Patriots Punch Ticket To Super Bowl XLII

The Result

The New England Patriots overcame three Tom Brady interceptions to defeat the San Diego Chargers 21-12 in the AFC Championship game at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro on Sunday afternoon. The win puts the Patriots in the Super Bowl for the 6^th time in franchise history and for the 4^th time in the last 7 seasons.

“Don’t act like you’re not impressed.”

This AFC championship was earned today. The team wasn’t flawless but overcame their errors and held strong on both sides of the ball with some clutch plays when they needed them. Laurence Maroney ran for 122 yards getting several key runs in the second half and Kevin Faulk proved once again to be most complete player on the roster with several highlight reel receptions on 3^rd down conversions late in the game as he had 82 yards receiving.

The defense was good and at times, especially in the red zone, they were very good as they held the Chargers to four field goals and no touchdowns in the biggest game of the season to date. When San Diego was trying to get into the end zone, Philip Rivers found someone in his face hurrying him and forcing him to throw incomplete twice, forcing a pair of Nate Kaeding field goals. They also had a big pass knock down by Ellis Hobbs at the goal line forcing a third field goal and Junior Seau dropped Michael Turner for a loss forcing a 4^th San Diego field goal.

There were several other fine plays forcing turnovers or the Chargers into a punting situation. It was probably the best defensive effort of the second half of the season.

The Chargers gave it all they had, especially Rivers, but they just could not overcome the early loss of LaDainian Tomlinson who was unable to play after just three touches in the first quarter. They were also limited by the toe injury to Antonio Gates, who is Rivers key passing target.

But the story is the play of New England defense, the running of Maroney and pass catching of Faulk. Because when you limit Randy Moss and you get three turnovers by Brady you think you’re going to win the game. You should win the game but once again other players were there to step up and take over and because of that the Patriots are going to Glendale Arizona for Super Bowl XLII on February 3^rd.

Scoring Plays

San Diego	3	6	3	0	12
New England	0	14	0	7	21

1^st Quarter

• SD Kaeding 26 yard FG – Chargers 3-0

2^nd Quarter

• NE Maroney 1 yard run – kick good – Patriots 7-3
• SD Kaeding 23 yard field goal – Patriots 7-6
• NE Brady 13 yard pass to Gaffney – kick good – Patriots 14-6
• SD Kaeding 40 yard field goal – Patriots 14-9

3^rd Quarter

• SD Kaeding 24 yard field goal – Patriots 14-12

4^th Quarter

• NE Brady 6 yard pass to Welker – kick good – Patriots 21-12

Offensive Players of the Game

Laurence Maroney had 112 yards rushing on 25 carries and scored a touchdown and Kevin Faulk had 8 catches for 82 yards.

Defensive Player of the Game

Ellis Hobbs had 7 tackles and 1 assist, 1 pass defensed and 1 interception that he fumbled but the Patriots recovered.

Turning Point(s) of the Game

• The New England defense holds San Diego to 4 field goals and no touchdowns.
• Faulk’s diving catch for a 1^st down on 11^th Patriots drive on a 3^rd and 11 play and his finger tip catch on 3^rd and 3 on same drive for 1^st down.
• Maroney’s 6 yard run on 3^rd and 3 and his 5 yard run on 3^rd and 4 to keep the chains and clock moving in final 3 minutes.

Offensive Leaders/Notes

In addition to Maroney and Faulk, Tom Brady was 22 of 33 for 209 with 2 TD’s and 3 INT’s and Wes Welker had 7 catches for 56 yards and a TD.

