FOXBOROUGH - He hasn't recorded a catch all season, but Patriots receiver Kelley Washington isn't complaining. He just keeps making plays in the kicking game.
Washington delivered one of the biggest special teams plays in yesterday's 21-12 AFC Championship game win over San Diego, charging down the field on a second-quarter punt near the goal line and batting it back to be downed by Kyle Eckel at the 4.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick called it a "huge play" because it pinned the Chargers deep and led to a major field position shift. Five plays later, cornerback Asante Samuel intercepted a Philip Rivers pass at the 34 and returned it 10 yards, setting up the Patriots' second touchdown for a 14-6 lead.
"It was just a play we work on all the time in practice," said Washington, who as a gunner lines up on the outside of the punt formation. "You just try to get down there, find the ball, and make sure you're not in the end zone and try to bat it back."
Washington credited Chris Hanson for delivering a solid punt to give him a chance to make the play. The Patriots' drive had stalled at the Chargers' 40, so the punt had to be high enough, but with touch to bounce inside the 5.
"That was just a great punt by Chris," Washington said. "And in turn, he has belief in me that I'm going to be the first one down there."
MIKE REISS
