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Hobbs happy to be on winning side

Now in his third season, this is Ellis Hobbs' first Super Bowl appearance. He was so emotional after the Pats' loss in Denver two years ago that he had to take time to compose himself before he went into the locker room; last year was more postseason sadness.

With the sting of last January's loss to the Colts still on their minds, Hobbs said tonight that the players stressed "not this year."

"Not this year. Especially for me, my college years weren’t the best. I’ve been a loser for a long time, on a lot of losing teams, man," he said, referring to his years at Iowa State. "With all the things that have gone on this season, on the field, off the field, whatever, this is the culmination of all of them. This feels great."

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 10:47 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Tedy & Troy

Perhaps one of the few bittersweet things about today's game was that Mr. Everything Troy Brown was among New England's inactives and thus wasn't in uniform to help his Patriots teammates get back to the Super Bowl.

But Brown was on the field, and he and Tedy Bruschi shared a moment together once the victory was secure. As the senior member of the New England roster, Brown had already been with the Pats for three years when Bruschi was drafted in 1996.

Later that year, New England advanced to Super Bowl XXXI, so next week's trip to Arizona will be the fifth time Brown and Bruschi have been at the Big Game together.

"We're the only ones left from '96 and we're going back again," Bruschi said. "To see Troy is special because he's been here since my first day. We have a special bond."

Brown, who was in the locker room after the game with his two sons, said of his being inactive that he understood that it comes down to numbers; after suffering a knee injury in last year's AFC title game, he fought his way back onto the field but has only been active for two games.

He has still enjoyed being with his teammates on the practice field and in meetings, and on the sidelines last night.

"It's been a lot of fun for me to be on the sidelines, exciting to be a part of it," Brown said. "I'm going to enjoy every moment."

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 10:34 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Giants upset Packers to reach Super Bowl

The New York Giants have defeated the Green Bay Packers, 23-20, on Lawrence Tynes' game-winning 47-yard field goal in overtime. The Giants will face the Patriots in two weeks -- for the second time in about a month -- to decide the championship of football.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 10:13 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Seau gets back to the Big One

Make no mistake: the New England Patriots want to win the Super Bowl because that's been their goal since the season began in July.

But winning it for Junior Seau is part of their motivation as well.

An 18-year veteran, traded to Miami by his hometown Chargers for just a fifth-round before the 2003 season, Seau has made just one prior Super Bowl appearance in his career. In 1994, San Diego got clobbered by San Francisco, 49-26.

In a career that's included over 1,800 tackles, 12 consecutive Pro Bowl appearances from 1991-2002, All-Pro honors and the league's Man of the Year Award in 1994, a championship ring is the only thing missing from Seau's unparalleled resume.

"I feel great for Junior," Tedy Bruschi said. "It’s been a long time since he’s been there and I know he wants to finish it more than anybody."

Seau was emotional after the game as he reflected on his circuitous route to another Super Bowl appearance.

"To talk about this history of myself and the San Diego Chargers, I am always a Charger. That's my home. I took the scenic route to get here," he said. "I took the scenic route."

"The excitement and energy he brings to this team...you have to be happy for guys like that, that play so hard and put everything into it throughout their career," Mike Vrabel said. "I'll be happy to go on a Super Bowl trip with him and hopefully win the game with him."

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 10:09 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Red Zone Stops

FOXBORO -- Three times, the San Diego Chargers moved the ball inside the Patriots' 10-yard line.
Three times, they settled for field goals, failing to score even one touchdown against a determined New England defense.
"It was crucial that we had those 'red zone' stops," said Tedy Bruschi, a 12-year veteran who'll be going to his fifth Super Bowl with the Patriots.
"I mean, when you hug your coach after you've won the AFC championship and the first thing he says was: 'Great job in the red area,' you know it was important
"It's something we've been emphasizing. We had our struggles early in the year, and then we make some progress, and then give ground a little bit, and then make more progress.
"It's great," Bruschi continued, "to see that, in the biggest game of the year, we come up and force them to kick field goals.''
Offense has been what has carried the Patriots throughout their undefeated season, as quarterback Tom Brady threw a league-record 50 touchdown passes -- 23 of them to Randy Moss, which also is an NFL record -- and the Pats set a record for points scored (589.)
But, with Brady throwing a season-high three interceptions yesterday, including one in the end zone, it was the New England defense that was the difference in the game.
"I think our defense always does what we need to do to win," Bruschi said. "Holding them to field goals today was what we needed to do to win."
"I think our defense always does what we need to do to win

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 10:05 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Asante Samuel intercepts fifth career playoff pass

By ROBERT LEE
Journal Sports Writer

FOXBORO -- San Diego coach Norv Turner said that New England "franchise" defensive back Asante Samuel's interception of a Philip Rivers pass intended for Chris Chambers in the second quarter was the difference in yesterday's 21-12 New England AFC Championship victory.

