Tom Brady leads overtime touchdown drive to seal Patriots win over Chiefs and a third straight Super Bowl appearance

Tom Brady and the Patriots are going back to the Super Bowl - USA TODAY Sports
Tom Brady and the Patriots are going back to the Super Bowl - USA TODAY Sports

Death, taxes, the New England Patriots playing on Super Bowl Sunday. As soon as they won the toss to receive the ball in overtime you knew what was going to happen. Tom Brady duly delivered, as he always does, and will face the Los Angeles Rams in two weeks' time for the chance to add a sixth ring to his collection.

It was a brilliant game which roared into life in the fourth quarter. The Pats went into the final period leading 17-7, before both teams went back and forth, splitting a conference championship record 38 points for a single quarter to tie it up at 31-31 at the end of normal time.

Three times the Chiefs forced Brady into third-and-long situations in overtime, three times he pulled it out of the bag. He struck Julian Edelman over the middle twice and found Rob Gronkowski at the sideline before Rex Burkhead powered in the winning score. Patrick Mahomes never got the chance to respond, falling foul of the NFL's most unjust rule.

The Chiefs will be bitterly disappointed by their pass rush. Highlighted as one of their keys to success, they failed to sack Tom Brady once all night. Brady was rarely pressured, and got the ball out of his hands rapidly. He did throw two picks in his 30 of 46, 348-yard, one touchdown performance, but they didn't matter in the end. He commanded the game when it mattered most, looking to Edelman (seven for 96) and Gronkowski (six for 79) on crucial third downs, but was happy to put the ball in the hands of his running backs for much of the night. Sony Michel finished with 29 carries for 113 yards and two touchdowns to go with the three he scored against the Chargers last week, and Burkhead had 12 touches for 41 and two of his own.

New England Patriots wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84) carries the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of the AFC Championship game at Arrowhead Stadium - Credit: USA TODAY
Rex Burkhead scored the winning touchdown for the Patriots Credit: USA TODAY

Mahomes looked utterly gutted at the final whistle. You'd be worried if he wasn't. But he made a number of characteristically beautiful plays on the night and finished 16 of 31 for 295 yards and three touchdowns. It wasn't to be his night - this is still Brady's story - but he'll get another shot at this. I have no doubt about it. Mahomes is a joy to watch, and the future of this league.

After a tense but unspectacular opening three quarters the game went totally bonkers in the fourth. A Damien Williams rushing score made it 17-14 and moved the Chiefs to within three before a bizarre moment on a punt return tipped us over the edge. Edelman went to catch a bouncing ball but missed it. The refs on the field ruled it clipped his body, and Daniel Sorenson had recovered it for a Chiefs possession. The call was overturned by the video officials in New York, but really only Edelman can know for sure if it touched him.

It looked as if the Pats had got a lucky break, but seconds later Brady fired a pass to Edelman, it slipped through his hands and Sorenson latched onto the rebound for an interception. It felt like divine intervention. 

A Williams receiving touchdown on the resulting drive gave Kansas City their first lead of the night, and it changed hands three more times before a Harrison Butker field goal tied it up and took it to overtime.

Belichick and Brady will be narrow favourites in Atlanta on 3 February, because they've done this all before. They'll still view themselves as the unfancied underdogs, though, because that's where this team draws a lot of its fight from. If we get a game even close to as good as the two we saw tonight, we'll be in for one hell of a showpiece.

3:18AM

Patriots win. New England Patriots 37, Kansas City Chiefs 31

So it'll be the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl on 3 February in Atlanta. What a brilliant night of action with the most inevitable of endings. Brady will play in his ninth Super Bowl with a chance to win his sixth. For Mahomes it's a gut-wrencher, but he'll surely get plenty more opportunities.

3:14AM

Patriots touchdown! New England Patriots 37, Kansas City Chiefs 31

Burkhead rushed through the middle and gets the first down! They're at the five-yard line now. Is this the game? Burkhead gets three more, and New England will have a chance to run this one in from close range. AND THEY'VE DONE IT! The New England Patriots are going to the Super Bowl for the third time in three years!

