Players have shifted focus

FOXBOROUGH -- It didn't take long for the Patriots to turn the page. Next up in the playoffs: the top-seeded San Diego Chargers.

"Hands down, the best team in the NFL," nose tackle Vince Wilfork said. "It's going to be a tough challenge. I think all three phases of the game -- defense, special teams, and the offense -- they have weapons everywhere. So in order for us to win that game, we have to bring our 'A' game."

The Patriots and Chargers didn't play this season, although linebacker Tedy Bruschi expected the team to be reminded of the meeting between the teams last season -- a 41-17 Chargers win at Gillette Stadium.

"We're playing the best team in the league over the course of the year, by far," he said. "They have the NFL MVP [in running back LaDainian Tomlinson]. They have a heck of a defense. It's an absolutely huge challenge for us."

One sign that the Patriots were quickly changing their focus was on the chair in front of quarterback Tom Brady's locker -- a computer disc on the Chargers' defense.

The game will mark a return to San Diego for receiver Reche Caldwell, who spent the first four years of his career with that franchise.

"It's a great team," he said. "They have the best rusher in the league, they have the best record in the league, and they're probably the best team in the league right now, so it's going to be an exciting matchup."

Cornerback Ellis Hobbs paid tribute to Darrent Williams, the Denver Broncos cornerback who died last week, by wearing his name on the shirt he wore under his game jersey yesterday. Both grew up in Texas and got to know each other before the 2005 draft, when they both were coming out of college.

"I was doing it out of respect," said Hobbs, who started for the third straight week. "I had all the emotions that I wanted before this. This just gave me a purpose to go out there. I asked the Lord 'Let him play through me.' I know how bad he wanted it on the field with his aggressive attitude. I can say that we're the same type of player. I respected him and he respected me."

Hobbs's gray Patriots T-shirt had the words "R.I.P. D. Williams," on it, in addition to the No. 27.

After quarterback Tom Brady was pressured consistently and sacked four times in the Nov. 12 loss to the Jets, the Patriots' pass protection was markedly improved yesterday. Brady was sacked just once and the Jets were credited with six quarterback hits in 35 dropbacks.

"I thought our tight ends and backs did a great job in blitz pickup," said coach Bill Belichick, who also praised the work of the team's offensive assistant coaches. "They ran a lot of pressures and criss-crossed guys, moving them around before the snap, and coming from different spots."

Tight end Daniel Graham felt the team was prepared for the Jets' pressure.

"We knew they were going to throw a lot of blitzes. Coach Belichick threw a lot of different looks at us this week in practice and we picked it up pretty well," he said. "Our whole goal was to not get Tom touched."

Tight end Benjamin Watson, who missed three games after injuring his knee in the third quarter of a Dec. 10 game against the Dolphins, returned to action for the first time yesterday.

"It was great to come back," he said after making four catches for 24 yards, and also dropping one pass. "It stinks watching the game on TV or in the stands. There is nothing like coming down and being able to be with your boys and in the locker room. That's what you're on the team for.

"I was happy to be able to come back and contribute a little bit."

The 77-yard touchdown catch by Jets receiver Jerricho Cotchery in the second quarter was the second-longest allowed by the Patriots this season. Safety Artrell Hawkins, who was in position to bring Cotchery down, said: "It was a missed tackle and ended up being a big play. That's the short version of it." . . . Bruschi was complimentary of Jets coach Eric Mangini: "They're very prepared," he said. "They're well coached. I think he's doing a very good job. Situational football, they've been doing a great job this year. That's something we preach, of course, and I think Eric has transmitted that to his team also." . . . The Patriots improved to 15-0 all-time when leading at the half in the playoffs . . . Graham's 1-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter was his first touchdown in nine career playoff games . . . Running back Kevin Faulk, who missed the season finale in Tennessee to rest his knee injury, scored his first career playoff touchdown -- a 7-yard catch in the fourth quarter. Yesterday marked Faulk's 12th career playoff game . . . The Patriots' nine-game home winning streak in the playoffs is the second-longest streak in NFL history, equaling the Buffalo Bills' run from 1988-95. The Packers hold the league record for consecutive home playoff wins, with 13 . . . The Patriots are now 9-1 all-time at home in the playoffs, and 18-11 overall. The 18-11 record is the second-best playoff record among teams that have played in at least 10 games . . . Corey Dillon's 11-yard touchdown run in the first quarter was his third playoff score as a member of the Patriots, moving him into second place on the team's all-time postseason list of rushing TDs, behind Curtis Martin (5). Dillon also lost a first-quarter fumble, his third lost fumble of the season . . . Outside linebacker Tully Banta-Cain recorded two sacks, the first of his playoff career . . . The Patriots' 158 rushing yards mark the fifth-highest total in the team's 29-game playoff history . . . James Sanders started at safety in place of the injured Rodney Harrison and finished with four tackles and one pass defended. "I had [five] starts leading up to this game and when Rodney went down last week, I was ready to go and knew I would be the man. I knew I just had to play solid football," he said . . . The game-time temperature was 50 degrees . . . Players are off today.

Mike Reiss can be reached at mreiss@globe.com.