Previewing the AFC championship game

At left, in a Nov. 19, 2018, file photo, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws a pass against the Los Angeles Rams in Los Angeles on Nov. 18, 2018. At right, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady throws on Dec. 30, 2018. (AP Photo/File)

Looking to compare and contrast the teams in Sunday’s AFC championship game?

AFC Championship

WHERE: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.

KICKOFF: 6:40 p.m. Sunday

SPREAD: Chiefs by 3

ALL-TIME SERIES: Chiefs lead, 18-15-3

LAST MEETING: Oct. 14, 2018, won by Patriots, 43-40

PATRIOTS’ TOP PLAYERS: QB Tom Brady (34 of 44, 343 yards, 1 touchdown, 0 interceptions in last week’s divisional-round win over Chargers); RB James White (NFL-playoff record 15 catches for 97 yards last week); RB Sony Michel (24 rushes, 129 yards, 3 TDs last week); WR Julian Edelman (9 catches, 151 yards last week); TE Rob Gronkowski (47 catches, 682 yards, 3 TDs during regular season); DE Trey Flowers (57 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles); S Duron Harmon (37 tackles, team-high 4 interceptions).

CHIEFS’ TOP PLAYERS: QB Pat Mahomes (383 of 580, 5,097 yards, 50 touchdowns, 11 interceptions; 272 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs in regular season); TE Travis Kelce (103 catches, 1,336 yards, 10 TDs); WR/PR Tyreek Hill (87 catches, 1,479 yards, 12 TDs, 151 rushing yards, 1 touchdown); WR Sammy Watkins (40 catches, 519 yards, 3 TDs); RB Damien Williams (25 rushes, 129 yards); DT Chris Jones (40 tackles, 15.5 sacks, 19 tackles for a loss); LB Justin Houston (37 tackles, 9 sacks).

KEY STAT: 52 – number of regular-season sacks for the Chiefs, tied for first in the NFL.

OUTLOOK: The Chiefs ranked first in the league in points (35.3 per game) and yards (425.6 per game), but their defense ranked 31st among 32 teams in yards per game (405.5) and 24th in points allowed (26.3). And the Patriots can play a little bit of offense. This will likely be much like the regular-season game, where the team with the ball last wins; New England’s Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 28-yard field goal on the final play after Kansas City wiped out a 15-point halftime deficit. Kansas City, of course, is without RB Kareem Hunt, released by the Chiefs after a video surfaced showing him shoving and kicking a woman. But that doesn’t limit their offense. Mahomes makes things happen and has two of the NFL’s great playmakers in Kelce and Hill. The Patriots need to control at least one of those two. Don’t be surprised if rookie CB J.C. Jackson is somehow involved in coverage on either player. Offensively the Patriots need to control the line, as they did last week. Kansas City is a fierce pass-rushing team. If it gets to Brady early, the results could be decided quickly. Look for a lot of quick passes from Brady, and for the Patriots to try to get Michel into the game early, much as they did last week. Again, the Patriots need to play with the lead. They can’t let the Arrowhead Stadium crowd stay in the game.

OF NOTE: The Patriots won the only previous playoff game between the teams, 27-20 in the divisional round of the 2015 season. … The Patriots are playing in their NFL-record eighth consecutive conference championship game. Kansas City is appearing in its first conference final since the 1993 season, when it lost 30-13 to Buffalo. This is the first time Kansas City will host a championship game. … If the Patriots win, they will join Miami (three) and Buffalo (four) as the only teams in NFL history to appear in three consecutive Super Bowls.

Start at quarterback. Tom Brady vs. Patrick Mahomes.

The 41-year-old with 27 pages in the New England Patriots’ media guide against the 23-year-old with just two in the Kansas City Chiefs’ media guide.

The legend with 56 winning fourth-quarter drives against the legend-in-the-making with two.

The three-time NFL MVP against the MVP favorite this season.

Who do you got?

It’s hard to go against Brady, who will be playing in his 13th AFC title game when the Patriots and Chiefs meet at Arrowhead Stadium.

It’s hard to go against Mahomes, who this season became only the second player in NFL history to throw for 50 touchdowns and over 5,000 yards.

It’s a great debate. Mahomes became the youngest quarterback in NFL history to throw six touchdown passes in a game. His 50 touchdown passes are second only to Peyton Manning’s 55 in 2013 and tie him with vintage 2007 Brady.

But Mahomes has one career playoff start, Brady 38. Brady has more playoff wins (28) than Mahomes has career starts (18).

They have different styles.

Brady, the 199th pick of the 2000 NFL draft out of Michigan, is a quintessential pocket passer, effectively moving around to avoid the rush, but never a threat to break a run. He’s the master of picking teams apart in the middle of the field.

Mahomes, the 10th pick of the 2017 draft out of Texas Tech, roams in the backfield, sometimes throws sidearm, sometimes throws a no-look pass, sometimes takes off and runs. His 272 rushing yards were second on the team this season. He led the NFL with 52 passes of 25 yards or more.

They’re both coming off strong games. Mahomes was 27 of 41 for 278 yards in the Chiefs’ 31-13 win over Indianapolis last week. Brady was 34 of 44 for 343 yards and a touchdown in a 41-28 win over the Chargers.

One of them will leave the field Sunday and start planning for the Super Bowl. The other will just head off into the cold night.

Who do you got?

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