Indianapolis-

It’s really too bad that LaDainian Tomlinson’s controversial remarks the past few days have taken a little away from this Patriots win, because I believe that this win was definitely one of the 5 Best during the Brady/Belichick regime.

While we all have seen this team do this before, or at least win playoff games, I think that this was different. It really was. Besides Super Bowl 36 against the Rams, had the Patriots ever overcome a more talented team in the playoffs which is why this just may be their 2^nd most impressive win ever.

I am well aware of the many miscues that the Chargers made- especially the Coaching snafus-none more egrecious that not using the League’s MVP enough –Tomlinson touching the ball just 9 times in the 2^nd half? Are you kidding?

Make no mistake about it- The Chargers are loaded with talent, but they just don’t get it, making a lot of stupid mistakes (which a championship team ie-the Pats , do not do)- the personal foul penalty in the 1^st half which extended the Pats drive leading to a field goal (and wait, didn’t the Pats win by just a field goal?!). And how about San Diego’s Eric Parker not just jumping on his own fumbled punt instead of trying to pick it up and losing it, resulting in another Pats field goal? There is that 3 pt winning margin again.

But even with those miscues-give the Pats credit for taking advantage, especially Brady who had a very uncharacteristic up and down performance. But when it comes right down to it- who is better in the clutch? He hadn’t completed a pass longer than 19 yards all game long but on 3^rd and 10 with less than 3 minutes to go and the game tied- he throws a perfect pass to none other than former charger Reche Caldwell for 49 yards to set up the game winning field goal.

But that play would not have been possible except for the heads up play by Troy Brown a series earlier when he stripped the Chargers McCree who had just caught Tom Brady’s 3^rd interception of the game. Alot of players try to strip the ball from an opponent, but it rarely works, especially when the game is on the line. This game was definitely on the line, if not in serious jeopardy after that interception. The only single play in Patriots history comparable to Brown’s in potential long term ramifications is the now infamous Tuck play that reversed Tom Brady’s fumble in the Raiders on the Patriots way to their 1^st Super Bowl.

So now, can the Pats build on this win? What can we expect from Indy this week? Could this finally be Peyton Manning’s year? And what kind of influence will Adam Vinatieri have against his old team? Stay tuned- more to come, tomorrow from Indianapolis.