The New England Patriots locked up their eighth consecutive AFC Championship game appearance yesterday with a win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Surprisingly, they're entering that game as underdogs. Tom Brady, however, always have a response for his critics in the face of adversity.

The Patriots defeated the Chargers yesterday 41-28 at Foxborough in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, booking their spot in the AFC Championship game next weekend against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Due to the high-flying nature of the Chiefs' offense, New England is entering the contest as the underdogs despite having one of the best quarterbacks of all-time in Brady.

Nevertheless, Brady still has an answer to all those that think they don't stand a chance against Kansas City next weekend in the AFC title game.

Brady said after the game to CBS Sports: “It’ll be a good game. They’re a good team, and we played them earlier this year.

"I know, you know, everyone thinks we suck, and you know, can’t win any games. We’ll see. It’ll be fun.”

Brady's theme of accepting the underdog theme was echoed throughout the locker room after the game.

Via ESPN, wide receiver Phillip Dorsett said: "Tom said it, so I can comment on it. Yeah, everybody does think we suck. Everybody thinks we don't have enough.

"But the only thing that matters is what we think in this room and we believe. When you have a whole group of guys that believes, it can be a special thing. So we have to keep playing, keep going hard."

Fellow receiver Julian Edelman added: "We're the underdog this week. I'm going to jump on that train and roll with it. That's my life."

According to ESPN's Football Power Index, at 15 percent, the Patriots have the lowest chance of winning the Super Bowl of the four remaining teams.

The way in which they performed against the Chargers though, you would think they would be considered the favourites to win the whole thing.

Brady completed 34 of his 44 passes for 343 yards and a touchdown, Sony Michel rushed for 129 yards and three touchdowns, and Rex Burkhead added a rushing score of his own.

Edelman hauled in nine receptions for 151 yards, James White caught 15 passes and Dorsett caught Brady’s lone touchdown pass.

New England will now travel to Kansas City for the AFC title game against the Chiefs. If history has taught us anything though, it's we should never count a Brady-lead Patriots out of contention in the playoffs.