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Patriots vs. Chiefs: 4 final thoughts

By Connor Fulton

Dec 20, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches from the sideline as they take on the Tennessee Titans in the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches from the sideline as they take on the Tennessee Titans in the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jabaal Sheard Patriots
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Root for Jabaal Sheard, who is appearing in his first playoff game

At least Jackson has been the postseason at least once before, which not all players on the Patriots’ roster can say. Former Cleveland Browns defensive end Jabaal Sheard has been waiting for this day his entire life.

5 worries for Patriots fans about the Chiefs

Since being drafted by the Browns (Belichick wanted him badly in 2011, but Cleveland hopped on Sheard first), Sheard has completed four losing seasons. Much of the reason he signed with New England in free agency last spring was to finally get a taste of what it’s like to play in mid-January. Today’s the day.

With all the attention on Chandler Jones, today is a great opportunity for Sheard to remind the nation that the Patriots have other elite pass rushers. Nothing would complement an eight-sack season for Sheard quite like a multiple-sack performance in the Divisional Round.

Patriots vs. Chiefs: 6 Surprise hero candidates

And hey, maybe one of those sacks will be of the strip-sack variety; Sheard had four of those in the regular season.

Next: 1. Julian Edelman is pumped up… are you?

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