"[Rivers] tried to get the ball to Chris and Samuel made a great play," Turner said. "Chris had his hands on the ball, Samuel went up and got it and when you look back, that's probably the difference in the game. They end up getting a touchdown off a short field and that was a big part of it."

Samuel returned the pick 10 yards to the Chargers 24 yard line and Tom Brady threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jabar Gaffney two plays later to put the Pats ahead, 14-6. It was Samuel's fifth interception in the postseason of his career and his fifth interception in his last seven postseason games dating back to the 2005 season.

"I think it was one of the big plays of the game," Samuel said. "The offense was struggling a little bit so to get the ball for them to get it in foreign territory and to get the touchdown was good. It was a momentum-changer and we won.

"It was a team effort and we played good as a defense and we won. We're happy about it. One more game man. One more game."

Posted by Rob Lee  at 9:26 PM to Asante Samuel | Permalink | Comments 0

Pats excited to play in Super Bowl XLII

By ROBERT LEE
Journal Sports Writer

FOXBORO – The New England Patriots will be going for their fourth Super Bowl title since 2001 in Arizona at Super Bowl XLII on Feb. 3.

What does that mean to the Patriots?

“It’s exciting,” quarterback Tom Brady said. “You know, there’s been so much energy expended each week with the expectations and the pressure our coach puts on us. [I’m] glad we have the week off here, regroup a little bit and try to elevate our game for one last performance…Every time I’ve played in the Super Bowl, I’ve cherished that and it never gets old and standing up there and accepting the Lamar Hunt Trophy for the team for the fourth time is pretty outstanding.”

“I’m excited to be going,” said rookie cornerback Brandon Meriweather, who has never lost a meaningful game in the NFL (18-0). “You know, to get a chance to live out a dream. Everybody who plays football dreams of making it to the Super Bowl.”

This will be the Patriots sixth Super Bowl appearance in franchise history, joining three other teams (Dallas, Denver, and Pittsburgh) with at least six Super Bowl appearances. The Patriots six super Bowl appearances, tied with Denver and Pittsburgh, trail only Dallas’s eight berths for most all-time. The Patriots are 3-2 in their previous five Super Bowls.

The Patriots lost in the AFC Championship game last season to Indianapolis.

“All we kept stressing to one another is not this year,” Patriots defensive back Ellis Hobbs said. “Not this year. Especially for me, my college years weren’t the best. I’ve been a loser for a long time on a lot of losing teams. Just to be a part of this, and a significant part, and with all the things that have gone on this season, on the field, off the field, whatever. This is just a culmination of all of it and it just feels great.”

Posted by Rob Lee  at 9:21 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Turner on LT

One of the lingering questions from this game, especially from Chargers fans, will be the mysterious disappearance of All-Pro running back LaDainian Tomlinson.

Tomlinson hyper-extended his left knee early in San Diego's win over the Colts, and did not return to the game. But after the game, he declared that he'd be ready to go for the AFC title game in New England. The running back did not practice on Wednesday, but participated fully on Thursday and Friday, and when the Chargers released their injury report on Friday evening, Tomlinson was not listed. Not as doubtful, as quarterback Philip Rivers was, or questionable, or even probable.

He started the game and was given the ball on San Diego's first two snaps, gaining five yards. Tomlinson caught a one-yard pass on the Chargers' next possession and jawed a bit with Rodney Harrison after the ensuing play but wasn't seen on the field again.

Instead, he sat on the San Diego bench, his dark visor covering his eyes. It was announced in the press box that he could return to the game; on television, it was deemed a coach's decision.

"LT tried to go and he just couldn't go," San Diego coach Norv Turner said. "The pain in the knee, what he felt, he couldn't push off and he couldn't go."