3:12AM

Pats to the 15. New England Patriots 31, Kansas City Chiefs 31

Brady's got time, he's taking a shot at the end zone! It's incomplete for Hogan though. He goes to Patterson again on second down and again it's Nelson to break it up. Third-and-10 again. Complete again - it's Gronk this time. The Pats are at the 15.

3:10AM

Pats to the 30. New England Patriots 31, Kansas City Chiefs 31

Nelson breaks up a pass intended for Dorsett. He's the man again on the next play, hitting Patterson to stop him making a big catch. Brady's got a third-and-10 to deal with now. What's he going to do? he looks over the middle to Edelman again and that's another huge catch from number 11! They're up to around the 3o now.

3:08AM

Pats into Chiefs territory. New England Patriots 31, Kansas City Chiefs 31

Burkhead is tackled at the line of scrimmage for a yard. Brady's under pressure from Justin Houston on second-and-nine, gets away from it but can't find an open receiver. It'll be third-and-long. Brady drops back, throws over the middle to Edelman and it's... complete. They're up over halfway.

3:06AM

First down Patriots! New England Patriots 31, Kansas City Chiefs 31

That's Hogan at the sideline for 10.

3:03AM

Patriots win the toss and will get the ball! New England Patriots 31, Kansas City Chiefs 31

It's all on Brady again. A touchdown will win it. What a game this is.

3:00AM

Field goal Chiefs! New England Patriots 31, Kansas City Chiefs 31

He's got it! Barring a miracle we're going to get our second overtime game of the night. No one is even thinking about going to bed, are they?

2:59AM

Butker will kick to tie it... New England Patriots 31, Kansas City Chiefs 28

Mahomes should take a shot to the end zone here. He does, but it's nowhere near a receiver, and Harrison Butker will come out to try the field goal. He's hit 21 of 21 at home this season, and has a 39-yarder to surely take this to overtime. Now is not the time to miss...

2:56AM

Chiefs into field goal range. New England Patriots 31, Kansas City Chiefs 28

Mahomes deep to Robinson and... it's a catch! There's a flag on the play too, against the Pats, which is huge because it stops the clock. The Chiefs are into field goal range now, but will have a shot to win it with 16 seconds left.

2:55AM

Chefs up to halfway. New England Patriots 31, Kansas City Chiefs 28

The Chiefs return the kick-off to the 30. Mahomes will have to go 70 yards in 32 seconds with one time out. My whole body is sweating. He scrambles and hits Ware for the first down. Chiefs at halfway.

2:52AM

Touchdown Patriots! New England Patriots 31, Kansas City Chiefs 28

It's Rex Burkhead and it's a touchdown! He fights his way into the end zone and the PAT gives the Patriots a three-point lead once again. It's classic playoff Patriots football. Mahomes will have 39 seconds to pull off a miracle. He couldn't, could he?

2:50AM

Interception Chiefs wiped out by penalty! New England Patriots 24, Kansas City Chiefs 28

Brady looks to Gronkowski who lets it slip through his fingers and the Chiefs get the interception! But no! Dee Ford's offside, and the Pats get another chance on third-and-five. That would have been the ball game. Brady looks to Gronk again and this time he catches it. The Pats have it at the four. This is insane.

2:47AM

Call overturned! New England Patriots 24, Kansas City Chiefs 28

It's going back. So. Much. Drama. It'll be third-and-10.

2:45AM

Does Hogan catch it? New England Patriots 24, Kansas City Chiefs 28

Another Brady pass, another first down. It's Hogan again, and the Pats are down to the Chiefs 21 with 54 seconds remaining. Wait a minute though, the catch is going to be reviewed, and it looks like it could be overturned...

2:44AM

Brady dices up the secondary. New England Patriots 24, Kansas City Chiefs 28

Brady fires it over the middle to Edelman and the Patriots are into Chiefs territory already. He hits Hogan for another first down on the next play. It's happening again, isn't it?

