and Kansas City certainly has one of those in Patrick Mahomes.

New England’s coaching staff tends to take away an opponent’s biggest threat. Who is that with the Chiefs, though? Mahomes has Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and Sammy Watkins as dangerous targets. He has a running game that hasn’t really missed Kareem Hunt since he was released.