Happy Conference Championship Day, New England Patriots fans.

Remember when it used to be a big day for the region? You had one eye on the game and the other on making potential Super Bowl travel arrangements.

The Patriots were always playing on this Sunday, a remarkable streak of seven straight AFC title game appearances that ended two years ago. Now the Kansas City Chiefs are working on their own streak, today will be their fourth straight AFC Championship Game.

While watching the snow pile up, and before we did out, let’s examine why the Patriots aren’t there: Playmakers.

Last weekend, the Divisional Round, showed why New England is falling short. Sure, there are defensive issues to be fixed, they need speed, etc. Yes, speed. Speed equals playmakers.

In the AFC, the quarterbacks rule, two dynamic ones in Pat Mahomes and Joe Burrow. Mahomes, of course, has Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill. Burrow has Ja’Marr Chase. In San Francisco, Jimmy Garappolo has Deebo Samuel and George Kittle. And while Matthew Stafford is no prize, he can fire it downfield and he has Cooper Kupp.

The Patriots? Hunter Henry and Jakobi Meyers.

You see, playmakers is another word for game breakers. During the regular season, Chase had 81 catches for 1,455 yards and 13 TDs. Of course no need to get into what Kelce (1,125 yards, nine TDs)and Hill (1,239, nine TDs) can do.

In the NFC, Samuel 14 combined rushing/passing TD for nearly a combined 1,800 yards. Kupp, drafted four years ago but limited with injuries until this year, exploded for 145 catches for 1,947 yards and a whopping 16 TDs.

And we don’t even need to get into what Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs can do – and have done. Two weeks ago said it all.

The Patriots playmakers and game breakers have obviously left – Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman. We knew that would happen.

Mac Jones is a capable QB, more in the Jimmy G type, so he can do some things to get New England back here. But if these NFL playoffs have told you, he’ll need plenty of help. The game has changed, and the Patriots need firepower. And, given last year’s spending spree and the underperforming seasons of Nelson Agholor and Jonnu Smith, they’ll have to draft it. Good luck.

Meanwhile, let’s see who we will likely see on Super Bowl Sunday:

CHIEFS 37, BENGALS 30

Toughest call of the playoffs, simply because we love Joe Burrow, who is 6-0 in postseason play with Chase as his receiver – two NFL playoff games and four games at LSU. But how do you go against Mahomes&Co.at Arrowhead? They’re never out of it; the Titans had them up 24-0 two years ago and lost; and we all know about 13 Seconds. Who knows, there could be a book written about just that time. Of course, the one thing is the Bills likely thought Hill would be back to take the kickoff, which he wasn’t, but it was probably too late to change the strategy. But if that kick was returned for a TD, or close to field goal range, what would we be saying?

Last week’s game was tough to top, but give Burrow & Mahomes the chance to try to do it.

RAMS 24, NINERS 16

Great job by Kyle Shanahan to get SF this far. Jimmy G may not be a statistical champ but the numbers don’t lie; when he plays, he’s usually a winning quarterback.

But the Rams have so much firepower, especially since finally Odell Beckham, Jr. has found his home. Can the Super Bowl have a true home team for the second straight year? We think so.

Rams vs. Chiefs. Remember three years ago, when L.A.played a team called the Patriots, they played the Chiefs in a Monday Night showcase of offense.

Let’s do it again.

LAST WEEK: 3-1

PLAYOFFS: 7-3

REGULAR SEASON: 80-48

Tom King may be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow King on Twitter (@Telegraph_TomK).