Asked what was different that Tomlinson practiced but then couldn't play in the biggest game of his career, Turner said it was playing a live defense.

"He ran and cut and every day got better and felt he could go, but there's a lot of difference when you lower your shoulder and run into a 300 pound guy as compared to running and cutting and splitting against air," he said.

Turner got defensive when asked what other Chargers players might think about Tomlinson given that Rivers and tight end Antonio Gates, dealing with a dislocated big toe, played the game but he did not, calling it the "stupidest thing to ask."

When asked to confirm that Tomlinson was indeed not on the team's Friday report, Turned evaded the question.

"LT did not practice Wednesday. He had limited practice on Thursday [he was listed as full participation on the official report]. He practiced on Friday, OK? He wasn't able to go. He tried to go."

After the game, Tomlinson said he hopes to be fine with rest.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 8:21 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Moss held to one catch but still going to first Super Bowl

By ROBERT LEE
Journal Sports Writer

FOXBORO – Randy Moss had been in the NFL for 10 years and has been one of the best wide receivers in NFL history over that time.
He caught a record-setting 23 touchdowns during the regular season and had 98 catches for 1,493 yards but for the second straight postseason game, Moss only had one catch, this time for 18 yards.

His teammates said yesterday that Jacksonville and San Diego both limited Moss's production by double and triple teaming him and that his sub-par two catches for 32 yards this postseason has nothing to do with his off-the-field distraction – Ft. Lauderdale resident and longtime friend Rachelle Washington accusing him of battery and demanding from him a “six-figure” settlement.

San Diego’s overwhelming coverage on Moss forced Tom Brady to go elsewhere with the football for most of the game.

Teammate Rodney Harrison said that the Chargers needed to double and triple-team Moss because if they didn’t then Moss would have burned them.

“At any point in time Randy Moss can go down there and beat you,” Harrison said. “You have to put two guys on him. If you stick him with one guy, I don’t think there is a corner in the league [that can stop him one-on-one]. You’re proud of a guy like that because he’s 30-years-old and he works extremely hard.”

In addition to his catch, Moss had a 14 yard run on a reverse.

“Seeing him run that got everybody else motivated,” fellow receiver Jabar Gaffney said.

Moss has never been to a Super Bowl. His teammates couldn’t be happier to help him reach the Super Bowl this year.

“I’m real happy for him,” Gaffney said. “He got in this terrible situation and we all have his back. We know what kind of [person he is]. There are always two sides to the story so for him to shake that off and he came out here and got ‘W,’ it’s real good…He’s been focused. He’s been himself all week. He just shut that off.”

“When I walked into this locker room I looked at Randy and just told him how happy and how proud I was for him because he’s worked his butt off,” Harrison said. “He’s gone through a lot of criticism. He’s gone through a lot of scrutiny since he’s gotten here, in a lot of public opinion good, bad, and different, and for him to stand tall week after week to stay focused on what Bill [Belichick] has been preaching, it just shows his maturity as a person, as a player and I’m happy for him.”

“He’s a good person and he’s been a great football player for us,” Harrison added.

Posted by Rob Lee  at 8:18 PM to Randy Moss | Permalink | Comments 0

A Tough Rivers

San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers did not lead his team to a win Sunday in the AFC Championship.

But the often outspoken QB did win his teammates' respect for playing the entire game despite limping noticeably, reportedly from a strained medial collateral ligament and a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Rivers completed 19 of 37 passes for 211 yards. He threw two interceptions and was unable to get the Chargers into the end zone in three red-zone opportunities. Still, his efforts were appreciated.

"I can't say enough about Philip Rivers and what he did," said San Diego coach Norv Turner. "You know, you watch a guy -- and he's done this a couple of timesd this year -- but you watch a guy get in at 5:30 in the morning and start his treatment and rehab and he's in there at 6:30 at night.

"He did everything he could do to give himself a chance to play. You can't ask for more than he gave. I couldn't have gotten him off (the field) if I wanted to," said Turner.

Receiver Chris Chambers, who hauled in seven passes for 90 yards, was impressed with Rivers, who already had left knee problems before suffering injuries to his right knee during last week's playoff victory over the Colts.

"I didn't think he'd make the whole game," said Chambers. "He has shown tremendous toughness the whole year. Hats off to him. I can't wait to play a full season when he is healthy and see what he can really do."

