Patriots Go For The Perfect Season

Despite a shaky Tom Brady, the Patriots were still too much for the banged-up San Diego Chargers, pulling out a 21-12 victory Sunday that sent them back to the NFL title game for the fourth time in seven seasons. "There was history on the line,'' Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi said. "We recognize it, we acknowledge it.'' Brady made several stunningly poor throws that fluttered in the wind, Randy Moss was a non-factor for the second straight game and the highest-scoring team in NFL history sputtered all afternoon. Instead, the Patriots (18-0) relied on Laurence Maroney's spins, cuts and helmet-rattling runs. With injured Chargers star LaDainian Tomlinson reduced to mostly watching in a parka, the Patriots moved on to a Feb. 3 matchup in Glendale, Ariz., against the New York Giants. The Giants beat Green Bay 23-20 in overtime for the NFC championship. New England closed out its regular season by beating the Giants in a 38-35 thriller. Yet for all the Brady Bunch has accomplished -- they're the only team in NFL history to start out with 18 straight victories -- the Patriots are well aware they must win that final game to avoid being relegated to a footnote. "We'll try to elevate our game for one last performance,'' said Brady, MVP in two of the three Super Bowls he's won. AP