2:42AM

It's Brady time. New England Patriots 24, Kansas City Chiefs 28

Manchester United have Fergie time, the New England Patriots have Brady time. Cordarrelle Patterson has a great kick return that will give Tom the Ball around the 35, and we're into the two-minute warning. Here we go then, this  is what Brady does. Can he engineer a touchdown drive and carry his team to the Super Bowl once again?

2:39AM

Touchdown Chiefs! New England Patriots 24, Kansas City Chiefs 28

So much drama here! Mahomes has what looks like a surefire interception dropped in the end zone, and on the next play he finds Watkins wide open up the left. Watkins takes it all the way to the two, and Williams batters it into the paint! What an end we're getting to this AFC title game. I don't think I've breathed in an hour.

2:37AM

Massive penalty! New England Patriots 24, Kansas City Chiefs 21

Huuuuuuge pass interference call, and it's Jackson again! He's called for dragging back Sammy Watkins, and the Chiefs get a massive chunk of free yardage which will move them down to the Pats' 40.

2:34AM

Let off for the Chiefs! New England Patriots 24, Kansas City Chiefs 21

Over to you, Patrick Mahomes. The second-year QB has three and a half minutes to get his boy back in front. He passes to Kelce and he's fumbled it! The Patriots recover, but it's going to be wiped out by a holding penalty of rookie corner JC Jackson! How much could that come back to bite New England, and what a reprieve for Kelce.

2:30AM

Touchdown Patriots! New England Patriots 24, Kansas City Chiefs 21

Brady looks to Burkhead - who's been very involved tonight - on second-and-seven, and he's stopped a yard short. We're in two-down territory here. Burkhead gets it again and is tackled right at the gain line. They're going to spot him just short, so the Pats will try again on fourth down. Arrowhead is roaring. Will Brady sneak here? No! He hands off to Michel who bursts right through the middle and it's not just a first down, it's a touchdown! Gostkowski's PAT makes it a three-point game.

2:26AM

Patriots keep rolling. New England Patriots 17, Kansas City Chiefs 21

The catch is ruled good, and the Pats will keep going. Brady hands off to Rex Burkhead for 14 and the first down, and hits Gronkowski for another one the next play. We have a red zone opportunity...

2:24AM

Here he comes...

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady looks for a receiver during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo - Credit: AP
Brady has the ball in his hands... Credit: AP

 

2:22AM

Is that a catch? New England Patriots 17, Kansas City Chiefs 21

Brady looks deep for Gronk, who's definitely held by Berry, but there's no call. That's probably justice for that roughing penalty. Number 12 responds by firing one for Hogan which he does a brilliant job of hauling in, though does the ball come loose? Andy Reid's going to challenge this one.

2:20AM

Brady coming right back. New England Patriots 17, Kansas City Chiefs 21

Now we really have a ball game. Tom Brady's got the ball back with just under eight minutes left on the clock - bags of time. A screen pass to Patterson gets a few yards, and now a pitch invading Chiefs fan gives his defense a welcome breather. Why do that though - he's going to miss the end to this incredible game. Talk about taking one for the team.

A 15-yard roughing penalty on Chris Jones - an extremely harsh one, I should add - gives the Pats a first down.

2:16AM

Touchdown Chiefs! New England Patriots 17, Kansas City Chiefs 21

Kansas City have the lead for the first time tonight! A pass to Sammy Watkins is overturned on review, but it won't matter. Mahomes throws a screen to Williams on the next play and he runs untouched into the end zone for the score. What a crazy few minutes at Arrowhead. 

2:13AM

Interception Chiefs! New England Patriots 17, Kansas City Chiefs 14

This game is so ridiculous sometimes! Brady throws a dart to Edelman, it slips through his hands and Sorenson hauls in the interception! That's the same two players who were involved in the punt play. If that's not fate I don't know what is. The Chiefs get the ball on the New England 25-yard line.

