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Brady-led Patriots storm into playoffs
Source: Agencies |
December 14, 2010, Tuesday
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THE New England Patriots mauled the Chicago Bears 36-7 in a driving snowstorm on Sunday to become the first team to qualify for the NFL post-season.
Not even a ferocious blizzard that forced the NFL to relocate the Minnesota Vikings-New York Giants game from Minneapolis to Detroit on Monday could slow the mighty Patriots, who rolled to their fifth straight win to match the high-flying Atlanta Falcons for the NFL's best record at 11-2.
There were no weather woes for the Falcons in Charlotte as they crushed the toothless Carolina Panthers 31-10 to stretch their winning streak to seven games.
Since an upset loss to the Cleveland Browns, the Patriots have shifted into another gear, stringing together five dominating displays, scoring at least 30 points in each win.
A week after pulverizing the New York Jets 45-3, the Patriots added the Bears to their list of scalps with another ruthless performance.
With snow whipping across Soldier Field, the Patriots raced to a 33-0 halftime lead then eased to another comfortable win, securing their eighth playoff appearance in 10 seasons.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady ignored the Arctic conditions, completing 27 of 40 passes for 369 yards, including touchdowns to Deion Branch and Rob Gronkowski.
With the victory the Pats opened up a two-game cushion at the top of the AFC East on the Jets (9-4), who suffered their second consecutive loss, falling to the Miami Dolphins 10-6.
The victory kept the 7-6 Dolphins' slim post-season hopes alive and continued a bizarre trend, improving their record on the road to 6-1 while winning just once at home.
Despite the loss, the Bears (9-4) maintained a one-game lead in the NFC North over the Green Bay Packers, who were shocked 7-3 by the Detroit Lions after quarterback Aaron Rodgers was knocked out of the contest in the second quarter with a concussion.
The New Orleans Saints (10-3) signalled they are not about to relinquish their Super Bowl crown without a fight as Drew Brees tossed three touchdowns and Malcolm Jenkins returned an interception 96 yards for another score in a 31-13 rout of the St Louis Rams (6-7) for their sixth straight win.
In an AFC showdown, the San Diego Chargers (7-6) pounded the front-running Kansas City Chiefs 31-0 to jump back into the post-season picture.
With starting quarterback Matt Cassel out after undergoing an emergency appendectomy, the Chiefs (8-5) were unable to mount any offence under backup Brodie Croyle.
The Chargers, meanwhile, received another solid effort from Philip Rivers, who threw a pair of touchdown passes to Malcom Floyd.
The NFC West remained up for grabs after the San Francisco 49ers (5-8) dumped the Seattle Seahawks 40-21 and the Arizona Cardinals thumped the Denver Broncos 43-13.
The Rams and Seahawks lead the division with 6-7 records with the 49ers one game back.
The Pittsburgh Steelers improved to 10-3 behind a dazzling defensive display as Troy Polamalu and LaMarr Woodley returned interceptions for touchdowns in a 23-7 win over the Cincinnati Bengals (2-11).
David Garrard tossed three touchdowns as the Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5) continued their march to the post-season, beating the Oakland Raiders 38-31 to stay one game in front of the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5) also stayed in the hunt for an NFL wildcard spot, edging the Washington Redskins 17-16 while the Buffalo Bills (3-10) picked up their third win, stopping the Cleveland Browns 13-6.
Not even a ferocious blizzard that forced the NFL to relocate the Minnesota Vikings-New York Giants game from Minneapolis to Detroit on Monday could slow the mighty Patriots, who rolled to their fifth straight win to match the high-flying Atlanta Falcons for the NFL's best record at 11-2.
There were no weather woes for the Falcons in Charlotte as they crushed the toothless Carolina Panthers 31-10 to stretch their winning streak to seven games.
Since an upset loss to the Cleveland Browns, the Patriots have shifted into another gear, stringing together five dominating displays, scoring at least 30 points in each win.
A week after pulverizing the New York Jets 45-3, the Patriots added the Bears to their list of scalps with another ruthless performance.
With snow whipping across Soldier Field, the Patriots raced to a 33-0 halftime lead then eased to another comfortable win, securing their eighth playoff appearance in 10 seasons.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady ignored the Arctic conditions, completing 27 of 40 passes for 369 yards, including touchdowns to Deion Branch and Rob Gronkowski.
With the victory the Pats opened up a two-game cushion at the top of the AFC East on the Jets (9-4), who suffered their second consecutive loss, falling to the Miami Dolphins 10-6.
The victory kept the 7-6 Dolphins' slim post-season hopes alive and continued a bizarre trend, improving their record on the road to 6-1 while winning just once at home.
Despite the loss, the Bears (9-4) maintained a one-game lead in the NFC North over the Green Bay Packers, who were shocked 7-3 by the Detroit Lions after quarterback Aaron Rodgers was knocked out of the contest in the second quarter with a concussion.
The New Orleans Saints (10-3) signalled they are not about to relinquish their Super Bowl crown without a fight as Drew Brees tossed three touchdowns and Malcolm Jenkins returned an interception 96 yards for another score in a 31-13 rout of the St Louis Rams (6-7) for their sixth straight win.
In an AFC showdown, the San Diego Chargers (7-6) pounded the front-running Kansas City Chiefs 31-0 to jump back into the post-season picture.
With starting quarterback Matt Cassel out after undergoing an emergency appendectomy, the Chiefs (8-5) were unable to mount any offence under backup Brodie Croyle.
The Chargers, meanwhile, received another solid effort from Philip Rivers, who threw a pair of touchdown passes to Malcom Floyd.
The NFC West remained up for grabs after the San Francisco 49ers (5-8) dumped the Seattle Seahawks 40-21 and the Arizona Cardinals thumped the Denver Broncos 43-13.
The Rams and Seahawks lead the division with 6-7 records with the 49ers one game back.
The Pittsburgh Steelers improved to 10-3 behind a dazzling defensive display as Troy Polamalu and LaMarr Woodley returned interceptions for touchdowns in a 23-7 win over the Cincinnati Bengals (2-11).
David Garrard tossed three touchdowns as the Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5) continued their march to the post-season, beating the Oakland Raiders 38-31 to stay one game in front of the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5) also stayed in the hunt for an NFL wildcard spot, edging the Washington Redskins 17-16 while the Buffalo Bills (3-10) picked up their third win, stopping the Cleveland Browns 13-6.
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