KANSAS CITY (AP/97.1 The Ticket) -- The Patriots are headed to the Super Bowl for the third consecutive season.
They needed overtime in Kansas City to do it.
After winning the coin toss in overtime, the Patriots never gave Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs' offense a chance. Rex Burkhead capped a drive that featured three third-and-10 conversions with a 2-yard touchdown run to give them a 37-31 victory over the Chiefs.
FINAL: The @Patriots are heading to another @SuperBowl! #EverythingWeGot #NFLPlayoffs(by @Lexus) pic.twitter.com/QdGkidpl5x
— NFL (@NFL)
January 21, 2019 New England squandered a 14-0 halftime lead, and the teams waged a back-and-forth fourth quarter before the Chiefs' Harrison Butker forced overtime with a 39-yard field goal in the closing seconds. The teams combined for 38 points in the fourth quarter.
Tom Brady showcased his mastery once more, though. He twice hit Julian Edelman and once found Rob Gronkowski to convert crucial third downs that set Burkhead up for the winning score.
The Patriots will take on the Los Angeles Rams on Feb. 3, after they
knocked off the Saints in a wild NFC Championship Game that also went to overtime, thanks to a
missed pass interference call late in the game. It was the first time in NFL history that two playoff games went to overtime on the same day.
Unreal!! Two overtimes, two incredible games. I feel spoiled.
— Mike Sullivan (@MikeSullivan)
January 21, 2019 The Associated Press contributed to this story.