2:11AM

Call overturned! New England Patriots 17, Kansas City Chiefs 14

What a massive call! The refs in New York say Edelman never touched it and the Patriots will keep the ball! The referees are having a huge part to play in tonight's championship games.

2:06AM

Drama on the punt return! New England Patriots 17, Kansas City Chiefs 14

Julian Edelman goes to recover the punt but the ball bounces awkwardly and the officials rule that it just clipped his on the hand! It's impossible to tell, which means the ruling on the field should stand. Wow. Gehrig Dieter recovers the ball and takes it into the end zone - it won't count, because you can't advance a muffed punt, but this would still be monumental for Kansas City, they'd have an instant red zone opportunity.

2:03AM

Patriots defense responds. New England Patriots 17, Kansas City Chiefs 14

The Chiefs need at least three here. Sven would be nice though, wouldn't it? Williams gains a couple with a run up the gut and Mahomes throws incomplete on second down which means we're got a third-and-long on our hands. There's pressure on Mahomes again, and he throws it away. Perfect set of downs for the Pats defense.

1:58AM

Huge stop for the Chiefs! New England Patriots 17, Kansas City Chiefs 14

Here's a second-and-seven and Brady has white for five. KC need a stop on third-and-two, and they're going to get it! White is stopped about a half-yard short, but Belichick will go for it here. No question. This feels like a huge moment in this game... Brady hands off to Burkhead and... he's stopped! Wow! What a tackle from Daniel Sorenson - this game may just be turning.

1:55AM

Pats close in on red zone. New England Patriots 17, Kansas City Chiefs 14

Michel rushed through the middle on second-and-10 and looks to be stopped just short of the first down, but the refs give it to him anyway. He's just shy of a 100-yard game now, and the Pats are into Chiefs territory. They get another first with a quick pass to Develin out of the backfield. Danger looms...

1:52AM

Edelman for the first down. New England Patriots 17, Kansas City Chiefs 14

Here comes Touchdown Tom again. Can he respond to Mahomes here? He goes over the middle to a wide open Edelman to get a nice gain on the first play of the drive, and the Pats are up to their 43-yard line already.

1:48AM

Touchdown Chiefs! New England Patriots 17, Kansas City Chiefs 14

Mahomes floats one to the end zone for Kelce and... that'll draw a pass interference flag! The Chiefs jump straight to the one-yard line and this has to end in a touchdown. Has to. It does! Mahomes rolls right and find Damien Williams open in the end zone for the score! We've got a three-point game at Arrowhead, ladies and gents.

1:43AM

End of the third quarter. New England Patriots 17, Kansas City Chiefs 7

The Chiefs go to Williams twice and he gets seven to set up a third-and-three. Mahomes is blitzed by Adrian Clayborn and he does an incredible job to get a sidearm pass away for a big first down. Williams takes one for a chunk gain on the very next play, and those 33 yards take the Chiefs into the red zone to start the final quarter. Still right in the balance, this!

1:40AM

First down Chiefs. New England Patriots 17, Kansas City Chiefs 7

Mahomes has to throw it away under pressure from Patrick Chung on first down. That's been a real feature of the game so far. Mahomes will scramble on the next play and it stopped just short of the first - again it's Chung. He drives for the first and gets it. Fresh set of downs incoming.

1:35AM

Patriots field goal! New England Patriots 17, Kansas City Chiefs 7

Brady has Chris Hogan wide open for his first catch of the day. It's a simple 10-yarder for a first down, and just like that the Pats are almost back in the red zone. Michel is wrapped up on the ground before Brady flips one to White for five yards. It gets wiped out by an offensive pass interference call on Dorsett, though. That makes a second-and-19, but they can only get two with a quick pass out to Hogan. White gets just one with a third down rush, and that'll set up about a 48-yarder for Gostkowski. It's good - easy as you like - and New England have a 10-point lead.

