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Tennessee Titans 14 New England Patriots 35: Tom Brady and James White keep Pats on course for Super Bowl return

Tom Brady and Co eased into the AFC Championship Game for the seventh year in a row

SUPER BOWL hero James White bagged a pair of touchdowns as New England eased past Tennessee on Saturday night.

The running back, who scored three touchdowns in the dramatic win over Atlanta in February, continued his post-season excellence in a dominant win at Gillette Stadium.

 Tom Brady and James White were both in fine post-season form again
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Tom Brady and James White were both in fine post-season form againCredit: EPA

Tom Brady threw three touchdowns as New England reached the AFC Championship Game for the seventh straight year and remained on course to return to the NFL's showpiece game.

The Patriots host the Pittsburgh Steelers or Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC title clash next Sunday with a place in Super Bowl 51 in Minneapolis up for grabs.


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New England's defence sacked Tennessee quarterback Marcus Mariota eight times - a post-season record.

Five-time champion Brady continued his stellar post-season career at Gillette Stadium with his 18th win in 21 home play-off contests.

It took a while for the 40-year-old and his offence to get going as they shook off rust and started slowly following the first-round bye.

 James White dives into the end zone for his first touchdown of the night
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James White dives into the end zone for his first touchdown of the nightCredit: AP:Associated Press
 James White battles his way into the end zone for the second time
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James White battles his way into the end zone for the second timeCredit: EPA

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Tennessee struck first when Mariota marshalled an 11-play, 95-yard drive and ended with a touchdown pass to Corey Davis.

The rookie wide receiver hauled in a one-handed catch from 15 yards in his first ever NFL touchdown.

It left Gillette Stadium stunned and had Tennessee dreaming of one of the biggest upsets in recent post-season memory.


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All it served to do, though, was wake the sleeping giant.

Tennessee prodded the bear that is New England's offence into action and a dominant second quarter pretty much ended the game.

 Chris Hogan throws the ball into the stands after scoring in the first half
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Chris Hogan throws the ball into the stands after scoring in the first halfCredit: EPA
 Tom Brady led the Patriots to the AFC Championship Game for the seventh year in a row
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Tom Brady led the Patriots to the AFC Championship Game for the seventh year in a rowCredit: USA TODAY Sports

New England touchdowns on three straight drives - two from running back White.

The first one was a five-yard shovel pass from Brady as he took off for the corner to end a 73-yard drive in under three minutes.

His second came after a 1:56 drive on a six-yard rush and New England were on top.

Brady hit wide receiver Chris Hogan on a four-yard touchdown reception later in the half after a 16-play, 91-yard drive that chewed over five minutes.

Tennessee needed a big game from running back Derrick Henry to keep Brady on the sidelines, but he had just 24 yards at half-time on 11 carries.

 Dion Lewis was at his elusive best for the Patriots on Saturday night
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Dion Lewis was at his elusive best for the Patriots on Saturday nightCredit: AP:Associated Press
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Brady had put up 206 yards and two touchdowns, while running backs White and Dion Lewis had 131 scrimmage yards.

New England had, in one dominant quarter, put up enough offence to win a lot of football games.

Third choice running back Brandon Bolden waltzed into the end zone completely untouched in the third quarter, and the final period began with Brady's 10th touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski in the post-season.

The only surprise was that the 40-year-old wasn't pulled and given the rest of the fourth quarter off and came back for another drive.

Davis caught his second touchdown pass for Tennessee in the dying minutes to give the scoreline a bit more credibility, but in truth this was a rout.

Brian Hoyer did come in to replace Brady, but he had just the simple task of kneeling three times and seeing out the remaining seconds.

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