Brady: three interceptions

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New England are in the Super Bowl after surviving three Tom Brady interceptions on their way to beating San Diego 21-12 in the AFC Championship game.

In the process the Patriots made yet more history in their record-breaking season, becoming the first team to go 18-0.

They did not have it all their own way against an injury-hit San Diego team, but as so often before in the play-offs, they had just enough to win.

Ultimately the difference between the teams was red zone conversion, as San Diego failed four times to punch the ball in and had to settle for field goals.

Injury-hit star running back LaDainian Tomlinson started for the Chargers but was quickly withdrawn in favour of Michael Turner, but banged-up passer Philip Rivers was on from the first series and did not look in too much discomfort, at least initially.

Impressive

San Diego's defence made an impressive start, stopping Brady and co. twice before with five minutes left in the first quarter, a Brady pass intended for Dante Stallworth was picked off by Quentin Jammer.

That was Brady's first turnover in this year's play-offs and the visitors made him pay at least in part, Nate Kaeding knocking over a 26-yard field goal to give San Diego an early lead.

But on their next possession New England moved the ball 65 yards, finishing with a one-yard Lawrence Maroney touchdown, the back's fifth successive postseason game with a touchdown.

San Diego again proved capable of moving the ball on the next series, getting another first and goal but again proving unable to punch it in and settling for another Kaeding field goal, this time from 23 yards.

Disaster struck for the Chargers just five minutes before the half when Rivers was intercepted by Asante Samuel, giving the Patriots possession on the San Diego 24 and Brady hit Jabar Gaffney in the endzone to give the Pats a 14-6 lead.

Rivers was beginning to look a liabilty as he lobbed up another pass which was easily picked off by Ellis Hobbs with 2:25 left in the half. This time Brady did not make them pay and the Pats punted it away.

With 1:46 left in the half San Diego started from their own 35 yard line and again were able to move downfield and again had to settle for a field goal try. Kaeding was faced with a tricky task in the blustery wind from 40 yards but he made it to take the Chargers in at the half just 14-9 in arrears.

Interception

On the first series of the second half Brady threw another interception - on a third and 12 immediately after he was sacked - the ball tipped and picked off by Drayton Florence in midfield.

A pattern was developing as the Chargers again got the ball inside the Pats' 10 with a first down and again had to settle for their fourth successive field goal, this time Kaeding chipping it over from 24 yards to cut the deficit to two points.

Incredibly, League MVP Brady looked like he was starting to unravel and after leading New England all the way from their own 30 to the San Diego two yard line, he threw his third pick, this time in the endzone to Antonio Cromartie. That was Brady's first pick in the red zone for two years.

This time San Diego could not take advantage and had to kick it away and New England made them pay immediately, Brady hitting Wes Welker from six yards out to put the Pats two scores ahead with just 12 minutes to go.

The Patriots defence again stood firm and that just about ended San Diego's brave challenge.

The offence completely ended it as they ate up the clock with a closing drive that lasted nearly nine minutes and ended with Brady taking a knee as time expired.

New England will play the New York Giants in the Super Bowl in a fortnight's time in Arizona.