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KANSAS CITY http://www.patriotslockerroom.com/authentic-james-white-jersey , Mo. (AP) — It seems football fans everywhere are suddenly on the Chiefs‘ bandwagon, enthralled by Kansas City’s record-setting young quarterback and exciting playmakers and hopeful the amiable coach can finally win the big one.Then again, maybe they’re just fans of anybody facing New England.The Patriots have dominated the AFC for nearly two decades, and the coach-quarterback combination of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady will be playing in an eighth consecutive conference title game Sunday night when New England visits the Chiefs at frigid, hostile Arrowhead Stadium.Article continues below ...But whereas Brady& Co. once instilled awe in their opponents, the Chiefs view their showdown as an opportunity for Patrick Mahomes to take the baton as the league’s best quarterback and for Kansas City, seeking its first Super Bowl appearance in 49 years , to surpass the Patriots as the NFL’s “it” team.“It’ll be huge,” Mahomes said. “When I got here, the goal was to win the AFC championship and get to the Super Bowl, and win that. To do that early in my career, it would be a huge thing.”There aren’t two more dichotomous teams than the Patriots and Chiefs.New England has won five Super Bowls during the Belichick-Brady era, setting all kinds of records along the way. The cruel efficiency with which they’ve sliced up the AFC has made them the bane of fans everywhere but New England and given them the kind of unbeatable aura that accompanied the New York Yankees teams of Derek Jeter and the Chicago Bulls teams of Michael Jordan.It’s not just petty jealousy, though. Many fans have been turned off by Deflategate, Spygate and other instances over the years that have saddled the Patriots with a rather unsavory reputation.Brady has mostly shrugged it off. So has Belichick Matthew Slater Jersey , who almost seems to embrace the villain role.“I don’t think about it too much, what people might say or think,” said Brady, whose team is a rare playoff underdog Sunday. “I know we’re playing against a very good football team. They’re the first seed for a reason. They’ve had a great season and we’re going to have to go into a really tough environment and play our best football, and it’s a great opportunity for us.”On the flip side are the Chiefs, a team that dominated the AFC throughout the 1990s but reached only one conference title game. They were the league’s worst franchise six years ago, when Andy Reid came aboard , but have become a perennial playoff team that was always missing that certain something.They found it when they drafted Mahomes nearly two years ago .The quarterback shattered just about every franchise passing record in his first season as a starter, and his down-home style has made him a fan favorite. Kids dressed up like him for Halloween, his curly Mohawk has become the trend at local barbershops, and the aw-shucks way Mahomes has embraced his stunning success has only made him more endearing.“I think he’s a great player on a great team that’s very well-coached,” Belichick said. “They have a great scheme and a great system. He’s got a ton of weapons, so he’ll be tough to handle, as will their entire offense, as will their entire team. We’ll need our best game.”As the Patriots (12-5) try to advance to their third consecutive Super Bowl Womens Ryan Allen Jersey , something only two other franchises have accomplished, and the Chiefs (13-4) try to make it for the first time since winning the title in 1970, here are some things to know:PERSONNEL CHANGESThe Patriots beat the Chiefs in a 43-40 shootout in Week 6, but both teams are different these days. The Patriots lost wide receiver Josh Gordon to personal issues, and the Chiefs waived Kareem Hunt because of off-the-field trouble. Kansas City also is poised to have linebacker Justin Houston and star safety Eric Berry back from injuries on Sunday.“I mean, that was Week 6. That was a long time ago,” Patriots safety Patrick Chung said. “We can’t really worry about that. They’re a better team and they’re on a roll. It’s the two best teams in the AFC, so you can’t really worry about, ‘Well, we beat you guys last, so we’re going to win.’ If we have that mentality, we’ll get kicked – they’ll kick our ass, pretty much.”STAR POWERBrady and Mahomes get plenty of attention, but they don’t do it alone. Pats running back James White tied Darren Sproles‘ postseason record with 15 catches in their 41-28 divisional victory over the Chargers, while Sony Michel has become a breakout star and Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman remain dangerous downfield threats . The Chiefs counter with running back Damien Williams and the pass-catching trio of All-Pro speedster Tyreek Hill http://www.patriotslockerroom.com/authentic-jason-mccourty-jersey , Sammy Watkins and sure-handed tight end Travis Kelce.ROAD WOE-RRIORSNew England hasn’t lost at home since early last season, but it’s been a struggle away from Gillette Stadium . The Patriots were 3-5 on the road this season, their worst mark since 2009, and lost back-to-back games in Miami and Pittsburgh in December. They haven’t won a postseason game on the road since 2006, and away teams have lost 10 consecutive conference championship games.