• 1^st drive 3^rd and 8 Tom Brady throws incomplete and Patriots go 3 and out.
• 2^nd drive 1^st down at NE 10 Laurence Maroney dropped for 1 yard loss.
• 2^nd and 11 Brady throws 12 yards to Wes Welker for a 1^st down at NE 21
• Illegal contact penalty on SD Quentin Jammer gives NE 1^st down at NE 26
• Brady completes to Ben Watson for 8 yards on 2^nd and 10.
• On 3^rd and 2 Brady throws incomplete as he was blitzed Patriots forced to punt
• 3^rd drive Brady intercepted by Jammer on 1^st play at NE 40
• 4^th drive 1^st down at NE 35 Brady throws 9 yards to Welker
• 3^rd and 1 at NE 44 Heath Evans gets a first down at NE 47
• On 1^st down Patriots run a reverse to Randy Moss and SD sniffed it out but fail to contain him and he runs for 14 yards to SD 39
• On 1^st down Brady throws 14 yards to Kevin Faulk to SD 25
• 3^rd and 2 from SD 17 Maroney runs for 8 yards to SD 9
• 1^st and goal Brady throws 8 yards to Faulk to SD 1
• 2^nd and goal Maroney scores from 1 yard out
• 5^th drive 1^st down from NE 40 Brady throws 13 yards to Faulk to SD 47
• on 3^rd and 3 from SD 40 pass for Moss knocked down by Jammer forcing a punt
• 6^th drive 1^st down at SD 24 Brady throws to Faulk for 11 yards
• Brady throws 13 yards to Jabar Gaffney for TD
• 7^th drive on 2^nd and 10 at NE 23 Faulk runs for 8 yards
• 3^rd and 2 at NE 31 Brady throws incomplete to Welker forcing a punt

–Half Time –

• 8^th drive on 2^nd and 10 at NE 39 Welker has 8 yard catch to NE 48
• 3^rd and 1 Evans runs for 3 yards to SD 49
• 2^nd and 9 Brady sacked at midfield for 3^rd and 12
• Drayton Florence intercepts a tipped ball at the SD 43 and returns to NE 49
• 9^th drive Maroney on 1^st down at NE 33 runs for 18 yards to SD 49
• on 2^nd and 10 Brady throws 18 yards to Moss to SD 31
• Maroney runs 11 yards for 1^st down to SD 20
• Maroney runs for 6 yards to SD 14
• Maroney runs for 4 yards to SD 10 for 1^st and goal
• 1^st and goal at SD 10 Maroney stopped for no gain
• 2^nd and goal Brady throws 8 yards to Welker to SD 2
• 3^rd and goal Antonio Cromartie intercepts Brady in end zone returns to SD 4
• 10^th drive 1^st down at NE 33 Brady throws 13 yards to Evans to NE 46
• on 2^nd and 7 Brady throws 11 yards to Welker to SD 40
• Maroney runs for 20 yards to SD 20
• Brady throws screen to Maroney for 9 yards to SD 11
• On 2^nd and 1 Maroney runs for 4 yards to SD 7 for 1^st and goal
• 1^st and goal Maroney runs for 1 yard to SD 6
• 2^nd and goal Brady throws 6 yards to Welker for TD
• 11^th drive from NE 13 Maroney runs for 12 yards to NE 25
• Brady gets sacked at NE 17 for 8 yard loss
• On 2^nd and 18 Faulk gets screen for 7 yards to NE 23
• 3^rd and 11 Brady throws 12 yards to Faulk who dives to catch the ball at the NE 35
• on 2^nd and 9 Brady throws 6 yards to Stallworth to NE 42
• On 3^rd and 3 Brady throws to Faulk for 1^st down at SD 44
• On 3^rd and 3 at SD 37 Maroney runs for 6 yards to SD 31
• On 3^rd and 4 at SD 25 Maroney runs for 5 yards to SD 20
• The Patriots take knees to run out the clock

Defensive Leaders/Notes

In addition to Hobbs, Tedy Bruschi had 6 tackles and 2 assists and 1 pass knocked down and Junior Seau had 3 tackles and 3 assists and a sack.

