Talking NFL

There’s a plethora of thoughts running through my brain after the Patriots 21-12 victory over the Chargers in the AFC Championship Game, but here are the ones that are getting past those 7 Sam Adams Lagers that I downed:

- Tom Brady certainly did not have his best game. Of the three interceptions he threw, the one in the end-zone to Antonio Cromartie could have been a killer like the one he tossed in the playoffs against the Broncos two years ago (and thank you CBS for showing that replay again! Boy was that pleasant…)

- Randy Moss was held to a non-factor for the second week in a row. Who knows how much that has to do with his “old friend’s” restraining order, but Patriots fans are hoping it becomes a non-issue by Super Bowl Sunday…

- Of San Diego’s 311 yards of total offense, wideouts Vincent Jackson and Chris Chambers accounted for 183 of them.

- Give credit to Philip Rivers for gutting out a decent performance on a very gimpy leg. Not so much credit goes to L.T., a.k.a Darth Vader on the Chargers sidelines.

- Laurence Maroney now has back-to-back 122 yard rushing games. Anyone still think the Patriots are a “finesse” offense? Didn’t think so…

- This Patriots defense, while giving up yards to their opponents, is closely resembling the 01-02 championship team’s “bend but don’t break” philosophy. Three times the Chargers had first and goal to go - three times they came away with field goals.

- Punting the ball away on 4th down at the Patriots 36 yard line with less than 10 minutes to play and down by two scores? Hey, that’s just Norv being Norv…

Finally, there were some great individual efforts from various Patriots players all game long - Junior Seau’s crucial stop of Michael Turner on 3rd and goal and Kelley Washington downing a punt inside the 5 yard line come to mind immediately. But nothing stands out like the clutch play of Kevin Faulk. Two of his catches set up Patriot touchdowns on the next play, and he converted 2 first downs on their final drive that clinched the game.

I have absolutely no problem saying that right now I love Kevin Faulk as much as another heterosexual man can love another heterosexual man.

(But don’t worry, Tom - you can win my love back 2 weeks from now…)

New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers, AFC Championship