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A20 SPORTS
Monday 14 January 2019
Michel scores 3 TDs, Patriots roll past Chargers 41-28

By KYLE HIGHTOWER the red zone, 5 of 6 on third
AP Sports Writer down and committing only
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) one penalty.
— Sony Michel ran for 129 New England didn't go
yards and had three touch- three-and-out for the first
downs and the New Eng- time until its fifth offensive
land Patriots beat the Los touch of the day when it
Angeles Chargers 41-28 in punted with 3:32 left in the
the divisional playoffs on second quarter.
Sunday to earn their eighth But Ryan Allen's 48-yard
straight trip to the AFC punt was fumbled by Des-
championship game. mond King , sending the
New England (12-5) will ball rolling toward the side-
play at Kansas City in next line. The referees ruled the
week's AFC title game. The ball went out of bounds be-
Patriots beat the Chiefs 43- fore New England's Albert
40 in Foxborough in Week McClellan appeared to
6. The Patriots finished 9-0 recover it. But the play was
at home this season. reversed after a challenge
It is the 13th conference by Bill Belichick.
championship game ap- The turnover proved costly,
pearance by the Patriots with the Patriots scoring just
during the Tom Brady-Bill New England Patriots running back Sony Michel heads for the goal line and his second touch- four plays later when Mi-
down during the first half of an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Los Angeles Char-
Belichick era. gers, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. chel crossed the goal line
"It's going to be a good Associated Press from 5 yards for his third
game," Brady said of the touchdown of the half.
rematch with the Chiefs. borough, including 0-3 in catches for 151 yards. team." New England established
"They're a good team. We the postseason. The Chargers added three Rivers seemed poised to the run early, creating big
played them earlier this Brady finished 34 of 44 for touchdowns in the second keep Los Angeles in the holes in a Chargers defense
year. I know everybody 343 yards and a touch- half , but it was much too game, connecting with that ended the regular sea-
thinks we suck and, you down. He improves to 8-0 late. Keenan Allen for a 43-yard son ranked ninth in the NFL,
know, we can't win any as a starter against Rivers, Los Angeles lost for just the score on Los Angeles' first allowing just 106 rushing
games, so we'll see. It'll be who drops to 1-8 against second time on the road offensive possession. It was yards per game.
fun." New England all-time. (8-2) and first time outside the longest touchdown of Michel carried 16 times for
The Chargers (13-5) haven't James White tied Darren Los Angeles this season. In Allen's career, including the 105 yards in the first half.
reached the AFC title Sproles' NFL postseason re- its past four trips to the play- postseason. He set the tone early, scor-
game since the 2007 sea- cord with 15 catches, total- offs, Los Angeles has lost in It turned out to be just a ing from 1 yard on the
son. ing 97 yards. the divisional round. blip. The Chargers punted opening possession of the
Quarterback Philip Rivers New England scored on its "We dug ourselves a hole the four other times they game. It capped a 14-
finished 25 of 51 for 331 first four possessions of the in the first half," Chargers had the ball in the first half. play, 83-yard drive in which
yards, three touchdowns game to build a 35-7 half- coach Anthony Lynn said. The Patriots were efficient he rushed five times for 15
and an interception. He is time lead. "One game doesn't define throughout the opening yards and had a 9-yard
0-5 in games played in Fox- Julian Edelman had nine where we are as a football 30 minutes, going 5 for 5 in reception.q

Former Dolphins guard Bob

Kuechenberg dies at age 71

Kuechenberg joined the the toughest as well," Shula "He was the kind of guy
Dolphins as a free agent said in a statement. "He you'd want in your fox-
in 1970, coach Don Shula's was one of the key per- hole," Langer said. "He
first season, and played for formers on our champion- played hard and was very
them until 1983. He started ship teams." intense about the game,
every game for the team Shula said Kuechenberg which was typical of our
that went 17-0 in 1972, and played with a broken arm team. He was my room-
started 16 games for the in the 1974 Super Bowl mate for 10 years, and we
team that repeated as and still dominated Hall talked football damn near
In this Dec. 16, 2007, file photo, players from the 1972 Miami Super Bowl champions in of Fame defensive tackle all the time."
Dolphins team, including guard Bob Kuechenberg (67) and 1973. Alan Page as Miami beat A native of Gary, Indiana,
defensive tackle Bob Heinz (72), walk off the stage following
a ceremony honoring the team at a football game against the Kuechenberg was a final- Minnesota 24-7. That game Kuechenberg played at
Baltimore Ravens at Dolphin Stadium in Miami. ist for the Pro Football Hall was 45 years ago Sunday. Notre Dame before be-
Associated Press of Fame and a member of Former teammate Jim ing drafted by the Phila-
the Dolphins' Honor Roll. Langer, a Hall of Fame delphia Eagles in 1969 but
MIAMI (AP) — Former Mi- team to achieve a perfect "I was sorry to learn of the center, said he stayed in never played for them.
ami Dolphins guard Bob season, died at age 71. passing of Bob Kuechen- touch with Kuechenberg, Kuechenberg's 196 games
Kuechenberg, a six-time His death Saturday was berg, who was not only spoke with him in the past with the Dolphins was a
Pro Bowl selection and confirmed by the Dolphins, one of the best players I week and was shocked to team record until Dan Ma-
member of the only NFL who had no further details. ever coached but one of learn of his death. rino broke it.q