January 18, 2020 -- #KCvNE
Gillette Stadium -- Foxborough, MA
CBS -- 1:00 PM E.T.
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KC - 10 / 7 / 13 / 0 // 30
NE - 7 / 14 / 14 / 14 // 49
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It's the dead of winter, meaning the weather in New England can be brutal. And that the Patriots are headed to the Super Bowl.
It took an unlikely hero to get there -- for the fourth straight year. While the folks back home dealt with a frigid storm, New England's defense kept making play after play late in the game in a 49-30 victory Sunday for the AFC championship.
Tom Brady threw an interception on the team's first drive and Kansas City jumped out to an early lead before the Patriot settled down, scoring the last two touchdowns of the half. New England had a chance to extend their 21-17 lead with the ball to open the second half but went three-and-out. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs were driving when an unlikely hero appeared.
After catching a screen pass from Mahomes, running back Damien Williams made a defender miss just as Collins got his hand on the football and ripped it out. In the same motion, Collins picked the ball up and returned it 54 yards for the touchdown, arguably the game's biggest play. Collins would have another interception in the fourth to help thwart Kansas City's come back efforts.
It’s been three seasons since the ultra-athletic linebacker suited up with the Patriots. After being released by the Cleveland Browns this offseason, it took Collins two months to find a new home. With a fresh start in Foxboro, the seven-year veteran is once again making the most of his opportunities with the Patriots.
“Jamie’s a very special player,” head coach Bill Belichick said. “He’s very smart, instinctive. He’s got a great nose for the ball in the passing game and in the running game. He’s got the physical skills to play at the end of the line and off the line, to blitz, to play in coverage, play against the run and play against the pass. ... He’s added a lot to us.”
What’s always made Collins special is his athletic ability for someone who is 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 255 pounds. When he first joined the Patriots, as a second-round pick in 2013, he would wow his teammates by performing backflips on the practice field. That athleticism allows the coaching staff to play Collins all over the defense.
Awaiting them in Miami are the Carolina Panthers, who won 17-10 in Green Bay for the NFC championship. The Panthers (12-7) made the Super Bowl in 2003, losing to the Patriots, and in 2015 where they lost to the Denver Broncos.
New England benefited from two critical defensive touchdowns and made its tenth Super Bowl with Brady at quarterback and Bill Belichick as coach.
Scoring Summary
Quarter 1
11:27 (KC) H. Butker, 25 Yd FG
5:18 (KC) D. Yelder 12 Yd pass from P. Mahomes
1:16 (NE) N. Harry 29 Yd pass from T. Brady
Quarter 2
10:28 (KC) S. Watkins 43 Yd pass from P. Mahomes
9:38 (NE) N. Harry 70 Yd pass from T. Brady
0:41 (NE) J. Edelman 1 Yd pass from T. Brady
Quarter 3
11:10 (NE) J. Collins Sr., returned fumble 54 Yds
9:01 (KC) D. Williams, 1 Yd run (2pt-failed)
4:20 (NE) B. Bolden, 13 Yd run
2:41 (KC) D. Yelder 7 Yd pass from P. Mahomes
Quarter 4
13:38 (NE) C. Grant, 10 Yd run
13:22 (NE) D. McCourty, returned fumble 32 Yds
Player Stats
New England Patriots (16-2)
Tom Brady, QB: 14 of 20, 221 yards, 3 touchdowns, interception
Sony Michel, HB: 22 carries, 118 yards.
James White, HB: 11 carries, 90 yards, 2 receptions, 22 yards.
Julian Edelman, WR: 8 receptions, 79 yards, touchdown.
N'Keal Harry, WR: 2 receptions, 99 yards, 2 touchdowns.
Patrick Chung, S: 9 tackles, tackle fro loss, interception.
Devin McCourty, S: 6 tackles, fumble recovery, touchdown.
Jamie Collins, LB: 5 tackles, sack, interception, forced fumble, fumble recovery, touchdown.
Kansas City Chiefs (12-6)
Patrick Mahomes, QB: 27 of 35, 380 yards, 3 touchdowns, 2 interceptions.
Damien Williams, HB: 14 carries, 109 yards, touchdown, fumble.
Deon Yelder, TE: 10 receptions, 104 yards, 2 touchdowns.
Tyreek Hill, WR: 7 receptions, 137 yards.
Sammy Watkins, WR: 2 receptions, 67 yards, touchdown.
Anthony Hitchens, LB: 10 tackles, interception.
Dorian O'Daniel, OLB: 9 tackles, 3 tackles for loss.
Emmanuel Ogbah, DE: 7 tackles, 3 tackles for loss.
