The Patriots Now Just One Away From Perfection

-Patriots 21, Chargers 12
Heroes: Laurence Maroney & Kevin Faulk
Goat: Chargers' red zone offense
Turning Point: Junior Seau tackles Michael Turner short of the 1st down on 3rd and 1 inside the NE 5 @ 14-9 Pats
Next: Super Bowl XLII vs. Green Bay/NY Giants

In a game where Tom Brady would throw three interceptions and the Chargers would gain more yards in the passing game than the Pats you would have given the Bolts a great chance to win. The Chargers definitely redeemed themselves this postseason for a very poor start this year, but unfortunately couldn't make the big play when they needed to today to beat New England.

The Chargers lost the game with their inability to get the ball into the endzone. They reached the Pats' red zone three times and traveled deep into their territory four times. You cannot beat the Pats settling for field goals even if you pick off Brady ten times. Give credit to the Patriots' defense though for their superb play deep in their own territory. The biggest play of the game was Junior Seau's stop of Michael Turner when the Chargers seemed poised to take a 15-14 lead off Brady's second interception. Seau and the defense had a terrific game today, and really redeemed themselves for some shoty play lately.

As mentioned, Brady threw three interceptions, so how did the Pats get enough offense to win the game today? The heroes are definitely the two running backs in Laurence Maroney and Kevin Faulk. Maroney dominated the Chargers' frontline in the 2nd half. He had about 15 yards at the half, but finished with 122 for the game. Maroney has had a huge postseason, especially when everyone thought he was a bum this year. Faulk was brillant in the passing game. He took several dumpoffs from Brady and made great things happen, including the spectacular diving catch that effectively ended the game in the fourth quarter. There has been no bigger unsung hero during the Pats' run of Super Bowls than Kevin Faulk.

Even though the Chargers were unable to come up with the big plays they needed, they should be very proud of themselves for what they accomplished this postseason. Philip Rivers showed a great deal of guts playing the way he did today. Other than two bad interceptions, he was very good. The CBS Halftime analysts were completely out of line when they said Norv Turner should have replaced Rivers with Billy Volek for the 2nd half. Rivers played the entire game when his star running back, LaDainian Tomlinson, who has a similar injury, couldn't make it through one possession. Those analysts need to get their heads examined. Vincent Jackson and Chris Chambers really played well again, and this team has the complete package to possibly win a Super Bowl next year.

But today belongs to the New England Patriots. Bill Belichick has done a remarkable job this season putting together this 18-0 team. They should be able to roll through the NFC Champion and complete their perfect year. The weather will be much better down in Arizona, so expect to see the full fire power of the Patriots' offense.

I want to congratulate my co-blogger, Shawn Marosek for predicting that the Pats would never have more than a 10 point lead in the game. His prediction of weather playing a major role was dead on. Great job, Shawn!

Pat Morgan

Brady's Accuracy Leads Pats to 31-20 Victory

-Patriots 31, Jaguars 20
Hero: Tom Brady
Goat: Jacksonville defense
Turning Point: Dennis Northcutt's dropped pass at the NE 2 at 21-14, drop forced the Jaguars to kick a field goal
Next: vs. Indianapolis/vs. San Diego

Tom Brady added another record to his historic season. He completed 26 of 28 passes to break Phil Simms's record for completion percentage in a playoff game (Super Bowl XXI). The Jaguars defense allowed him to pick them apart all night, and in fact the Patriots didn't have to punt until the closing minute of the game. Laurence Maroney had a very good game as well, as he ran for 122 yards on 22 carries. The Jags' game plan to take away Randy Moss and the long ball clearly backfired.

The Jags strategy did them in, as Brady led the Pats on five time-consuming scoring drives. The vaunted Jacksonville defense became the latest victim of the Patriots' epic offense. I did not like the strategy because that was the Jags playing against their strength. They beat up Ben Roethlisberger last week with six sacks and were able to force three interceptions. The Jaguars are not a finesse team. They are a big physical team! Brady was going to beat them anyway, but at least let him beat you playing your game. That, and you cannot give Brady all day and to carve you up all night underneath.

It wasn't an all around great night for the Patriots though. The Jacksonville offense really carved up the Patriots defense at times, especially in the first half. David Gerrard played an exceptional football game. Other than a 1st quarter fumble that allowed the Pats to play from ahead, Gerrard really bounced back from his worst performance of the year last week vs. Pittsburgh. He led the Jags on two long TD drives in the first half. Dennis Northcutt dropped a key pass in the 3rd quarter that would have put the Jags at the New England 2 yard line. So, instead of potentially a 21-21 tie, the Jags had to settle for a field goal. That was costly cause it allowed the Patriots to go up two possessions on their next touchdown. That's really where Jacksonville's chance to win the game ended.

And as badly as the Patriots defense played at times, they did come up big when they had too. They forced the Jags to kick two field goals in the 2nd half (one aided by Northcutt's drop), and Rodney Harrison's interception all but ended the game. I am curious to see if the Patriots defense can come up big one more time if they play Indianapolis next week. I really believe that game will be an all out war that will be close to the final horn.

Pat Morgan