The Patriots, winners of 13 straight, will host the winner of today's Indianapolis-Kansas City matchup a week from today in the AFC Championship game. A win would put the Patriots in the Super Bowl for the second time in three years.
The Titans made it interesting on their last possession, driving 36 yards to New England's 40 before self-destructing after the two-minute warning. First, Tennessee was penalized 10 yards for intentional grounding by Steve McNair. Guard Benji Olson's holding penalty pushed the Titans back another 10 yards and put them in a third-and-22 situation.
McNair threw 10 yards to Drew Bennett on third down. On fourth and 12 from New England's 43, Rodney Harrison's blitz forced McNair to throw up a jump ball to Bennett, who bobbled it and had it knocked away by Asante Samuel.
"It was everything we expected of this game," Belichick said. "All their key players played well. We were fortunate to make more plays than Tennessee did."
"It was one of the more intense games I've played in," Harrison said.
The Patriots gained 297 yards to the Titans' 284. McNair played like a co-MVP, completing 18 of 26 passes for 210 yards. But, as it has all season, New England's defense stiffened when it had to. "It was our season," Harrison said. "We had let them go downfield, and enough was enough. We challenged them. We stepped up and said if they're going to beat us, they're going to beat us. You can't let him sit back there and sling the ball. We decided to try something different and give him a different look."
After the game the Patriots did not have the look of a team that was a win away from the Super Bowl. "We're not jumping for joy in here," Tedy Bruschi said. "We know what we want to do. We're just one step closer."
"We're not looking at the Super Bowl. We're looking at one game at a time," said Harrison, repeating what has become a familiar refrain. "You don't see guys jumping around. We're focused."