1:28AM

Pats get it back in great field position. New England Patriots 14, Kansas City Chiefs 7

A five-yard holding penalty sets the Chiefs back a bit, before Mahomes gets back to his old tricks with a no-look pass. Kelce drops it though, and number 15 is sacked on the following play setting up third-and-18. Mahomes drops back into his own end zone and launches one deep for Chris Conley, but it's broken up by Devin McCourty. The punt isn't a good one, and Edelman returns it back to the Kansas City 37. Great field position, great chance for a score.

1:24AM

Williams runs for first down. New England Patriots 14, Kansas City Chiefs 7

Mahomes, throwing from his own end zone, gets a couple to Harris to start the drive. Could they go 96 yards to level it up here? This is a good start. Williams runs up the middle and that'll be a first down. Really tough run that from Williams. It's their longest rush of the day.

1:19AM

Chiefs get the stop. New England Patriots 14, Kansas City Chiefs 7

Michel breaks a tackle for a four-yard gain, but the Pats will have to navigate another third down, this time from six. The Chiefs look like they'll blitz here... they do, and Chris Jones gets a hand on Tom Brady's pass! Punt team incoming. Perfect start to the second half for KC.

1:18AM

Burkhead dives for first down. New England Patriots 14, Kansas City Chiefs 7

Brady hits Edelman down the sideline setting up a third-and-one for the Pats. They go to Burkhead whooooo... just gets the first down. Just. He dives for it and gets it by a couple of inches. 

1:15AM

Are we about to see a magical Mahomes comeback?

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) looks to pass during the first half of the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots at Arrowhead Stadium - Credit: USA TODAY
Patrick Mahomes scores a touchdown on the first drive of the second half Credit: USA TODAY

1:12AM

Touchdown Chiefs! New England Patriots 14, Kansas City Chiefs 7

Mahomes has an age to pass on third-and-two, and look what happens! He looks long to Sammy Watkins who beats Stephon Gilmore with a nice cut and suddenly the Chiefs have it on the New England 12-yard line.

TOUCHDOWN! The game is afoot! On the very next play Mahomes goes right over the middle and Travis kelce is there in the end zone. Harrison Butker's extra point makes it a one-score game. Let's do this!

1:08AM

Do Pats have this in the bag? New England Patriots 14, Kansas City Chiefs 0

This couldn't be going better for the Patriots, who have been utterly dominant in these playoffs so far. Still, you can't count out Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs will receive the kick-off for the second half, so he'll have a chance to get some points back right out of the gate.

12:55AM

End of the first half. New England Patriots 14, Kansas City Chiefs 0

The Chiefs have around 20 seconds and two time outs to do something here. They need it. Not gonna get it though. Van Noy, who's had a monster first half, gets to Mahomes again and forces him to fumble. The Chiefs QB jumps on it but that'll take us to half-time. Just 35 total yards for the supposedly lethal Chiefs. Utter domination from New England.

12:53AM

Touchdown Patriots! New England Patriots 14, Kansas City Chiefs 0

Brady goes deep for the first time and it results in six points! It's Phillip Dorsett who makes the grab in the end zone, beating Steven Nelson to it. The extra point is good as now the Pats are really in the ascendancy going into the half. Lots of pressure on Mahomes in his first playoff appearance now.

12:51AM

White goes again. New England Patriots 7, Kansas City Chiefs 0

White takes one up the left edge - he's owning this drive - and the Patriots are into field goal range. They're also about half a yard short of a first down, and will take another time out.

12:48AM

White make a big gain. New England Patriots 7, Kansas City Chiefs 0

James White catches one out of the backfield and it'll be enough for the Patriots first down. They're playing to keep the ball out of Mahomes' hands here. Brady goes to White again on the screen and the blocking is good. Very good. White gets a big gain and moves his team right into Kansas City territory. They have a chance to make it 14-0 at the half here.

12:46AM

Michel has 17 carries so far. New England Patriots 7, Kansas City Chiefs 0

Seventeen. It's not even the end of the first half. Madness.

