Brady leads Patriots to win
SAN DIEGO: Quarterback Tom Brady led the New England Patriots on a 72-yard drive that ended with Stephen Gostowski's game-winning field goal as the Patriots beat the San Diego Chargers 24-21 to advance to the AFC championship game.
It was the 12th time in 13 NFL playoff starts that Brady has led the Patriots to victory, and it was the fifth time that the Patriots have defeated the top seed in the AFC.
The Patriots now head to Indianapolis to meet the Colts in the AFC Championship next Sunday.
The Chargers came into the game with an AFC-best 14-2 record and were unbeaten in eight games at their home Qualcomm Stadium. It was the first playoff start for Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers.
New England Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs celebrates after |
Rivers, handicapped with no timeouts left after Gostowski's field goal with 1 minute, 10 seconds remaining, drove the Chargers 38 yards to set up a last-gasp 54-yard field goal attempt by Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding, which came up short.
Starting 85 yards from the end zone with 3 minutes, 30 seconds to play in the game and the score level at 21-21, Brady missed on two of three throws before hitting Reche Caldwell in full stride on the far right sideline for 49 yards, to the San Diego 17 yard line.
Winning kick
Brady then allowed running back Corey Dillon to make three runs up the middle for only four yards before Belichick sent the rookie Gostowski out for what turned out to be the winning kick.
It was the second Brady-led scoring drive in a row in the final period. San Diego led 21-13 with 8 minutes, 35 seconds to play on a three-yard touchdown scamper by this season's NFL Most Valuable Player, running back LeDainian Tomlinson.
Brady then took his team 63 yards in what officially was two separate drives, because San Diego free safety Marion McCree intercepted a fourth-down pass only to fumble the ball back to New England.
After Brady hit Caldwell with a four-yard touchdown pass, the Patriots went for two points. From a shotgun formation, the Patriots snapped the ball directly to running back Kevin Faulk, who ran up the middle for the two points.
The Chargers were hurt by four turnovers, a series of dropped passes and a fumbled punt by Eric Parker, and an untimely personal foul by defensive back Drayton Florence.
Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer, who is 5-13 now in NFL playoff games with three teams, pointed to the personal foul as a key to the loss.
"You have to be able to manage your emotions better than we did on a couple of occasions," Schottenheimer said.
Belichick pointed out to reporters that the Chargers had 15 turnovers in their 16-game season and had four on Sunday.
The four Chargers turnovers led to 13 Patriots points.
"And, obviously, 13 points is a significant amount in the outcome of this game," said Schottenheimer.
Brady ended with 27 completions in 51 attempts for 280 yards, connecting for two touchdowns. Brady was intercepted thrice, including the one by McCree which ended as a positive play for New England.
His favorite receiver was Jabar Gaffney who snared 10 passes for 103 yards.
Agencies
(China Daily 01/16/2007 page24)
