Julian Edelman with a touchdown last Sunday against the Chiefs. (Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- The Patriots managed to survive against the Chiefs last weekend, and Boston Globe NFL reporter Ben Volin sat down to talk about that win, preview Sunday's matchup against the Bears, and discuss all the week's other Patriots headlines with WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman.
Volin couldn't stress enough the importance of that huge win over Kansas City.
"I know it's only week six, but I don't think the importance of that game can be understated," Volin said. "If you had lost, you would've been three games behind the Chiefs in the standings--plus, they would have had the head-to-head matchup, and you would have been right back in the pack. You would be 3-3, probably out of the playoff race right now. It's very early. But instead you're 4-2, the Chiefs are 5-1, so you're only one game back, and you have the head-to-head matchup--so you're right in the thick of the AFC race for the number-one seed. And history has shown six of the Patriots' eight Super Bowls under Brady and Belichick have come when they're the number-one seed, so that's how they get to the Super Bowl and now they're very much back in it."
Volin said he hopes the Pats and Chiefs will meet up again in the AFC Championship game that he thinks the fans all deserve. But he says this week's matchup with the Chicago Bears will be another big test for New England.
"I know they maybe aren't as powerful of a team as the Chiefs, but the Patriots are 0-2 on the road right now and have not played well in their two road games, so I think this is a big challenge for them going to Soldier Field this Sunday," Volin said.
Kaufman and Volin also talked about the state of the AFC, Sony Michel's importance to the Pats' success, Josh Gordon's role going forward, whether or not Brady will avoid being too reliant on his usual targets, how much trouble the Bears' strong defense and balanced offense will give Belichick and company this weekend, and Volin's predictions for the game.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) reports