Playing in an
NFL record-tying 30th postseason game,
Patriots quarterback
Tom Brady completed 28 of 42 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns, without being sacked or throwing any interceptions, and also rushing for a score as he led the team to their fifth consecutive
AFC championship game.[16]
New England scored on their opening drive, moving the ball 80 yards in 11 plays. When faced with 3rd-and-13 on the
Chiefs' 43-yard line,
Brady completed a 32-yard pass to tight end
Rob Gronkowski, and later found Gronkowski in the end zone for an 8-yard score.
Kansas City responded with a 17-play, 64-yard drive, including quarterback
Alex Smith's 15-yard run on 3rd-and-13.
The Patriots defense managed to halt the drive on their own 16-yard line, forcing the Chiefs to settle for
Cairo Santos' 34-yard field goal to make the score 7–3
.
In the second quarter, Chiefs punter
Dustin Colquitt's 33-yard kick pinned the Patriots back on their own 4-yard line, with a penalty against New England taking away another two yards. But it did not stop New England from driving 98 yards in 11 plays on a drive, with only two third downs on the drive. The key play of the drive was a 42-yard completion from Brady to receiver
Keshawn Martin. Brady later ran the ball 10 yards to the Chiefs' 1-yard line on a scramble, and then rushed the ball into the end zone on the next play, giving the Patriots a 14–3 lead.
Knile Davis returned the ensuing kickoff 34 yards, then
Charcandrick West subsequently rushed for a 17-yard gain and
Smith completed a 26-yard pass to
Jason Avant; the team drove to a 32-yard
Santos field goal that made the score 14–6 at halftime.
Kansas City started off the second half with a drive to the Patriots' 40-yard line. But linebacker
Dont'a Hightower made a critical play, forcing and recovering a fumble from
Davis after he caught a 9-yard pass.
Taking the ball at the Chiefs' 31-yard line, Brady completed five consecutive passes for double-digit gains, the last one a 16-yard touchdown throw to Gronkowski that gave the team a 21–6 lead. Kansas City struck right back, converting two third downs and one fourth down on an 80-yard drive featuring a 26-yard reception by
Avant. Smith finished the drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to
Albert Wilson, cutting their deficit to 21–13 with two minutes left in the third quarter.
A few plays into the fourth quarter,
Stephen Gostkowski gave the Patriots a 24–13 lead with a 40-yard field goal at the end of a drive that was sparked by Brady's 29-yard completion to running back
James White. Kansas City had to punt on their next drive, and
Danny Amendola returned the ball 22 yards to the Chiefs' 32-yard line, setting up another Gostkowski field goal that upped the New England lead to 27–13. Kansas City responded with a drive to the New England 49-yard line, but ended up turning the ball over on downs.
Following a punt Kansas City got the ball back with 6:29 left. They proceeded to drive 80 yards in 16 plays for a score, including a 13-yard catch by Avant on 4th-and-8 and a 19-yard reception by
Wilson.
West finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run that made the score 27–20, with 1:13 remaining.[17]
Kansas City attempted an onside kick, but failed to recover it. With all three of their timeouts left, they still had a chance to force a punt, but on the second play of New England's ensuing drive, Brady's 12-yard pass off a deflection to
Julian Edelman sealed the victory for the Patriots, and ended Kansas City's 11-game winning streak.
Edelman was the top receiver of the game with 10 receptions for
100 yards. Gronkowski caught seven passes for 83 yards and a pair of touchdowns; with eight career postseason touchdowns, Gronkowski – in his sixth season – set an all-time record for postseason touchdowns by a tight end. Smith completed 29 of a career high 50 pass attempts for 246 yards and a touchdown. Avant, who caught just 15 passes during the season, was the Chiefs' leading receiver with four receptions for 69 yards. West was the leading rusher of the game with 61 yards and a touchdown, adding two receptions for 15 yards.
- published: 17 Feb 2016
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