Perfect Patriots Pound Jaguars

21-12 win over Chargers moves them to 18-0 and into the Super Bowl

(NEWSER) - The '72 Dolphins must be nervous after New England stayed perfect today by defeating an injured Chargers crew, 21-12, and advancing to a fourth Super Bowl in seven years. The Patriots had to work for it, suffering a lackluster effort from Tom Brady, and riding rusher Lawrence Maroney for 122 yards and a touchdown. More»

But in Super Bowl XLVI, Manning made a hero of himself

(NEWSER) - Last night's big game was intensely fought, undeniably exciting—and a little mystifying, thanks to Eli Manning's unusual brand of heroism. Analysts weigh in on the game's place in football history:

• Last night brought us "the most Eli Manning moment of Eli Manning’s career." During the game-winning touchdown, we saw "a hero shot in which the conqueror looks totally confused by his conquest," with "arms half-raised in quasi-triumph." His quiet humility was the polar opposite of Tom Brady's "aggro posture," but it remains "difficult to understand," writes Josh Levin at Slate .

Bundchen defends Tom Brady after Patriots' Super Bowl loss

(NEWSER) - Gisele Bundchen made headlines last week when she asked friends and family to pray for her husband's team to win the Super Bowl, but as we all know, those prayers went unheard. Bundchen was decidedly less sappy in her post-game comments last night, caught on tape as she left the VIP suites on her way to comfort Tom Brady. "My husband can not f****ing throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time," she said as she was heckled by Giants fans. "I can't believe they dropped the ball so many times." The Insider has the video. More»

Patriots top Bills, Saints crush Panthers, 49ers thump Rams

(NEWSER) - The New England Patriots overcame a 21-point deficit today with 49 unanswered points to rock the Buffalo Bills 49-21, the AP reports. The win earned the Pats home-field advantage and the AFC's top seed. Tom Brady threw for 338 yards and finished with the second-most passing yards in NFL history, 5,235—behind only Drew Brees, who threw for 5,486 this year with the New Orleans Saints. More»

Hopefully check takes sting out of auto accident

(NEWSER) - The "Golden Boy" got a golden ticket yesterday, turning around what had threatened to be a rather crappy day. Just hours after a two-car accident earned him a brief ride in an ambulance, the Patriots awarded Tom Brady a new four-year deal that will make him the highest-paid player in football, in terms of average salary, according to the AP . The deal guarantees Brady $48.5 million, and carries an average annual salary of $18 million (Eli Manning makes an average $16.25 million; brother Peyton currently makes $14 million). More»