"There are a lot of guys who have been playing nicked up all year," added wide receiver Vincent Jackson. "But everyone knows Philip's knees are in pretty bad shape. He gave a really gutsy performance. They just out-executed us today."

-- STEVEN KRASNER

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 8:17 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

No Surprises, Just Respect

The teams have a recent and spirited history with each other.

And New England has been able to get the better of San Diego Chargers, last year in the postseason and again early in the regular season this year. So the Patriots weren't surprised with the tough challenge posed by the Chargers in Sunday's AFC title game, won by New England, 21-12.

"We knew what they were going to do and they knew what we were going to do," said New England fullback Heath Evans. "It was just a tough game and we were able to make a few more plays than they did."

"We had a lot of respect for them before the game, and we have a lot of respect for them after the game," said Patriots defensive back Rodney Harrison, a former member of the Chargers. "They were probably the toughest team we played all year."

-- STEVEN KRASNER

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 8:09 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Better Ending

A year ago, the Patriots were overtaken in the AFC Championship Game by the Indianapolis Colts.

This year, though, New England was victorious in the AFC title game, earning a berth in the Super Bowl.

The postgame emotions were polar opposites, said veteran New England linebacker Tedy Bruschi.

(Special teams captain) Larry (Izzo) and I were talking about the feelings we had today and how different it was (than last year). We were on the field (at Gillette Sunday night), seeing all the (celebratory) confetti and the championship trophy," said Bruschi.

"Last year we were walking off the field (in Indianapolis) through the tunnel and people were screaming at us," he said. "It's a night and day feeling."
-- STEVEN KRASNER

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 8:02 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Second-half and postgame photos

Journal photo / Gretchen Ertl
Philip Rivers passes for San Diego.

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Laurence Maroney gets to the outside in the fourth quarter. Maroney's numbers -- 122 yards rushing and 1 touchdown -- were identical to those of last week against Jacksonville (although he had three more carries -- 25 -- than last week's 22.)

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Maroney picks up yardage; the would-be tackler is Clinton Hart.

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Shawne Merriman and Antonio Cromartie combine to tackle fullback Heath Evans.

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Wide receiver Wes Welker celebrates the fourth-quarter touchdown that gave New England some breathing room.

Journal photo / Gretchen Ertl
Tedy Bruschi is going to his fifth Super Bowl as a Patriot.

Journal photo / Gretchen Ertl
Tom Brady and Shawne Merriman after the game.

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Brady raises the Lamar Hunt Trophy.

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Tight end Benjamin Watson and fullback Heath Evans join the postgame celebration.

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Laurence Maroney and LaDainian Tomlinson.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 7:04 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

On to Arizona

The New England Patriots have just clinched their fourth AFC Championship since 2001 and the sixth in franchise history with a 21-12 win over the San Diego Chargers.

The story of the game was the play of the defense, which kept the Chargers out of the end zone on three red zone chances in the game. After a near-perfect game last week against Jacksonville, Tom Brady was uncharacteristically inefficient and was helped out by his receivers, namely Kevin Faulk who had two huge catches in the second half.

Laurence Maroney continued his recent impressive streak and posted another 122-yard game, as he did against the Jaguars.

New England is now 18-0 on the season and has won 11 straight postseason home games. They will face the winner of the NFC title game which kicks off shortly between the Giants and Packers in freezing-cold Green Bay.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 6:00 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Brady: 3 INTs

Antonio Cromartie's end zone interception of Tom Brady is the third pick Brady has thrown this game and the first time this season that Brady has been picked off three times in a game.

The last time? When New England played San Diego in the playoffs last January.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 5:19 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Halftime notes

These are courtesy of the Patriots' PR department:

COLDEST PATRIOTS GAME SINCE 2004 AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
The temperature at kickoff of today’s game was 23 degrees with a wind chill of nine degrees. It is the coldest kickoff temperature for a Patriots game since the 2004 AFC Championship Game against the Steelers in Pittsburgh, when the kickoff temperature was 11 degrees with a wind chill of minus-one degree (Jan. 23, 2005). Today’s kickoff temperature marks the coldest Patriots home game since the a 2003 divisional playoff game against Tennessee, when the temperature was four degrees with a wind chill of minus-10 (Jan. 10, 2004). Today’s kickoff temperature of 23 degrees ties a Dec. 27, 1992 game against Miami as the seventh-coldest home game in Patriots history