“I don’t get caught up in all that,” Reid said this week. “They’re a heck of a team. I mentioned that before, if you’re talking about a dynasty in the National Football League, they’re that.”HOME COOKINGThe Chiefs were founded by Lamar Hunt, the namesake of the Lamar Hunt Trophy awarded to the AFC champion. But they will be hosting the AFC title game for the first time after ending a 25-year drought in divisional playoff games last week against Indianapolis. They are 8-1 at home this season with their lone loss coming on a last-second 2-point conversion to the Los Angeles Chargers.“You know it’s going to be a playoff atmosphere there,” Gronkowski said. “I’ve been there in the regular season and it felt like a playoff atmosphere. So I just can’t imagine what it’s going to be like going into a stadium like this.”WEATHER WATCHWhile snow is expected Saturday, the forecast for frigid temperatures Sunday has improved a bit and it could be in the 20s much of the game. There will also be a “super blood wolf moon” later in the night, a rare total lunar eclipse in which the moon turns a rusty shade of red.“There’s not really much you can do with the cold,” Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower said. “I think Trey (Flowers) and Bill said it best, give us a ball and a field and we’ll be there.” CINCINNATI (AP) — Rookie Sam Hubbard was disappointed as Ryan Tannehill slipped past him, avoiding a sack. A moment later Kyle Van Noy Jersey , the football slipped out of the quarterback’s grasp and flew right to Hubbard, who was as surprised as anyone to have it in his hands.“All I had to do was run straight,” Hubbard said.Straight into the end zone he went on a 19-yard fumble return , yet another wacky play that completed Cincinnati’s indescribable comeback. The Bengals scored 27 straight points and rallied for a 27-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday that extended their best start since 2015 — the last time they made the postseason.This one is looking a little more like a playoff team each week.“The vibe over here is crazy,” running back Joe Mixon said.The Bengals (4-1) appeared headed for a desultory home-field loss as the Dolphins (3-2) — playing with depleted lines — rolled ahead 17-0 with the help of Jakeem Grant’s 70-yard punt return for a touchdown. The Bengals’ defensive line pulled it out with two wacky plays.Tannehill tried to avoid a sack by throwing the ball at his tight end’s feet. Instead, it slipped from his hand and caromed off Durham Smythe’s helmet, flying directly to Michael Johnson. He ran 22 yards untouched for his first NFL touchdown.The defense closed it out when Carlos Dunlap hit a scrambling Tannehill and the ball flew directly to Hubbard for his quick jaunt to the end zone and a 27-17 lead with 2:37 to go.The Dolphins were dazed.“I didn’t know what happened,” said Tannehill, who had three turnovers. “I heard the crowd cheer and (saw) everyone run away from me, so I knew something bad happened.”The win left Cincinnati alone atop the AFC North heading into a rivalry game next Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have won six straight and 14 of 17 in their series. The Dolphins have to recover from a 38-7 drubbing by New England and their meltdown against the Bengals, with Bears up next.Some takeaways from Paul Brown Stadium:DEFENSE MAKES THE DIFFERENCECincinnati’s young defense has given up a lot of yards but made decisive fourth-quarter plays in three of their wins. Safety Clayton Fejedelem returned a fumble for a touchdown to beat Indianapolis, and the Bengals forced a fumble by Joe Flacco that set up their win over the Ravens. On Sunday, they had the two decisive touchdowns.“Look at the plays these guys made down the stretch today, and they’re rookies Womens Chris Hogan Jersey ,” coach Marvin Lewis said.MIXON’S MARKThe Bengals got a break with Mixon, who missed only two games after having a piece of torn cartilage removed from his right knee. With their other veteran running back — Giovani Bernard — sidelined with a knee injury, they leaned heavily on Mixon and he came through. Mixon ran 22 times for 93 yards and had three catches, including an 18-yard touchdown.LONG TIMEThe Bengals hadn’t been shut out in an opening half and rallied to win since 2004, when they trailed Miami 3-0 at halftime and pulled it out 16-13. It was only the fourth time in franchise history that they scored 24 points in the fourth quarter and won — they also did it in 1972, 1978 and 2004.RARE COMPANYGrant’s 70-yard punt return made him the first Dolphin to score on a reception, a kickoff return and a punt return in the same season. He had a 102-yard kickoff return against Tennessee in the season opener. Grant joins Dante Hall (2003) as the only NFL players with a 100-yard kickoff return, a 70-yard punt return and a 50-yard TD catch in the same season. The last NFL player with a touchdown of all three varieties was the Chiefs’ Tyreek Hill in 2016.DEPLETED DOLPHINS’ LINEMiami already was missing two starters on the offensive line when left tackle Laremy Tunsil got a concussion early in the fourth quarter. The Dolphins struggled to protect Tannehill the rest of the way, contributing to the Bengals’ surge.“Our left tackle wasn’t in,” coach Adam Gase said. “That kind of can do some damage. And when you get behind, it causes problems.”