Well, this was expected. Right?  The New England Patriots on one side of the Super Bowl, representing the AFC.  It was closer than many expected, including oddsmakers, who favored the Patriots by 14 points.  Even with quarterback Tom Brady's two-touchdown yet rare three-interception performance, they held on for a 21-12 victory over the San Diego Chargers, who were limping into this game.

Philip “Cry Me a” Rivers, LT and Antonio Gates, managed to start despite various injuries.  However, Rivers, who was believed to partially tear his ACL in last week’s 28-24 win at Indianapolis, was not very effective of the three Chargers.  Maybe, Billy Volek, who led the game-winning drive last week, should have taken his place.

Rivers finished 19 of 37 for 211 yards, zero touchdowns and two key first-half interceptions. 

The Chargers did not take advantage of Brady’s mistakes either.  They converted three Brady INts into six points on two field goals by Nate Kaeding.  Tack on another two three-pointers and Kaeding finished the night perfect on his four attempts, three from within 30 yards and one from 40.

More importantly, the Chargers managed to move the ball efficiently at the end of the first quarter, drawing 1st-9, NE9.  However, they came away with Kaeding’s 26-yarder, despite the windy and frigid conditions.

On the ensuing drive, the Patriots drove 65 yards on 10 plays and found the endzone with a Laurence Maroney 1-yard touchdown run.

The Chargers managed to score again on their next possession.  Where they stumbled was inside the Patriots 20 yard line.  In nearly the exact situation as the first quarter, the Chargers held a 1st-9 at the NE 9.  A 1-yard run, incomplete pass on second and short completion on third led to another Kaeding successful 3-point try, cutting the Patriots lead to within one at 7-6.

But, the Patriots would not be stunned.  Brady hit Jabar Gaffney down the middle for the first of his two touchdowns today.  This extended the lead to 14-6, which was trimmed with another Kaeding field goal with just eight seconds remaining before halftime.

The Chargers managed to hold New England scoreless in the first and third quarter, while continuing to reduce the Pats lead.  Instead of a touchdown though, the Chargers drilled their third field goal of the game, making it a 14-12 game.

Unlike last game’s fourth-quarter miraculous 78-yard drive combined with a Peyton Manning stop from the nine-yard line on four tries (fourth down took place on seven), there were no miracles time around for San Diego.

New England made a valiant stop on 4th and 10 from its own 36, immediately following Brady’s second TD pass of the day to Wes Welker, to finalize the 21-12 victory for the Patriots.

The Chargers never saw the ball on offense again, as Brady and Co. marched from their own 13 to San Diego’s 21, where they eventually took a knee and completed their 18th consecutive win en route to the Super Bowl.

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