Long road back started last year

INDIANAPOLIS -- Usually one to charge forward with tunnel vision for the task at hand, Bill Belichick allowed for a moment of reflection last week.

Before looking ahead to tonight's AFC Championship game against the Colts at the RCA Dome, he also checked his rear-view mirror.

"At the start of the season, and I'm going all the way back to January, February, March of the offseason program, it's every team's goal to be in this game," Belichick said. "Right now, we're down to four teams. It's an honor for us to be one of them playing in the AFC Championship game."

The hopes to return to the AFC's title contest began shortly after the Patriots' season ended last January in Denver, when five turnovers (three lost fumbles, two interceptions) put the Patriots on the wrong end of a 27-13 decision in the divisional playoffs. It was a bitter pill to swallow for a team that had posted a 10-6 record in the regular season, fighting through early inconsistencies to seemingly get into position for another Super Bowl run.

But after having it unravel in Denver, the question was whether the Patriots -- who were coming off back-to-back Super Bowl victories -- were falling back into the AFC pack. Had their run of dominance officially ended?

Then came the free-agent losses of signature players such as kicker Adam Vinatieri and outside linebacker Willie McGinest. Receiver David Givens signed a free agent deal with the Titans. And receiver Deion Branch held out and was traded to Seattle.

The first offensive play of the season wasn't exactly a confidence-builder either, with quarterback Tom Brady blindsided on a blitz, the ball coming free, and the Buffalo Bills recovering for a touchdown 12 seconds into the action.

Like his coach, Brady took his own look back before peering ahead to tonight's matchup.

"It's exciting, because 5 1/2 months of football games come down to 60 minutes of football," he said. "I think it's rewarding for a lot of reasons. We did have some early-season struggles as an offense, centered around a lot of issues. The departure of players, [which happens] on every team, that ends up being a factor. And I think the guys that we have now, the guys that are playing have been in this offense for the entire season, are really doing great.

"So we're excited about what we can accomplish. We're one game from the Super Bowl. A lot of teams would love to be in this position and I'm certainly glad we have this opportunity. They don't come around too often. So you really have to take advantage of it when you get them."

Brady usually has. He has a playoff record of 12-1, is 10-0 in domes, and 23-1 on artificial surfaces. He also has three Super Bowl rings, while his counterpart, Peyton Manning, is seeking his first.

The matchup of the quarterbacks is naturally the prominent storyline, but as is often the case, the team that plays the most complete game -- and doesn't turn the ball over -- is likely to be representing the AFC in the Super Bowl Feb. 4 in Miami.

So after a week of hype -- and a year of riding the NFL roller coaster from that starting point in Denver -- it's time to play ball.

"I think both teams have earned their spot here, earned it with some good football," Belichick said. "We're looking forward to playing in the championship game."