New England Patriots go into their first playoff game with so many injury problems. One of the best offensive players, TE-Rob Gronkowski has a knee and back injury. If he is able to play, can he play his best football? Besides him, Danny Amendola, Julian Edelman and Tom Brady have health problems. The Pats played at Foxboro against Kansas City Chiefs crushing the wildcard opponents from Houston, 30-0. Now they have great courage, despite Andy Reid’s team losing their last four games at Gillette Stadium.
The key duel of this game will be between Kansas City TE-Travis Kelce and Patriots FS-Devin McCourty. In games against Houston, Kelce has 128 receiving yards. This is only the second 100-yards receiving game from the Chiefs TE. McCourty is one of the best players at his position and he can spoil the passing game by interceptions.
The main question is how coach Bill Bilichek will fill the Gronkowski hole? Who will take his place? It can be RB James White, who caught 410 yards and have four TD’s. Maybe it’ll be Brandon LaFell, who caught 515 yards. But the best one who can play at the red zone is Gronk. I think that Bilichek will find a way to play without the lead TE. My pick for this game – Patriots win, but it will be a close game and my take is Kansas City (+3). And the line is 2.10 with William Hill.