Mr. Smith goes to Houston

FOXBOROUGH -- The morning weather report, to the untrained ear, did not carry a subliminal message about the Patriots' game plan. Temperatures in the 30s, with a strong possibility of snow.

To the keen and meteorologically-trained ear of Antowain Smith, New England's human hurricane, the news of wintry weather put some extra spring in his step.

"I knew it was going to be my day," said a beaming Smith, fresh from clicking off 100 yards on 22 carries in New England's 24-14 dismissal of the Colts in yesterday's AFC Championship game, "when I saw snow in the forecast."

The 31-year-old Smith is now homeward-bound for Houston -- where he played in college -- and the Super Bowl. He won't get a boost from Mother Nature when he steps on the turf of Reliant Stadium. Not unless the roof tears off the place the way Smith tore through the porous and accommodating Colts defense.

Smith became only the third running back in Patriots history to rack up 100 yards in a postseason game. The most recent was Curtis Martin, who still holds the club high with 166 yards on 19 carries in a 28-3 victory over Pittsburgh, Jan. 5, 1997. The only other New Englander with 100 yards in the postseason was Craig James, who tallied 104 and 105 yards in back-to-back wins over the Raiders and Dolphins in January 1986, the final two steps to New England's first trip to the Super Bowl.

Smith, inactive against the Colts in the regular-season meeting, was at his ball-lugging best in the third quarter when quarterback Tom Brady called his number for three successive plays.

"I love that guy, man," said Brady, who'll call the signals in the Super Bowl for a second time in only three years. "He runs so hard, and the way he hits guys, he just punishes 'em. I wouldn't trade him for anyone in the world."

After the Colts fell behind, 18-7, early in the third and then mustered only 1 yard against New England's dominating defense, Brady brought his troops to the line of scrimmage at their 31-yard line with 6:17 left in the third. Running straight through a hole about as wide as the canal beneath the Razor's trademark bridge, Smith rumbled for 35 yards, his biggest gain of the day. He then clicked off another 14 on the next play, again battering straight up the middle before Donald Strickland hauled him down. Finally, opting to run slightly left of center, he was held to no gain on his third attempted romp, slammed down by Larry Tripplett and Mike Doss.

"My thing is to go in, run hard, and protect the ball," said Smith.

After the three runs by Smith, the Patriots banged the ball 17 yards deeper on the next five plays, including a couple more Smith short-gainers, before Adam Vinatieri kicked a 21-yard field goal for the 14-point lead. The drive covered 66 yards, and Smith accounted for 52 of them.

Smith, in fact, was the epicenter of the important New England possession game. How best to contain Peyton Manning? Keep him off the field. How best to do that? Keep making plays on offense, and keep the clock winding down, ideally with a ground-based attack that takes a lickin' but keeps the clock tickin'.

"It was a hard task out there," said Smith, now headed to his second Super Bowl after departing Buffalo as a free agent in 2001. "But our team was prepared. Yeah, we're going to the Super Bowl, but we're still going about business."

With his connections in Houston, Smith expects an onslaught of ticket requests and more will await him when the team touches down in Texas next week. In fact, some of the phone calls already have started. The friends-and-family hotline has been ringing.

"Oh, you know, they're calling for tickets," mused Smith.

"And they're asking if there's room to stay in the house, stuff like that . . ."

Smith's 100 yards accounted for all but 12 of the rushing yards New England gained. Meanwhile, the Colts could post only 98 yards on the ground, led by Edgerrin James (19 carries, 78 yards). Put the credit wherever you want, but Smith figured the New England fandom deserved some credit, too.

"We've got the best fans in the world," he said. "They're either the best, or the craziest. They're here when it's minus-10 [degrees], when it snows, whatever the weather is."

Antowain Smith, weatherman and running back, all rolled up into one. No doubt he's looking for blue skies over Houston.