SAMUEL INTERCEPTION SETS UP TOUCHDOWN
Asante Samuel intercepted a Philip Rivers pass intended for Chris Chambers in the second quarter and returned the interception 10 yards to give the Patriots possession on the Chargers’ 24-yard line and set up Jabar Gaffney’s 12-yard touchdown reception to give the Patriots a 14-6 lead. The interception was the fifth of Samuel’s 13-game playoff career. His five playoff interceptions rank second in Patriots history, trailing only Rodney Harrison’s team-record seven playoff interceptions. Samuel has five interceptions in his last seven playoff games dating back to the 2005 season.

GAFFNEY SCORES THIRD PLAYOFF TOUCHDOWN IN FIVE CAREER PLAYOFF GAMES
Jabar Gaffney gave the Patriots a 14-6 lead on a 12-yard touchdown reception from Tom Brady in the second quarter. The touchdown reception was the third of Gaffney’s playoff career and his first of the 2007 playoffs. Last season, Gaffney caught one touchdown pass in each of the Patriots’ final two playoff games, including a six-yard scoring grab in last season’s divisional playoff victory over San Diego. In the 2007 regular season, Gaffney totaled a career-high five touchdown receptions.

MARONEY SCORES TOUCHDOWN FOR FIFTH STRAIGHT GAME
Laurence Maroney scored on a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to give the Patriots a 7-3 lead. The touchdown was Maroney’s second in as many playoff games this season and marked his fifth consecutive game with a touchdown, including the final three regular-season games of the 2007 season and both of this season’s playoff games. Maroney’s five straight games with a rushing touchdown tie the third longest such streak in team history. Only Curtis Martin (seven straight games in 1996) and Robert Edwards (six straight games in 1998) have scored rushing touchdowns in more consecutive games for the Patriots.

SEAU RECORDS SECOND CAREER PLAYOFF SACK, FIRST SINCE SUPER BOWL XXIX
Junior Seau sacked Philip Rivers for a four-yard sack on third down in the first quarter, forcing a San Diego punt on the next play. The sack was the second of Seau’s eight-game playoff career can was his first playoff sack since Jan. 29, 1995, when he sacked San Francisco’s Steve Young in Super Bowl XXIX while playing for the San Diego Chargers.

HOBBS RECORDS FIRST CAREER PLAYOFF INTERCEPTION
Ellis Hobbs intercepted a Philip Rivers pass in the second quarter, recording his first career playoff interception. Hobbs’s first playoff interception came in his seventh career playoff game. His only interception of the 2007 regular season came in the finale against the New York Giants, and Hobbs now has two interceptions in his last three regular-season and playoff contests.

QUICK HITS
· Tom Brady is starting his 16th career playoff game today. He entered today’s game with 99 career victories as a starting quarterback, including 86 regular-season victories and 13 playoff wins.

· Tedy Bruschi is playing in his 21st career playoff game today. He has passed Troy Brown (20 playoff games) for the most playoff games played in Patriots history. Jerry Rice holds the NFL record with 29 career playoff games played.

· Randy Moss recorded a 14-yard rush in the first quarter. It was Moss’s first rushing attempt since 2003 and was the first rushing attempt of his 10-game playoff career.

· Tedy Bruschi broke up a pass intended for Antonio Gates at the goal line with San Diego facing a second-and-goal in the second quarter, helping to force a field goal two plays later.

· Kelley Washington leapt into the air and saved a Chris Hanson punt from going into the end zone for a touchback in the second quarter, allowing Kyle Eckel to down the ball at the Chargers’ 4-yard line.

· The Patriots entered today’s game with an all-time record of 15-1 when leading at halftime in the playoffs.
· Kevin Faulk had five receptions for 50 yards in the first half. His 50 receiving yards (as of halftime) mark the highest total of his 16-game playoff career. His previous playoff career high was 45 receiving yards, achieved on Jan. 7, 2006 in a wild card round victory over Jacksonville.

BRADY RANKS SECOND ALL-TIME IN LOWEST PLAYOFF INTERCEPTION PERCENTAGE
Quentin Jammer intercepted a Tom Brady pass in the first quarter, marking the 10th interception of Brady’s playoff career. Brady, playing in his 16th career playoff game had thrown 10 interceptions in 520 playoff pass attempts following the interception, for a career playoff interception percentage of 1.92 percent. That mark still ranks second all-time, trailing only Bart Starr’s mark of 1.41 percent (three interceptions in 213 career attempts).

