Chiefs vs. Patriots: AFC championship game notes and quotes
Don BrennanMore from Don Brennan
Updated: January 17, 2019 8:05 AM EST
KANSAS CITY — Thankfully, the only head coach in NFL history who could wear a Super Bowl ring on each finger and the thumb of one hand is back to his Bill Belichick-ian ways with the media.
It's entertaining to watch him try to be as unentertaining as possible.
On Tuesday, the New England Patriots mastermind had just one short answer, and it was slightly humorous.
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick faces reporters. Steven Senne / AP
Asked if there was any way to coach against Tyreek Hill's speed, Belichick replied: "Like, can we make somebody that fast?"
On Wednesday, after he was through praising the Chiefs and speaking of the privilege it was to be in the AFC championship game with his opening remarks, Belichick fielded the first few queries with his trademark curtness — stoned-face, ventriloquist lips and all.
Asked how the weather, expected to be bitterly cold, impacted preparations for the game, Belichick replied:
"Yeah, we're going to get ready for the Chiefs. Whatever it is, it is."
Tyreek Hill #10 of the Kansas City Chiefs tries to avoid the diving tackle attempt of Al-Quadin Muhammad #97 of the Indianapolis Colts during the first quarter of the AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 12, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. David Eulitt / Getty Images
Do you mind playing in severe cold?
"Love to play in a championship game. Schedule it wherever you want. We'll be there."
Does it change the play-calling? Does it make it harder to throw?
"I don't know. It's Wednesday. We'll see what happens Sunday night. Right now, we're getting ready for the Chiefs."
Belichick was more wordy any time he was given an opportunity to compliment Kansas City, although a question about their success on fourth-down gambles both last week (3-of-4) and on the year (12-of-15) was longer than his answer.
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Ben Niemann (56) signals after a missed field-goal attempt by Indianapolis Colts place-kicker Adam Vinatieri (4) during the first half of an NFL divisional football playoff game in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019. Charlie Neibergall / AP
"They're pretty good on every down, in every situation," he said. "So first, second, third, fourth down, they're good at all of it. So we're going to have to be at our best in all situations."
The session was ended with a question on whether Belichick and Tom Brady could use their last visit to Arrowhead Stadium — a 41-14 loss back in 2014 — as added motivation.
"Yeah, I don't think that game has anything to do with this one," said Belichick. "We're going to get ready for Sunday."
Thanks for coming, coach. And thanks for being you.
NO SURPRISE HERE
Patrick Mahomes was too modest in receiving the MVP award from the Pro Football Writers of America on Wednesday. "It's awesome, it's a special honour," said the Chiefs' 23-year old quarterback. "I thank all of them for that. It's really a tribute to my teammates. I got put in a great situation where I have a lot of great teammates around me that make me look really good." Mahomes does a lot to make himself look really good also —like pretending he's not so good …
Mahomes is no different than any other quarterback that is athletic and can throw and run, says New England DL Deatrich Wise Jr. "As long as we disrupt him by keeping him in the pocket, and throwing the timing off, we'll be good," said the wise man …
Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs rolls out of the pocket against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of the AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 12, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. Peter Aiken / Getty Images
Oddsmakers currently list the Kansas City Chiefs as three-point favourites. Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman has expressed his thoughts about that on Twitter with the hashtag #Betagainstus, which goes against the "ignore the noise" stance the team has taken in general …
Said Chiefs head coach Andy Reid: "This is like their eighth (AFC championship game) in a row, so with all this disrespect, they're pretty dang good." …
Even better than that, according to Mahomes. "The Patriots are in the AFC championship game every single year of my entire life pretty much."
Research done by others, and posted on social media, includes this: In the NFL's 10 coldest games ever, no team has scored 30 points or more …
Also, in the four coldest games of his career, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has missed three kicks …
Interesting stuff that is more readily available: In the past five years, the home team has won the past 10 conference championship games …
And, with New England's 3-5 record on the road this season, all of the losses were against non-playoff teams.
WORDS OF THE DAY
Good news for Chiefs cornerback Kendall Fuller. "Think I get my screws out soon, so I'm looking forward to that," he said in the K.C. locker room Wednesday. Fuller had surgery to repair a fracture in his right wrist on Dec. 14. He played through the injury the night before and was back in the lineup Dec. 30. Do the screws bother him when he's playing? "Yeah, sometimes," said Fuller. "But eventually they'll go away." …
Patriots centre David Andrews will have the guns out, no matter how cold it is. "I've never worn sleeves a day in my life," he said, "so I'm just going to put on what I put on and go out there and play." …
Singing the anthem Sunday will be 13-time Grammy Award winner Melissa Etheridge, who is from Leavenworth, Kansas, which is about a 40 minute drive from Kansas City. This is exciting for a lot of people.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Elise Amendola / AP
ON THE OFFENCE
Brady was asked about why the Patriots have not been "going for it" on fourth down as much as they used to in earlier years. He spoke about decisions being dictated by different scenarios and situations, and sometimes the feeling that the offence is just going good and won't be stopped. "I'm sure there was a reason for all of those, why we would go for them and why we wouldn't," he said.
"How many times did we go for it this year?" He was told 14, and that seven were converted. "Fifty-percent, that's not very good," said Brady. And with the Chiefs having a high-powered offence that can strike quickly, would the Patriots gamble a little more often? "I think we'll try to do what's best, or what we think is best or gives us the best opportunity to win," said Brady.
"It's one game. If you don't win, that's it. That's what the playoffs are about. You're right, they've got a great offence. We're going to need to score a lot of points."
Forget about that note that says teams in the 10 coldest games ever have never put up more than 30, and go with the over on this one. Trends don't hold true forever.
dbrennan@postmedia.com
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