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.”

PATRIOTS' FIVE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP BERTHS SINCE 1994 ARE SECOND-HIGHEST TOTAL IN MAJOR AMERICAN SPORTS
The Patriots will go to their fifth Super Bowl since Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994, marking the second highest number of league championship appearances over that span among all NFL, MLB, NBA or NHL teams. Among those major American sports leagues, only the New York Yankees, with six World Series trips over that span, have made more league championship appearances than the Patriots since 1994.

PATRIOTS WIN SIXTH AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
With their victory in today's AFC Championship Game, the Patriots have won their sixth AFC Championship and will go to the Super Bowl for the sixth time. New England's six Super Bowl berths tie the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Denver Broncos for the second highest all-time total, trailing only the Dallas Cowboys' NFL-record eight Super Bowl trips. Over the last quarter-century, the Patriots' six Super Bowl appearances are more than any other team.

ALL-TIME SUPER BOWL APPEARANCES
(Since 1966)
1. Dallas Cowboys, 8
2. New England Patriots, 6
Denver Broncos, 6
Pittsburgh Steelers, 6
5. Miami Dolphins, 5
Oakland/L.A. Raiders, 5
San Francisco 49ers, 5
Washington Redskins, 5

PATRIOTS TIE ALL-TIME NFL RECORD FOR OVERALL VICTORIES IN A SEASON
The Patriots improved to 18-0 this season, tying the NFL's all-time record for most overall victories in a season (regular-season and playoffs combined). New England joins the 1984 San Francisco 49ers and the 1985 Chicago Bears as the only teams in NFL history to win 18 games in a single season. The 1984 49ers and the 1985 Bears both went 15-1 in the regular season and won three playoff games to earn Super Bowl championships. The Patriots' 18 wins have set a franchise record, surpassing the 17 overall victories by the 2003 and 2004 Patriots (14 regular-season wins and three playoff victories).

PATRIOTS IMPROVE TO 11-1 ALL-TIME IN HOME PLAYOFF GAMES
The Patriots improved to 11-1 (.917) in home playoff games, improving upon the best home playoff record in NFL history (minimum three games played). The Green Bay Packers rank second with a 14-2 (.875) record, pending the result of tonight's NFC Championship Game. The Patriots have won their 11th consecutive home playoff game, extending the second longest home playoff winning streak in NFL history. The Patriots trail only the Packers' NFL-record 13 straight home playoff wins from 1939-2001.

PATRIOTS IMPROVE TO 6-1 ALL-TIME IN AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
The Patriots improved to 6-1 (.857) in AFC Championship Games, giving them the highest conference championship winning percentage of any NFL team in the Super Bowl Era (minimum five appearances). The Washington Redskins rank second with a 5-1 (.833) record in conference title games. The Patriots improved to 3-0 at home in the AFC Championship Games, with today's victory over San Diego joining a 20-6 win over Jacksonville at Foxboro Stadium on Jan. 12, 1997 and a 24-14 win over Indianapolis at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 18, 2004.

PATRIOTS IMPROVE TO 21-12 ALL-TIME IN PLAYOFFS; SAME AS TODAY'S FINAL SCORE (21-12)
The Patriots improved their overall playoff record to 21-12 (.636), the second best playoff record in NFL history (minimum 10 games). Green Bay ranks first with a 25-14 (.641) overall record, pending the result of tonight's NFC Championship Game. New England's 21-12 all-time playoff record mirrors the score in today's AFC Championship Game, where the Patriots beat the Chargers 21-12.

BELICHICK WINS FOURTH CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP AS HEAD COACH
Bill Belichick has won his fourth conference championship as a head coach and is the eighth head coach in NFL history to lead his team to four Super Bowls. Only Don Shula (6) and Tom Landry (5) have directed their teams to more Super Bowls. Belichick has won three Super Bowl titles as a head coach and is one of four head coaches to win three or more Super Bowls, joining Chuck Noll (4), Bill Walsh (3) and Joe Gibbs (3). The Patriots' victory over the Chargers in the AFC Championship Game was Belichick's 15th career playoff victory, a total that ranks fifth all-time. Belichick's career playoff record of 15-3 (.833) is the second-best in NFL history, trailing only Vince Lombardi (9-1, .900).

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. With their victory today, the Patriots improved to 16-1 since 1993 when the kickoff temperature is 30 degrees or less.

BRADY RECORDS 100th OVERALL VICTORY
Tom Brady recorded his 100th overall victory, including regular-season and playoff games. His overall record now stands at 100-26 (.794), including an 86-24 (.782) regular-season record and a 14-2 (.875) playoff record. Brady's 14-2 (.875) record in playoff games ranks second all-time among signal callers who have made at least 10 playoff starts, trailing only Bart Starr's 9-1 (.900) mark for the Green Bay Packers.

WELKER SCORES SECOND TOUCHDOWN IN SECOND CAREER PLAYOFF GAME
Wes Welker scored on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady with 12:15 remaining in the game to give the Patriots a 21-12 lead. Welker, playing in his second career playoff game, scored his second career playoff touchdown. Last week against Jacksonville, he also scored on a 6-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. Welker caught a career-best eight touchdowns in the 2007 regular season, a total that ranked second on the team. Entering this season, Welker had caught one career touchdown pass in 47 career games.

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.

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 that gave 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.

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. In the third quarter, Seau came up with another big play when he stopped Michael Turner for a 2-yard loss on third-and-1 from the 4-yard line, forcing a Chargers field goal.

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
-Tedy Bruschi played 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 improved their all-time record to 16-1 when leading at halftime in the playoffs.
-Kevin Faulk led the Patriots with eight receptions for 82 yards. His 82 receiving yards 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.

SUPER PERFORMANCES
The Patriots will play in their sixth Super Bowl, joining three other teams (Dallas, Denver and Pittsburgh) with at least six Super Bowl appearances. New England's six Super Bowl are tied with Denver and Pittsburgh, trailing only Dallas's eight berths for the most all-time. The Patriots are 3-2 in their previous five Super Bowl appearances

PATRIOTS IN THE SUPER BOWL (3-2)
02/06/05 XXXIX Philadelphia Alltel Stadium W 24-21
02/01/04 XXXVIII Carolina Reliant Stadium W 32-29
02/03/02 XXXVI St. Louis Louisiana Superdome W 20-17
01/26/97 XXXI Green Bay Louisiana Superdome L 21-35
01/26/86 XX Chicago Louisiana Superdome L 10-46

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.