12:45AM

Time out Patriots. New England Patriots 7, Kansas City Chiefs 0

Here come the Pats after the two-minute warning. The Chiefs do a better job at halting the run, and New England will have a third-and-five with around one minute 40 left. Time out called by Bill Belichick.

12:36AM

Missed opportunity for Mahomes. New England Patriots 7, Kansas City Chiefs 0

Mahomes has Williams wide open in the end zone... and the pass sails just out of his reach. That should have been a touchdown. On third down Trey Flowers blitzes through the Chiefs' O-line and brings down Mahomes for a massive loss. So massive that it'll take KC out of field goal range. Damn, that hurts. Here comes the punt team...

12:34AM

Big play for Tyreek Hill! New England Patriots 7, Kansas City Chiefs 0

Mahomes goes deep for the first time today and it's a huuuge catch for Tyreek Hill! That's a 42-yard gain the moves the Chiefs into the red zone for the first time today.

12:33AM

First down Chiefs! New England Patriots 7, Kansas City Chiefs 0

Damien Williams runs through traffic and gets six on a nice run up the right. Kelce gets a couple on a shuffle pass in the next play, setting up a third-and-two. What a play my Mahomes! He rolls left and Van Noy gets him by the leg, but he shakes free and fired one to Sammy Watkins for a massive first down.

12:27AM

Patriots punt for first time. New England Patriots 7, Kansas City Chiefs 0

Michel is pounding the Chiefs into submission. He's stopped just short of a first down on another run up the middle which gets the Pats into Kansas City territory. The Chiefs stop him on third-and-one, though, and the Pats will punt.

12:25AM

Gronk in the game. New England Patriots 7, Kansas City Chiefs 0

Gronk only had one target last week, but he's right in the game today, and already has three. The latest hits him in space underneath and he picks up nine yards. Michel just about converts with a short run through the middle.

12:24AM

Lucky escape! New England Patriots 7, Kansas City Chiefs 0

That should be another pick for the Chiefs! Brady's pass for Gronkowski is off target and Eric Berry dives for it, but it spills out of his arms onto the turf. That could have turned the game. Instead Brady converts under huge pressure on third-and-seven, finding James White down the sideline, and it's another first down.

12:18AM

Chiefs punt. New England Patriots 7, Kansas City Chiefs 0

The Patriots defensive line is doing a great job of getting to Mahomes so far. He's getting no time to get settled in the pocket. He gets one away to Travis Kelce under pressure on second-and-10, and Kelce's catch and run picks up nine. Williams needs a yard, but he can't get it! Stuffed at the line of scrimmage. The Chiefs will punt, and the interception comes to nothing.

12:14AM

Interception Chiefs! New England Patriots 7, Kansas City Chiefs 0

It's Michel again, it's yardage again. Four to be exact, which takes the Patriots down to the one. Brady goes right back to him but the Chiefs defense has his number this time. No gain on the play. KC reaaaaally needs this third down stop... they get it! And not just a stop, that's a pick! Reggie Ragland intercepts Brady in the end zone and the Arrowhead crowd goes nuts! Game. On.

12:11AM

Pats run game making hay

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady hands off the ball to running back Sony Michel (26) during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, in Kansas City - Credit: AP
Brady has been happy to hand the ball off to Michel and White early on Credit: AP

 

12:10AM

Edelman down to the five. New England Patriots 7, Kansas City Chiefs 0

It's first and goal for New England. Brady hits Edelman again, this time down the right sideline, and this is all looking a little bit easy. The Pats have it at the five and you'd back them to make it a 14-point game here.

12:08AM

Pats pounding it down the field. New England Patriots 7, Kansas City Chiefs 0

There's a real sense of inevitability about this one already, isn't there? The Chiefs don't have an answer for the Patriots' run game so far - James White picks up another first down on the ground. Cordarrelle Patterson comes round on the jet sweep on the next set of downs and takes them into the red zone again.

