Opinion: Doubt the Patriots at your own peril in the playoffs

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – All season long, we’ve looked for the signs. We’ve parsed words, trying to decipher body languages and off-kilter performances.

There are cracks in the foundation, we’ve said, referring to the New England Patriots. After nearly two decades of dominance, with young, flashy stars working their way into the spotlight and with Father Time undefeated, how could we not sense the end?

Bill Belichick’s group seldom has offseason drama. There are never hiccups throughout the season, and certainly not in the month of December. But this season has featured all of the above, and we’ve interpreted such as vulnerability. We’ve imagined scenarios where the dynasty at last meets its end.

And then Sunday happens. Hosting the Los Angeles Chargers in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, the Patriots roared out to a fast start and never looked back, posting an authoritative 41-28 victory.

With said victory, not only did they remind us of how silly we are to doubt them, but they also clinched their eighth consecutive AFC Championship Game appearance – extending their own record.

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