• 1^st drive 3^rd and 5 Philip Rivers throws incomplete Chargers go 3 and out.
• 2^nd drive 1^st and 10 at SD 24 Rivers throws 20 yards to Chris Chambers
• 2^nd and 5 Chambers gets 6 yards for 1^st down at NE 43
• Patriots CB Asante Samuel knocks down a pass intended for Vincent Jackson on 1^st down.
• On 3^rd and 9 from NE 42 Rodney Harrison rushes Rivers forcing an incomplete pass and forces SD to punt
• 3^rd drive Michael Turner was stopped at the line but broke two tackles for 1^st down at NE 48
• 3^rd and 7 at NE 45 Rivers gets sacked by Junior Seau at NE 49 forcing SD to punt
• 4^th drive Vince Wilfork gets a 15 yard facemask penalty on 1^st play to give SD 1^st down at NE 20
• On 2^nd and 9 Rivers throws 10 yards to Chambers for 1^st and goal at NE 9
• On 3^rd and goal at NE 8 Rivers throws incomplete to Chambers on end line forcing a FGA
• 5^th drive 1^st down at SD 30 Rivers throws 15 yards to Chambers to SD 45
• 1^st down Rivers throws 16 yards to Vincent Jackson to NE 39
• on 3^rd and 1 at NE 30 Rivers throws 21 yards to Jackson to NE 9
• 1^st and goal Turner runs for 1 yard to NE 8
• 2^nd and goal Tedy Bruschi knocks down a pass at goal line for Antonio Gates
• 3^rd and goal Rivers throws 2 yards to Chambers nice clean out by Ellis Hobbs to hold SD to FGA
• 6^th drive 3^rd and 3 from NE 11 Rivers throws 4 yards to Sproles to NE 15
• on 2^nd and 8 at NE 17 Rivers got hammered by Mike Vrabel and then picked off Samuel at SD 34 and returned it 10 yards to SD 24
• 7^th drive 1^st and 10 at SD 27 Bruschi drops Sproles for no gain
• Rivers throws 15 yards to Chambers to SD 42
• Hobbs intercepts Rivers at NE 26 and fumbles but James Sanders recovers at NE 23
• 8^th drive on 2^nd and 4 from SD 41 Sproles runs for 26 yards to NE 32 and fumbles refs rule he was down.
• On 1^st down at NE 32 Rivers throws 8 yard to Gates
• Rivers throws 1 yard to Sproles who is stopped short of 1^st down
• 3^rd and 1 at NE 23 Rivers is pressured and throws it away forcing a FGA

–Half Time –

• 9^th drive on 2^nd and 6 at NE 45 Rivers throws to Jackson for 17 yards to NE 28
• On 2^nd down Chambers makes catch at NE 13 for 1^st down
• Jackson gets 6 yard catch to NE 7
• Turner stopped short of 1^st down and its 3^rd and 1 at NE 4
• Seau drops Turner for a loss at NE 5 forcing a FGA
• 10^th drive on 1^st down at SD 4 Turner runs for 12 yards to SD 16
• 3^rd and 7 at SD 19 Rivers throws incomplete forcing a punt
• 11^th drive Rivers throws 18 yards to chambers for 1^st down at SD 33
• Nice pressure up the middle forces an incomplete pass
• 3^rd and 10 at SD 33 Rivers throws for 18 yards to Jackson to NE 48
• 1^st and 10 at Rivers throws 9 yards to Gates to NE 39
• Turner runs for 3 yards to NE 36
• 3^rd and 10 at NE 36 Rivers gets blasted by Harrison as he throws incomplete forcing a punt

Special Teams Notes

• Opening KO by Patriots hold Sproles inside the SD 25
• Patriots run into SD punter after first drive for 5-yard penalty SD re-kicked.
• Wes Welker makes a nice block on the third punt allowing the ball to bounce into the end zone for a touchback instead of getting downed inside the NE 5.
• NE Willie Andrews and Laurence Maroney run into each other trying to catch the ball on KOR after the 1^st SD FG
• Nice KO by Stephen Gostkowski into the wind after the Maroney TD
• Ellis Hobbs gets 24 yard run back on a short KO to NE 40
• Kelly Washington makes a great play on a punt at the goal line and Patriots down the ball at SD 4

–Half Time –

• Maroney returns opening 2^nd half KO to NE 39
• Gostkowski kicks ball 5 yards into end zone, Sproles stopped at SD 15 by Eric Alexander after Welker TD

Coaching Decisions

• NE – Bill Belichick decides to ice Kaeding on a the 40 yard FGA with 12 seconds in first half

Injuries

• SD – TE/WR Legedu Naane ankle injury, unknown return -1^st qtr
• SD – RB LaDainian Tomlinson knee injury, did not return -1^st qtr
• SD – S Clinton Hart unknown injury, returned – 4^th qtr

The Officials

Jeff Triplett was the referee for tonight’s game, he had a crew of officials who were rated in the Top 3 in their positions. Triplett called one Chargers game this season (Week 3 at Green Bay) and one Patriots game (Week 1 at New York Jets) this season.