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 5:11 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Second-quarter photos

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Linebacker Adalius Thomas catches his breath during a timeout.

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Chargers running back Darren Sproles gets around Randall Gay.

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Tom Brady lets go of a pass.

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Fans display their hopes for an 18th win.

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Asante Samuel takes off after intercepting a Philip Rivers pass.

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Laurence Maroney gets the Patriots on the scoreboard with a touchdown run.

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Maroney celebrates with his teammates.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 4:35 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

First-quarter photos

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Michael Turner runs around Rodney Harrison.

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Junior Seau sacks Philip Rivers.

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Seau celebrates the sack.

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Quentin Jammer intercepts Tom Brady's pass intended for Donte' Stallworth.

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Marlon McCree forces Kevin Faulk out of bounds.

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Defensive coordinator Dean Pees and head coach Bill Belichick on the Patriots sidelines during a San Diego drive.

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Richard Seymour runs into Chargers punter Mike Scifres, picking up a five-yard penalty -- not enough for a first down, but a play that cost New England field position.

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Philip Rivers hands off to LaDainian Tomlinson.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:47 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Where's LT?

It's quite interesting that LaDainian Tomlinson declared throughout the week that he'd be ready to play this week against the Patriots, and according to the Chargers' participation reports, participated fully in practice on both Thursday and Friday and was not listed on the final report at all.

But here it is the end of San Diego's fourth possession and Tomlinson has just two carries, on the opening two snaps of the game for the Chargers. Michael Turner has six carries.

Tomlinson apparently suffered a bruised knee against the Colts, while Philip Rivers reportedly suffered a partial ACL tear and missed two days of practice, yet he is still on the field.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 3:34 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Coldest AFC championship game ever at Foxboro

FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) - The Patriots and Chargers began their game Sunday in windy conditions with a temperature of 23 degrees, the lowest of the three AFC championship games played in Foxboro.

The previous low there for a title game was 27 degrees on Jan. 12, 1997 when New England beat Jacksonville 20-6 to advance to the Super Bowl where it lost to Green Bay 35-21 in New Orleans.

The lowest temperature for any Patriots game at Foxboro was 4 degrees in a 17-14 win over Tennessee on Jan. 10, 2004 in the first round of the playoffs.

The wind at game time Sunday was blowing at 17 mph from the northwest. The wind chill was 9. San Diego won the opening coin toss and had the wind at its back in the first quarter.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:34 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Unbeaten Patriots

FOXBORO -- Pats fans perhaps mildly concerned at their high-scoring team's slow start offensively can take consolation from the fact that New England never has lost a playoff game at Gillette Stadium.
The Patriots beat Tennesee and Indianapolis (in the AFC championship game) in Foxboro in 2003, the Colts again in '04, Jacksonville in '05, the Jets last season, and, last weekend, the Jaguars.
That's a 6-0 postseason mark since moving into Gillette Stadium in 2002.
In franchise history, the Patriots have lost only one NFL playoff game in Foxboro -- the first one, in 1978, to the Houston Oilers, after coach Chuck Fairbanks had announced he was leaving to go to the University of Colorado.
New England didn't host another playoff game until 1996, when they beat the Steelers in the conference semifinals and then the Jaguars in the AFC championship game, 20-6.
The Patriots won a playoff game in the old Foxboro Stadium in '97 over Miami and then beat the Raiders in the snow in 2001, 16-13, in overtime, in the last game played in the old stadium.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 3:26 PM | Permalink | Comments 1