12:02AM

Van Noy sacks Mahomes! New England Patriots 7, Kansas City Chiefs 0

That's a huge play from Kyle Van Noy! He gets to Mahomes and takes him down for a big sack on third-and-10. The young phenom couldn't do anything on that first drive, and the Chiefs will punt. Edelman is the receiving man, and he takes it back into Chiefs territory. Perfect start for New England.

11:59PM

Penalty gives Chiefs a first down. New England Patriots 7, Kansas City Chiefs 0

Landon Roberts stuffs Damien Williams for a loss on second-and-five, which means Mahomes' first third down of the day is from seven yards. His first throw of the night is... incomplete, but a flag is down at the line of scrimmage. It's a holding call on the Pats, and it gifts the Chiefs a free first down.

11:55PM

Touchdown Patriots! New England Patriots 7, Kansas City Chiefs 0

Fullback James Develin makes a huge block and allows Sony Michel to charge into the end zone for the first score of the game. Stephen Gostkowski's extra point is good, and the Patriots lead in the AFC Championship game. Over to you, Patrick.

11:52PM

Pats masterminding a perfect opening drive. New England Patriots 0, Kansas City Chiefs 0

The Patriots are chewing up the clock on their opening drive just as they did against the Chargers last week. They've used up about eight minutes on 14 plays so far. Another Michel run takes them down to the one-yard line.

11:50PM

Edelman for the first down! New England Patriots 0, Kansas City Chiefs 0

Brady goes over the middle to Julian Edelman and his favourite target is reliable as ever. New England are into the red zone and Michel bursts out of the backfield for another first down. What a drive this is from the Pats to start the game.

11:48PM

All running backs, all the time. New England Patriots 0, Kansas City Chiefs 0

Brady throws to Burkhead out of the backfield and second-and-six becomes third-and-one. White has his second third down conversion of the night, jinking for a couple, and the Pats are up to the 33.

11:46PM

Pats moving the chains. New England Patriots 0, Kansas City Chiefs 0

Michel is making the gains early on, before Brady looks to Rob Gronkowski. That's good for six, and James White will pick up five more on another run for the first down. They're into Kansas City territory.

11:43PM

And we're off! New England Patriots 0, Kansas City Chiefs 0

The Chiefs kick off and we're underway in KC. The Patriots have a first down right off the bat, with Sony Michel rushing one right up the gut. Here we go...

11:41PM

Can we outdo that stunning showing in New Orleans?

Wow, what a game that was at the Superdome. The Rams never led until overtime, but they're going to the Super Bowl. And you know what? That was just the warm up. The Chiefs and Patriots will be on the field at Arrowhead before you have a chance to catch a breath.

11:34PM

It's Brady vs Mahomes in Kansas City

It’s being billed as the battle between young and old, excitement and experience - it’s Patrick Mahomes against Tom Brady, and a place in the Super Bowl is on the line.

Brady has done it all before. He already has enough rings to wear one on every finger of his left hand (he needs the right one to throw with), but do you think that means he won’t be ravenous to add to his haul? Not a chance.

“Everybody thinks we suck,” he told reporters after last week’s dominant victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, proving it’s still possible to have a chip on your shoulder when you’re the most successful NFL quarterback of all time. The Pats definitely don’t suck, though they are underdogs tonight for the first time in 70 games.

That’s because Andy Reid’s Chiefs have the home field advantage, though the bitter cold at Arrowhead will likely favour New England and their dynamic run game. Sony Michel had more than 100 yards and three touchdowns before half-time, while fellow back James White had 15 receptions out of the backfield. The Patriots may look to chip away at Kansas City in similar fashion.

The big question is if the New England defense can do anything to slow down Mahomes, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. If there’s a more dangerous offensive trio in the NFL then I can’t think of them. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore did a great job of keeping Keenan Allen quiet last week, but shutting down the rapid Hill is a whole different story.

Whatever happens this should be an absolute classic. Don’t even think about going to bed.