Picture this. The Arrowhead Stadium is tense, nail-biting and scratching heads are the common reactions that are visible. These were exactly the scenes from the AFC Championship game on January 20, 2019. In a thrilling second half that saw constant momentum shifts, Rex Burkhead emerged as the hero for the Patriots. He bulldozed through for a 2-yard touchdown on New England’s first overtime possession, securing their victory over Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs.

This 37-31 win propelled the Patriots to their third consecutive Super Bowl appearance. While this game was one of the most memorable clashes in the NFL, considering stars like Brady, Mahomes, Gronkowski, and others took the field, its high-strung OT is still the talk of the town. Don’t second that? Well, Ernie Adams and Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman recalled this mega clash, even after six years. The latter revealed the game plan they used to stop the Chiefs’ thrilling season on a cold Sunday night.

Did ‘same play’ cost the Chiefs their Super Bowl entry in the 2018 season?

Patriots’ famous researcher and Bill Belichick’s trusted aide, who played football together in high school, Ernie Adams joined the show Games With Names. When asked by Julian Edelman about their game plan to defeat Patrick Mahomes and Co. in the 2018 AFC game, Adams took out his red notebook from that game.

Yes! A literal notebook from 6 years, that left everyone surprised in the podcast room! He said, “This is my Chiefs’ book from 2018…I’ve got every game they played…The Chiefs were big, they’re repeaters if they’ve done something in a critical situation in the middle of the season, you get in that same critical situation.”

He explained that he meticulously documented every play the Chiefs ran, noting patterns and tendencies. Not only that but he used these notes to predict what the Chiefs might do in critical moments. Adams also noted while revealing the Pats game plan, “I remember Bill [Belichick] always saying it’s going to be the same play, they might have a different guy, they may have a different formation or a different way of getting there but it’s going to be this guy here, this guy there and this guy there right and that’s typical (strategy) of most good teams.”

Well! That’s how a great team prepares for their battles and Adams & Belichick knew that. Consequently, this strategic approach helped the Patriots anticipate the Chiefs’ moves and ultimately secure their victory in 2018. Adams’ detailed preparation and understanding of the Chiefs’ habits were key factors in the Patriots’ success.

This legendary researcher, who was with the Pats for over 20 years, helped the team win six Super Bowls under his impressive research and Belichick’s extraordinary guidance. Well, now we can tell why the Pats had a dynasty once – because they had three major heroes in the team – writer Adams, director Belichick, and executor Tom Brady. Besides this revelation, Ernie Adams also talked about the recent similarities between then-Patriots and now-Chiefs!

The Chiefs are the current generation dynasty!

The Chiefs have been making waves in the NFL for some years now. With their two consecutive Super Bowl wins, the team is considered to be echoing the Patriots’ glory days. Just as Tom Brady and Bill Belichick built a powerhouse in New England, Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid are arguably rewriting the playbook in Kansas City.

On the same episode of the Games with Names podcast, former Patriots star Julian Edelman and ex-director Ernie Adams compared these two dynasties. And guess what? Adams felt that the Chiefs are on the same page as the Pats were in those illustrious nine years. He admitted that he sees the Chiefs on a path to greatness similar to the Patriots’ legendary run from 2003 to 2012.

Adam expressed that he is impressed by their resilience and ability to thrive over a long season. And about Reid, Adams praised his ability to focus and innovate, making the most of Mahomes’ talents. He said, “He’s [Reid] got a great system, he believes in it, obviously knows how to teach it. I mean, he’s been doing that.”

According to the analyst, Reid’s playbook is a blend of creativity and strategy that keeps opponents guessing, showing why the Chiefs are a strong and competitive team at present. Moreover, Adams talked about the Chiefs’ last six years, saying, “For the last 6 years, they’ve been like we were… go to the Championship Game every year, go to a bunch of Super Bowls… it’s a tremendous accomplishment.”

Edelman appeared in full consensus of this notion. He spotlighted how both teams mastered the art of reinvention. The Chiefs, like the Patriots before them, have adapted brilliantly to changes-whether managing the salary cap or shifting their playing style. According to him, this flexibility is crucial for maintaining success.

So, all in all, the Chiefs do not master the strategies, they are also up for flexible learning and innovation. Perhaps, this is why they have three Super Bowls (under Reid) in their bag and currently aiming for a three-peat.