Patriots sail past Jaguars

''I think our best game is still out there," said veteran tight end Christian Fauria.

This must be what it felt like when Vince Lombardi called the shots at Lambeau Field in the 1960s. Now the torch has been passed to a new generation of champions and it is clear that in the 21st century, Foxborough, Mass., is the site of the NFL's feared frozen tundra.

The Patriots need to win two more games to advance to their fourth Super Bowl in five years and New England's next test comes on the road in either Denver or Indianapolis, depending on the outcome of today's playoff game between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. A win by the Steelers puts New England in Denver Saturday night, a victory by the Bengals sends the Patriots to Indy one week from today. New England lost at Denver in October, 28-20. The 14-2 Colts crushed the Patriots, 40-21, in a ''Monday Night Football" game at the Razor.

But that loss was in mid-autumn, a couple of football lifetimes ago, back when New England was struggling to get healthy and Belichick was trying to integrate new players into a new system. Those Patriots started the season 4-4, but the team we've seen since Nov. 13 bares a frightening resemblance to the robotic football dynasty that has won three of the last four Super Bowls.

''We've made some improvements and got some guys healthy," said Brady (15 of 27, 201 yards passing, no interceptions). ''We've improved in all phases of the game and the defense is just playing great this time of the year."

''It took a while for everything to come together," said veteran linebacker Willie McGinest, who recorded 4 1/2 sacks, an NFL playoff record.