The New England Patriots managed to secure a win over the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Conference Championship Game. It appears they have their pass-rush to thank for it, as Patrick Mahomes was under much more duress than Tom Brady.

There were a number of reasons that factored into New England's victory. According to Mike Renner of Pro Football Focus, they garnered much more pressure on the quarterback than Kansas City did:

Tom Brady being under pressure 15.2% of dropbacks & Patrick Mahomes on 50% Sunday is a great example of why secondary is more valuable than DLine imo

This is certainly an intriguing metric for a number of reasons. The Patriots dominated time of possession and were able to convert on a majority of third downs. They can thank the fact they were not only able to put pressure on Kansas City's quarterback, but protect their own as well.

It ultimately proved to be the difference. Brady completed 30-of-46 passes for 348 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. Although his numbers do not show, he was able to consistently put the Patriots in scoring position.

Meanwhile, Mahomes had to rely on much of what made him a heavy MVP candidate this season as he finished the game with 295 yards and three touchdowns. While he may have had the better stat line, Brady's efficiency allowed New England to keep him off the field for long periods of time.

It is safe to say that the Patriots will take a similar approach against another talented, young quarterback in Jared Goff. Like the Chiefs, the Los Angeles Rams boast one of the most high-powered offenses in the NFL. New England is hoping to follow the same recipe that helped them pull out a win over Kansas City.