Mike Masala previously served as the Managing Editor of USA TODAY's Dolphins Wire as well as a contributing writer at Patriots Wire. A lifelong New England resident, he is the self-proclaimed captain and lone member of the Laurence Maroney Fan Club. Follow on Twitter/X: @Mike_Masala

JuJu Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thornton were both with the Patriots in training camp. Now, they’re going to the Super Bowl.

Despite another gutsy effort from Josh Allen and his bunch, who took the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs down to the wire in the playoffs yet again, they were forced to watch in the closing seconds as Patrick Mahomes and the rest of their biggest rivals ran off the final seconds on a 32-29 victory in the AFC championship game Sunday night .