Championship game dominance

FOXBORO -- While it certainly is impressive that the Patriots are appearing in the conference championship game for the fifth time in seven years, other teams have had even more dominant stretches.
Buffalo played for the AFC title five times in six years from 1988 through '93, losing to the Bengals in '88 before winning four in a row from '90 to '93. Unfortunately for the Bills, they lost all four of those Super Bowl appearances.
Pittsburgh also played in five of six AFC championship games, and six of eight, from 1972 through '79.
In the NFC, Philadelphia and Dallas each played in four straight conference title games, although with significantly different results. While the Cowboys won in '92 and '93, lost in '94, and then won again in '95, the Eagles lost three straight, from 2001 through 2003 before finally winning in '04, over the Falcons. Philadelphia lost in the Super Bowl that season to New England.
The most dazzling recent run, however, was that of the San Francisco 49ers, who played in the NFC championship game in six of seven years from 1988 through 1994, going 3-3. They beat the Bears, 28-3, in the '88 season, followed that with a 30-3 rout of the Rams, then lost to the Giants in 1990, 15-13. After a year's absence, the Niners returned to the NFC title game in the 1992 season, when they lost to Dallas. It was the first of three straight meetings with the Cowboys for the right to go the Super Bowl, with Dallas also winning in '93 (38-21), but the 49ers finally knocking them off in '94, 38-28.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 3:09 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Pre-game pomp

There was a moment of silence here for Georgia Frontiere, the St. Louis Rams owner who passed away on Friday. Frontiere, 80, had battled breast cancer for several years.

Also, R&B star Ne-Yo sang the National Anthem (if you have no idea, ask your kids/nieces/nephews/grandkids), and four planes from the Green Mountain Boys of Vermont did a flyover, which got a huge ovation.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 2:57 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

What you're thinking

We asked readers on Thursday afternoon to begin voting on the outcome of today's game. Not surprisingly, we found Patriots fans to be supremely confident. Only 10 out of 218 people who voted thought the Chargers would prevail. Nearly 58 percent of you thought the Patriots would win and cover the two-touchdown point spread.

We also asked if you were concerned about Randy Moss' off-field issues becoming a distraction for the team. Out of 228 votes, close to 86 percent said no, the Patriots would not be distracted.

Finally, we asked you to name the Chargers player that scares you the most coming into the game, and we gave you a list of seven San Diego stars. There were 102 votes, with LaDainian Tomlinson leading the way (32 votes), followed by Shawne Merriman (22). The least scary of the seven? Banged-up quarterback Philip Rivers, who got just three votes.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 2:55 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Pregame photos

Journal photo / Glenn Osmundson
Chargers head coach Norv Turner watches his players warm up.

Journal photo / Glenn Osmundson
Patriots wide receiver Donte' Stallworth.

Journal photo / Glenn Osmundson
Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers.

Journal photo / Glenn Osmundson
Patriots tackle Matt Light.

Journal photo / Glenn Osmundson
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
San Diego head coach Norv Turner walks the field about two hours before gametime.

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Chargers linebacker Stephen Cooper

Journal photo / Glenn Osmundson
Don Byrnes, center, of Sudbury Mass., and Dave Juneau, right, of Centerville, Mass., raise a Patriots flag underneath an American flag in the parking lot at Gillette Stadium before the game.

Journal photo / Glenn Osmundson
Pats fan Anne Beauvais, of Leominster, Mass., is ready for the cold.

Journal photo / Glenn Osmundson
Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, left, and Billy Volek.

Journal photo / Gretchen Ertl
Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker.

Journal photo / Gretchen Ertl
Chargers cornerback Paul Oliver.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 2:45 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Chargers inactives

QB Charlie Whitehurst - 3QB
K Dave Rayner
CB Cletis Gordon
CB Paul Oliver
LB Anthony Waters
WR Malcolm Floyd
TE Scott Chandler
DT Brandon McKinney

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 2:23 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Patriots inactives

QB Matt Gutierrez - 3QB
WR Chad Jackson
S Mel Mitchell
CB Antwain Spann
T Wesley Britt
G Billy Yates
WR Troy Brown
DL LeKevin Smith

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 1:52 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Welcome to Gillette

Hey all --

The sun is shining but it is bitter cold and windy here at Gillette. Given the magnitude of this game, everything has been ramped up: there's a greater police presence, bomb-sniffing dogs checking everyone's bags, and hundreds of media on hand.

In a bit of comical irony, a looping video of a raging fireplace is being shown on the big screens here.

Last week for Jacksonville, the Patriots distributed over 700 passes (including day-of-game operations employees), and we're guessing today's total exceeds that. Because of the crush, the team installed two additional T-1 lines for internet access because the one they had previous couldn't handle all of the traffic last week.

T-1 lines are fiber-optic lines that can typically handle a few hundred users, as long as they're not downloading/uploading video and MP3 files, which of course radio folks must do.

We'll have more as the game draws closer.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments 0