Patriots-Chiefs Divisional Round Predictions
BOSTON (CBS) -- The NFL Playoffs come to Gillette Stadium on Saturday, as the New England Patriots will host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional round.
While the Patriots rested up and did some self-evaluating during their postseason bye week, the Chiefs dispatched the Houston Texans 30-0 on Wild Card weekend to advance. It was KC's 11th straight win, as the Chiefs come to town one of the hottest teams remaining in the NFL.
STATS: Patriots-Chiefs Breakdown
Here are a few predictions for Saturday's game from the WBZ-TV, WBZ NewsRadio 1030 and 98.5 The Sports Hub teams, and not everyone is picking the Patriots:
Steve Burton, WBZ-TV Sports
Even with all the controversy, the Patriots will still win this one. It's the playoffs, the Pats are coming off a bye and they're playing at home with several key players returning from injury. Enough said.
Patriots 34, Chiefs 27
Dan Roche, WBZ-TV Sports
The Chiefs have won 11 straight games and are a confident bunch, especially after their 30-0 thumping of Houston last weekend. They are a "solid-in-all-three-phases-of-the-game" team that should be able to play with any team this time of year. You worry about the Jeremy Maclin injury, though, which could be a big one.
Which leads me to the defending Super Bowl Champion Patriots. This game is all about them, in my opinion. How healthy are they? Can Julian Edelman stay on the field as he returns from a broken foot? Can Dont'a Hightower return from a knee injury?
READ: CBS Local Divisional Round Picks
This season, the Pats posted a sub-.500 record (2-4) for the first time in December-January under Bill Belichick. Can they simply "flip the switch?" I think if anyone knows what they're doing it's Belichick and Brady. Brady is 21-8 in the playoffs, 14-3 at home, and when the temps are below 40-degrees he's 11-2 in the playoffs. If this game was at Arrowhead I would be inclined to give the Chiefs a real good chance at an upset.
Patriots 27, Chiefs 17
Levan Reid, WBZ-TV Sports
Here's the dilemma: I'm not sure who the Pats are going to be this weekend.
Rob Gronkowski missed two days of practice with a sore knee (and reportedly received an injection on Thursday) and Julian Edelman will be playing in his first game since November 15. We have the Chandler Jones situation now looming over the team, which has lost four of their last six games.
As for the Chiefs, they've won 11 straight with their defense holding opposing offenses to just over 11 points per game in that stretch.
This is a tough test for the Pats. They are playing a team that hasn't lost in nearly three months and are coming in off a convincing 30-0 playoff victory.
Tom Brady will do his magic, but he may be the only one up to the task. He's going to need some help and I'm not sure he's going to get it. With that said, I think the winner of this game will go on to the Super Bowl. I just don't think that winner is the Pats.
Chiefs 24, Patriots 16
Adam Kaufman, 98.5 The Sports Hub/WBZ NewsRadio 1030AM
You already know the headlines.
The Patriots lost four of six down the stretch. The defense-led Chiefs have won 11 straight.
Julian Edelman, among others, will be back on the field for New England, positioning the team to be as healthy as its been since Week 10. Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith is far from elite, but his mobile, mistake-free play ranks him well above average.
And, of course, the Chiefs beat the snot out of the Pats in their last meeting in KC about a year-and-a-half ago, and many on the rosters have turned over since.
That about cover it?
The Chiefs' fast and physical defense isn't vulnerable in many, if any, areas, but the Pats' offense is still superior so long as it can keep Tom Brady upright and Edelman isn't a shell of his former self. The Patriots' 'D' is much better than the Chiefs' offense, especially if Jeremy Maclin's ankle keeps him out or generally ineffective.
New England's a five-point favorite for a reason.
Patriots 24, Chiefs 10
Mike "Sarge" Riley 98.5 The Sports Hub/WBZ NewsRadio 1030AM
The Patriots enter the post-season in unorthodox fashion, losing their last two games and four of their last six. However, with the return of Julian Edelman, Sebastian Vollmer and Dont'a Hightower, I like the Pats' chances this weekend.
Kansas City is a hot team, but the streak has to end sometime.
Patriots 24, Chiefs 19
Tune in to Patriots-Chiefs Saturday night on 98.5 The Sports Hub and WBZ-TV — the flagship stations of the New England Patriots. Pregame coverage begins on 98.5FM at 1:30pm with Patriots Preview, following by three hours of postgame coverage after the game. Coverage begins on WBZ-TV with Patriots GameDay at 2pm, with Patriots 5th Quarter immediately after the game!
