FOXBOROUGH - Whether it was his latest off-the-field flap, the frigid conditions, or a game plan designed specifically to prevent him from getting the ball, Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss yesterday was a nonfactor for the second straight playoff game.
Playing just six days after a Florida woman, Rachelle Washington, was granted a temporary restraining order against him for dating violence, stemming from a Jan. 6 incident at her Fort Lauderdale, Fla., home, Moss was held to just one catch for 18 yards during the Patriots' 21-12 AFC Championship game victory at Gillette Stadium.
He had one catch for 14 yards in the Divisional playoff win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"He hasn't had the big plays that he's had of late, but the most important thing, and I'm sure he'll be the first to tell you, is that we win," said wide receiver Donte' Stallworth. "Other guys have to step up and make plays and [Laurence] Maroney was that guy today. Wes [Welker] had some big plays. You can't really single anybody out, but a lot of guys did a lot of different things."
The Patriots threw to Moss three times in the first half and he had zero catches. Tom Brady's first pass of the second half went off the hands of Moss. He made his first catch of the game, an 18-yarder underneath coverage, with 7:13 left in the third quarter.
Teammates said Moss, who had a 14-yard end around run on the first touchdown drive, was not distracted by Washington's battery claim against him.
"No, he was the same guy," said Stallworth. "He's been focused all week. Nothing's changed."
Fellow receiver Jabar Gaffney also offered his support for Moss.
"He got caught up in a terrible situation. We've all got his back," said Gaffney. "We know what kind of character guy he is. We know there are always two sides to the story."
Turner's take
Chargers coach Norv Turner called Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel's second-quarter interception of Philip Rivers the biggest play of the game.
On second and 8 from the Chargers' 17, Samuel reached in and took the ball away from Chris Chambers at the Chargers' 34, his fifth career postseason pickoff - ranking second in team history behind Rodney Harrison's seven - and first of this postseason.
Samuel returned the ball to the 24 and two plays later, Brady found Gaffney for a 12-yard touchdown and a 14-6 lead.
"That's the way it is," said Samuel. "You got to step up in the big games if you want to be known when you retire as one of the best to ever play the game. You got to step up in the big games and that's what I'm trying to do."
Harrison said Samuel is already among the best he's ever played with.
"I've seen that guy just come from the bottom to truly be the No. 1 defensive back in this league," said Harrison. "The way he's played time and time again. He's just proved it again, making a huge pick in a big game and that's what he does. He's one of the best players that I've ever played with. He reminds me of a young Ty Law that can do so many different things. He could be a receiver or a punt returner, but he's so skinny he's afraid to get hit."
Hobbs gets revenge
Last year, after the Patriots' 24-21 Divisional playoff victory over the Chargers in San Diego, Rivers admonished Ellis Hobbs, whom he called the "sorriest corner" in the league after Hobbs celebrated the win on the Chargers logo. Yesterday, Hobbs got his revenge with an interception of Rivers. But the chatty cornerback chose not to pursue any verbal revenge.
"The victory speaks for itself," said Hobbs, who tied Tedy Bruschi for tops in tackles with eight. "To get into quarrels with individuals, this and that, I leave it all on the field. Not one time did I think about retaliating. Like I said you can sit here, you can talk, you can jaw before the game, after the game, but it gets settled between the white lines."
Deja blue
The Patriots are assured of ending the exhibition season, the regular season, and the postseason against the Giants . . . The Patriots have been installed as 13- to 14-point favorites against the Giants at Las Vegas sports books . . . After having 10 catches for 103 yards and a touchdown in last year's playoff meeting with San Diego, Gaffney only had one catch yesterday, but he made it count, hauling in a 12-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter that gave the Patriots a 14-6 lead . . . The Patriots used a variety of formations, employing everything from three tight ends to empty sets with five players flanked wide. "We wanted to go into the game and force them to defend everything," said coach Bill Belichick.
Brown inactive
There would be no repeat of Troy Brown's playoff heroics against the Chargers. Brown, who stripped safety Marlon McCree following an interception to key the Patriots' come-from-behind victory last season, was inactive. He was joined by fellow wide receiver Chad Jackson, cornerback Antwain Spann, defensive lineman Le Kevin Smith, offensive linemen Billy Yates and Wesley Britt, and safety Mel Mitchell . . . After being inactive last week against the Jaguars, safety Eugene Wilson was active yesterday . . . Veteran nose tackle Rashad Moore was used in goal line defensive packages . . . Chargers offensive lineman Marcus McNeill and Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour were jawing at each other before the game . . . Maroney has scored a touchdown in five straight games . . . Brady has a touchdown pass in 14 straight playoff games, trailing on Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre (18) . . . Brady is now 100-26 as a starter.
