Tom Brady celebrates after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) — The Patriots are off to their third-straight Super Bowl, and their fourth in five years, after a thrilling 37-31 AFC Championship Game overtime elimination of the Chiefs in Kansas City. Now, it's time for the Super Bowl Bye Week Red Zone Report with Adam Kaufman and Boston Globe Patriots reporter Ben Volin.
Just when people wanted to believe the dynasty was winding down, the Pats are back in the championship again. Volin said he's done doubting New England.
"They have flipped the switch here for the playoffs," Volin said. "Two excellent, thorough, dominating wins, first over the Chargers, then over the Chiefs. I know it went to overtime, but that was a nearly flawless game from the Patriots. Really did an unbelievable job of executing their game plan on both sides of the ball. Belichick always says they like to be playing their best football at the end of the year—I don't know if you could say that at the end of the regular season, but something clicked for them during the bye week and they are just rolling right now."
It’s a good story facing the Rams—a Super Bowl 36 rematch. If this is Brady’s last championship, he could book-end his title runs with wins over the same team 17 years apart. But, is this the best match-up, or would that have been the Saints?
"I do wonder if the Saints would've been maybe a better matchup for the Patriots, just because I don't think the Saints' offense has been playing that well," Volin said. "I think the Patriots defense probably could've slowed them down and throttled Drew Brees a bit, whereas the Rams are going to be a very difficult challenge. This is a very dynamic offense—it's not the most complicated offense, they really run the same plays with a million different variations off of it, but they run it so well and they really keep you off balance with some of their snap counts."
What can we expect from Rob Gronkowski, and will this be his last NFL game? Can we expect another great showing from Sony Michel? What does Volin think about Greg Schiano taking over as Defensive Coordinator after Brian Flores leaves for the Dolphins? What will the Patriots doubters turn to next? Kaufman and Volin discuss these topics and more below.
WBZ NewsRadio's Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) reports