FOXBOROUGH - The Patriots' best drive in Sunday's AFC Championship game win didn't result in any points. After the Chargers punted from the New England 36 on their first possession of the fourth quarter, the Patriots ran out the final 9:13 of the game with a 15-play, 65-yard drive.
The drive featured four third-down conversions, including two clutch catches by Kevin Faulk, who had a game-high eight receptions for 82 yards.
Yesterday, Patriots coach Bill Belichick said the game-sealing drive was "absolutely" just as valuable as the ones that netted points.
The Patriots led the NFL this season with 41 drives of 10 plays or more.
"Without a doubt, again, it's situational football," said Belichick. "It wasn't about scoring points at that point in the game; it was about maintaining possession of the ball and running out the clock. Offensively, we did it.
"We got good execution. We had some good blocking, some good running, good running after the catch and good decision making - guys staying inbounds - and good blocking by the offensive line, tight ends, and fullback, all of those things. It was the way you want to end the game, with the ball, kneeling down. That's the way you'd like to win every game."
Endgame
Once again the Patriots will close a portion of their season with the Giants. The Patriots scored a 38-35 victory over New York Dec. 29 to cap their 16-0 regular season. The teams also met in New England's preseason finale, a 27-20 win.Belichick said having played the Giants less than a month ago will speed up preparations for the Super Bowl.
"It definitely helps. It makes it go a lot faster," Belichick said. "If it had been Green Bay, we would have spent a lot of time just getting the material ready to analyze and start to look at it. Since it's the Giants, we did a lot of work on them, and we'll certainly look very closely at the last four games - our game, and the playoff games against Tampa, Dallas, and Green Bay.
"At least we have a good recollection of [them], and most of the matchups that will occur occurred in our game in December. That's good. We'll have something to work from.
"It's not an advantage - both teams are working with the same information - but there is a lot more familiarity than with a team we haven't played all year."
Veteran presence
With Troy Brown inactive against San Diego, it's possible Patriots fans may not get another chance to cheer on the 15-year veteran. Linebacker Tedy Bruschi, who shared a tender moment with Brown after the AFC Championship game, said Brown, who is going to his fifth Super Bowl, is still very much a part of the team. "To see Troy is special because he's been here since my first day and we have a special bond among ourselves," said Bruschi, who passed Brown for the most playoff games played in Patriots history (21). "I know his year has been up and down in terms of playing and not playing, but I need him around. It feels good to have Troy Brown around."He was missing
Although running back LaDainian Tomlinson was not listed on the Chargers' injury report Friday, the NFL is not planning to look into it. Tomlinson started and played two series against the Patriots - finishing with two carries for 5 yards and one catch for 1 yard - before leaving for good with a sore knee. During the first half, the Chargers' public relations staff announced Tomlinson could return to the game. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said, "The principal purpose of the injury report is to disclose injuries," and that Tomlinson was on the report Wednesday and Thursday, so the club was not hiding his sprained left MCL . . . Wide receiver Randy Moss's 14-yard end-around run in the first quarter was his first rushing attempt since 2003 and the first rush of his 10-game playoff career . . . Belichick said the team will depart for Arizona Sunday. "That's the plan, weather permitting," he said with a smile.
