Chargers 37, Patriots 16...SD goes to Super Bowl as AFC representative

For the second straight week, the Chargers won the toss and elected to receive. Instead of the 3 and out they experienced in Indy, this time Drew Brees directed a 62 yard drive culminating with a 3rd down 8 yard touchdown pass to Antonio Gates to give the Chargers an early 7-0 lead. After Kaeding's kickoff bounced through the end zone, Tom Brady started at his own 20. He directed the Patriots down to the Chargers 15, but on 3rd and 3 his scrambling run for a first down came up short and Adam Vinatieri was called on to kick a 32 yard field goal to cut the San Diego lead to 7-3. The Chargers offense didn't get a chance to expand the lead because for the second straight week the San Diego kickoff return team took one to the house. Last week it was Jesse Chatman's key 83 yard touchdown return of a Colt squib kick that lead San Diego to the road win. This week, it was Tim Dwight's turn and he ran 90 yards to give San Diego a 13-3 lead after Kaeding's extra point attempt was deflected at the line of scrimmage. The teams exchanged punts to end the first quarter.

The Patriots started the second quarter backed up at their own 8 yard line and were soon forced to punt the ball. San Diego began their opening drive of the quarter at their own 41 yard line. Drew Brees found LaDainian Tomlinson open out of the backfield and he rambled down to the New England 4 yard line. On the next play, fullback Lorenzo Neal crashed into the end zone and the Chargers lead 20-3. Tom Brady started the next Patriots drive at his own 25 and lead the team down to the San Diego 20. But his third down pass for David Graham was incomplete and Adam Vinatieri was called on to kick his second field goal which trimmed the Chargers lead to 20-6. Three plays later Drew Brees overthrew Reche Caldwell and Rodney Harrison returned it to the San Diego 30. Four plays later, Cedric Cobbs ran in from 2 yards out and the Patriots closed the half with some momentum after cutting the San Diego lead to 20-13.

The Patriots opened the third quarter with the ball and were hoping to tie up the game. Brady lead New England to midfield, but his pass for Troy Brown was intercepted by Drayton Florence at the San Diego 36 to stop their momentum. Drew Brees did his part to help the Chargers regain momentum when he lead them down the field on a 64 yard drive which ended with his 10 yard pass to Keenan McCardell to give San Diego a 27-13 lead with 8:55 left in the quarter. Brady directed the Patriots back down the field, but the drive stalled at the San Diego 34. Vinatieri was called on to kick his third field goal and it was good from 51 yards out to cut the Chargers lead to 27-16. Drew Brees just wouldn't let the Patriots regain any momentum as he lead the Chargers right back down the field where Nate Kaeding kicked a 39 yard field goal to give San Diego a 30-16 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Following a Patriots punt, San Diego started at their own 4 yard line with the wind at their backs and the clock as their friend. Drew Brees looked the part of a real field general as he willed his team down the field and finished the 13 play, 8:28 drive with a 3rd and goal 7 yard pass to Eric Parker to get the Charger fans celebrating with a 37-16 lead. Tom Brady had one more chance, but his final drive stalled out at the New England 42. Drew Brees drove down the field and ran out the clock by taking a knee at the Patriots 1 yard line on the final play of the game. Brees finished 19-30 for 249 yards and 3 touchdowns in the win. Unlike last week against Indianapolis, this time the Chargers dominated on offense outgaining the Patriots 416-282 and controlled the clock for over 36 minutes. The Chargers may have only been the third best team in their division, but when it counted, they ended up being the best team in the conference with two huge road wins over both of the division champions.

TURNING POINT: Drayton Florence's interception on the second play of the second half when New England was trying to drive for the tying touchdown after trailing by 17 points in the second quarter.

--submitted by John Lowe--