FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts (AFP) — New England kept their quest for perfection on track, while Green Bay signalled their own Super Bowl intentions Saturday in the National Football League playoffs.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, named the league's Most Valuable Player after leading New England to a 16-0 regular season, threw three touchdown passes in a 31-20 American Conference victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The victory, which came after the Patriots enjoyed a first-round bye, sent New England to next week's AFC championship game against either San Diego or reigning Super Bowl Champions Indianapolis, who were to meet on Sunday.
Brady completed 26-of-28 passes for 260 yards and no interceptions as the Patriots advanced to their fifth conference championship in seven years.
Green Bay reached the National Conference championship game for the first time in a decade with a 42-20 pounding of the Seattle Seahawks at snowy Lambeau Field.
Guided by quarterback Brett Favre, the Packers rallied from an early 14-0 deficit to turn the game into a rout.
In Foxborough, however, the Patriots battled to the end to hold off the gritty Jaguars.
Brady, a two-time Super Bowl MVP connected on his first 16 passes to keep the Patriots on terms against the determined Jaguars, who set the tone by scoring on the opening possession.
It marked the first time an opponent had scored on its opening drive against the Patriots in 15 postseason games under coach Bill Belichick.
Running back Laurence Maroney rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries for New England, who have now equalled the 1972 Miami Dolphins as the only NFL team to go 17-0 in one campaign.
Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard finished an impressive 22-of-33 for 278 yards, two touchdowns.
His only miscues were a first-half fumble when he was sacked and a late interception by strong safety Rodney Harrison that ended the Jaguars' hopes.
"When you play good teams like that, it usually takes four quarters," Brady said. "Rodney's interception there at the end really sealed it - we needed that play."
After reaching halftime with the score knotted at 14-14, Brady threw two TD passes in the third quarter.
He capped the Patriots' opening drive of the second half by connecting with Wes Welker on a six-yard scoring pass on a fake statue-of-liberty play.
Brady took the snap, raised his left arm and turned away from the play, but instead of handing off Brady turned again and fired to Welker.
"I'm looking for my Academy Award on that play," Brady joked.
Jacksonville pulled within 21-17 on Josh Scobee's 39-yard field goal, and the Patriots responded with a 76-yard drive that culminated with Brady's nine-yard scoring pass to tight end Ben Watson.
Garrard replied with a 13-play, 86-yard drive, but had to settle for a field goal that narrowed the gap to 28-20.
Brady gave the Patriots a 31-20 cushion when he found Donte Stallworth for a 53-yard pass down the right sideline to set up Stephen Gostkowski's 35-yard field goal with 6:30 to play.
Brady's 93 percent completion rate was the highest ever in an NFL postseason game. Surprisingly, star wide receiver Randy Moss caught just one of those passes, while Welker had nine Watson had two - both touchdowns.
"It's easy when you have receivers that are open all the time and an offensive line that never lets anyone touch you," Brady said. "It makes it fun to play."
In Green Bay, things looked grim for the Packers after Ryan Grant's two fumbles led to two touchdowns for Seattle in the first four minutes.
However, Favre and the Packers responded with touchdowns on six straight possessions.
"We were up 14 and we were thinking it couldn't be any better," said former Packers coach Mike Holmgren, now at the helm of Seattle. "They settled in and responded beautifully and then we just could not stop them."
Favre threw three touchdown passes and Grant redeemed himself by rushing for another three touchdowns and a total of 201 yards.
Grant finished with franchise records for playoff yards and touchdowns.
"It's unfortunate what happened, but I really appreciate everybody backing me," Grant said. "They backed me the whole time. From the training staff, to the coaches, to the players, everybody just said, 'Stay with it. You know what you've got to do, let it go.' We knew we could move the ball, and everybody up front did a great job."
Favre admitted the deep early hole was daunting.
"I wasn't optimistic, but I can't say enough about the way we bounced back," said Favre, who was 18-of-23 for 173 yards and no interceptions. "We just kept running the ball."
Green Bay, who had a first-round bye, claimed their first playoff win since an overtime victory over Seattle in 2003 and advanced to the NFC championship game, where they will face either the Dallas Cowboys or the New York Giants, who were due to clash on Sunday.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