• Tony Corrente was the alternate referee for today’s game.
• Sproles down by contact was booth reviewed play upheld

Game Notes

• The Patriots have named Hall of Fame lineman John Hannah and Hall of Fame finalist, linebacker Andre Tippett as honorary captains for the game. Hannah and Tippett were teammates on the first Patriots AFC Championship team in 1985. Former Chargers quarterback Stan Humphries, who led San Diego to an AFC title in 1994, was the teams’ honorary captain.
• Pepsi Punt, Pass and Kick winner Anna Grant, 14, of Stratham NH partook in the coin flip with the honorary captains from both teams.The Patriots played with out safety/special teamer Mel Mitchell (biceps). Other inactives were: WR Chad Jackson, WR Troy Brown, CB Antwain Spann, OL Wesley Britt, OL Billy Yates, DL LeKevin Smith and QB Matt Gutierrez (3^rd QB).
• The Chargers listed the following players as inactive for today’s game: CB Cletis Gordon, CB Paul Oliver, LB Anthony Waters, WR Malcom Floyd, TE Scott Chandler, DT Brandon McKinney, K Dave Rayner and QB Charlie Whitehurst (3^rd QB).
• If the third quarterback plays in the first, second or third quarters, the first two quarterbacks can not return. If the third quarterback plays in the fourth quarter, all quarterbacks are still eligible to play.
• Bloomfield CT’s Andrew Pinnock started in the San Diego backfield next to LaDainian Tomlinson.
• An hour before game time Chargers head coach Norv Turner said he still expected DL Jamal Williams, QB Philip Rivers and TE Antonio Gates to play with their injuries.
• This was Tom Brady’s 126th consecutive start including the playoffs. It is the third longest streak among NFL quarterbacks behind only Peyton Manning and Brett Favre. He is 86-24 in his career during the regular season and 14-2 in the playoffs. He is 100-26 overall.
• Since 1993, the Patriots are 16-1 when the temperature at kickoff is 30 degrees or less. Warm weather and dome teams are 1-8 in those games, with Miami being the only warm weather team to have won.
• Including playoff games, since December 17, 2006 the Patriots are 23-1, since September 10, 2006 they are 32-5. Overall the Patriots are 21-12 in the post season as a franchise.
• The Patriots have won 11 consecutive home playoff games and have not lost a home playoff game since December 31, 1978 against the Houston Oilers, 31-14.
• Overall the team is 46-9 at home since Gillette Stadium opened in 2002.
• The Patriots are 6-1 in AFC Championship games. 3-0 in Foxboro having also beaten Jacksonville in 1996 and Indianapolis in 2003.
• Head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady are 4-1 in AFC title games.
• The Patriots are 24-7 since 2001 when facing a team for the second or third time in a season.
• There were 930 media credential issued for today’s game. This includes 252 alone for CBS for their announcers, reporters, cameramen and technical people. 40% of those 930, (380) will be in the press box alone.
• The Patriots were held scoreless in the first quarter for the 1^st time all season.
• Asante Samuel’s 2^nd quarter INT was the 5^th of his career in the post season.
• The Tom Brady interception by Antonio Cromartie in end zone was his first in the red zone on two seasons. The three INT’s by Brady were a season high. He also threw 3 INT’s in the playoff game at San Diego last season.
• Laurence Maroney became the 1^st Patriot running back with back-to-back 100 yard games since Craig James in 1985.
• The temperature at kickoff of today’s game was 23 degrees with a wind chill of nine degrees. 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.

Post Game Press Conferences

Listen to what Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady had to say about the game.

Post game press conferences via Patriots.com

Things To Work On For Next Week

The Patriots will have a few days off and then they’ll start prepping for the team’s fourth Super Bowl appearance in the last seven seasons.

Next Week’s Opponent

“Take me to Pleasure Town.” ” Oh, we’re going there.”

The Patriots play the winner of the NFC Championship game in Super Bowl XLII in Glendale AZ on February 3^rd.