After the Patriots beat the Chiefs, Julian Edelman went straight to the X-ray room, leaving his status for the AFC Championship Game in question.
Soon after Julian Edelman played for the first time in seven games, he left to go straight to the X-ray room. While that doesn’t rule him out against the winner of Steelers-Broncos, it puts his status in question. The report came first from Patriots beat reporter Karen Guregian (h/t Ian Rapoport):
Not good. RT @kguregian: Not to spoil the party, but just saw Julian Edelman headed to the X-ray room
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 17, 2016
Despite not finding the end zone, Edelman didn’t miss a beat in his first game action in over two months. He led his team in targets (10) and total offensive yards (111). He also got the game-sealing first down (with help from Tamba Hali and Rob Gronkowski) to send the Patriots to their 10th AFC Championship Game in 15 years.
It goes without saying that not having Edelman makes a big difference in the Pats offense. The way they played against the Chiefs compared to the last two weeks of the regular season made that obvious. They still have great offensive depth without him – it always helps to have Rob Gronkowski and Danny Amendola – but Edelman is what makes them click.
He’s the final piece in the puzzle that makes opposing defenses helpless against the Patriots passing attack. Having to face a fearsome front seven such as Denver’s without Edelman could suddenly put New England’s trip to Super Bowl 50 in doubt.