Laurence Maroney rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown as the undefeated New England Patriots ground out a 21-12 victory over the San Diego Chargers in Sunday's AFC Championship game at Gillette Stadium to advance to their fourth Super Bowl in the last seven years.
New England had the strong legs of Maroney to thank after an unusually below-par performance from star quarterback Tom Brady as the Patriots became the first team in NFL history to start a season 18-0.
The league`s Most Valuable Player threw three interceptions - the most since being picked off the same number of times by the same opponents in the play-offs last season - as Maroney picked up the slack to help the Patriots improve to 11-0 at home in the post-season.
Wide receiver Randy Moss also had a quiet game but second-year running back Maroney recorded his second consecutive 100-yard game and fourth in his last five games.
Maroney was at his best after San Diego fought back to 14-12 following an interception off Brady on the opening drive of the second half.
Limited to 17 yards on seven carries in the first half, Maroney rushed for 105 after the break, including a 20-yard run that set up Brady's 6-yard scoring pass to Wes Welker to give the Patriots a 21-12 lead with 12:15 to play.
Brady finished 22-of-33 for 209 yards, two touchdown passes and three interceptions. Moss had just one reception for 18 yards.
San Diego had chances, getting inside New England's 10-yard line on three occasions but had to settle for Nate Kaeding field goals each time.
The Chargers also had to play without star running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who saw action on their first two possessions before leaving the game with a sore knee.
Tomlinson had suffered a hyperextended knee in last weekend's 28-24 victory at the Indianapolis Colts.
Quarterback Philip Rivers, who was doubtful all week with a sprained MCL in his right knee, completed 19-of-37 pass attempts for 211 yards and two interceptions.
The Chargers were fortunate to still be in contention at half-time, overcoming a pair of interceptions by Rivers and also failing to get into the end zone despite two 1st-and-goal opportunities.
San Diego did carry some momentum into the locker room thanks to a 40-yard field goal from Kaeding - his third of the half - with eight seconds remaining.
Brady was uncharacteristically erratic in the opening quarter and threw the first interception of his career in the first period of a play-off game.
With the Chargers blanking Moss in the first half, Brady was forced to rely on short passes and continually looked to running back Kevin Faulk, who had eight receptions for 82 yards.
After San Diego took a 3-0 lead, New England moved 65 yards in 10 plays.
Moss made a 14-yard gain on a reverse and Brady was 5-of-6 for 39 yards, setting up Maroney's 1-yard run for a 7-3 lead with 13:48 left in the second quarter.
Rivers helped the Chargers hit back, finding Vincent Jackson three times for a total of 52 yards to set up Kaeding's 23-yard kick that made the score 7-6.
The Patriots' defence then came up with the first big play of the half when Asante Samuel stepped in front of a pass by Rivers and returned it to San Diego's 24-yard line with 4:36 to play.
New England needed just two plays