Troy Brown

After multiple reviews--not to mention numerous penalties, big-time special teams plays and some serious quarterback drama--the New England Patriots are still standing. They're headed to the Super Bowl after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers, 24-17, in the AFC championship game Sunday at Heinz Field. In a contentious game that featured five replay reviews and a lengthy argument about hash-mark placement, the Patriots won the tough physical battle at the line of scrimmage.

At halftime of Sunday's Cowboy-Eagle game, Quincy Carter had an ever-so-slight edge over Donovan McNabb in quarterback rating for the game: 100.9 to 100.8. Then came the second half. Philadelphia turned their 20-10 halftime lead into a 44-13 victory over the Cowboys, demonstrating that Dallas and its fledgling quarterback have a long way to go. "I thought Quincy looked good for most of the day," Emmitt Smith said. "Until the pressure got to him."

Troy Brown was ready when New England made one more mistake in a mistake-filled game. He turned it into the winning touchdown. While the Jets simply stood around, Brown scooped up Dave Meggett's fumbled kickoff return and raced 75 yards with 5:39 left as the Patriots blundered their way past New York, 31-28, Sunday. "I saw the ball was out of Dave's arms and I scooped it up and everybody just stopped," Brown said of his touchdown that made the score 24-21.

The New England Patriots' success isn't surprising anymore. Not after Sunday's 27-16 victory over the Cleveland Browns, their seventh win in nine games. Not after Antowain Smith and Troy Brown were solid again and Tom Brady was steady. And not after another strong defensive performance took them closer to their first playoff berth in three years. "I knew in training camp that we were going to be a good football team.

Chad Pennington saved the New York Jets' season again and Wayne Chrebet took a leap toward redemption. The Jets kept their playoff hopes alive with a 30-17 win Sunday night over the New England Patriots, one week after they fell to lowly Chicago. "Last week we didn't think we were going to be breathing, but now we're breathing," said Pennington, who threw three touchdown passes and improved to 7-4 as a starter.

Call it the Boston Glee Party. While 68,436 fans were watching the Patriots roll the Tennessee Titans, 38-30, at Foxboro, Mass., 35,048 were on hand at Fenway Park to watch the Red Sox resuscitate their postseason hopes with a 5-4 victory over the Oakland A's. If you closed your eyes, it might have been difficult to tell one venue from the other. In the final five minutes of the Patriot victory, fans were cheering as much for the Red Sox as the NFL team.

Division I castoffs Jeff Berman and Mike Teron combined to hold off Southern Maine in the opening round of the NCAA Division III tournament Thursday night, preserving Cal Lutheran's 5-3 win over the defending champions at Brown Stadium. Berman, a transfer from San Jose State, replaced starter Steve Dempsey in the fifth inning and got the top-ranked Kingsmen out of a jam. "I love that situation," said Berman, a left-hander who induced Bob Prince to hit into an inning-ending double play.

The New England Patriots outlasted a Minnesota team that can't win on the road and can't hang onto the ball anywhere. Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes in the first half and the Patriots held on for a 24-17 victory Sunday over the sloppy Vikings. Minnesota lost three fumbles and forced no turnovers, increasing its league-worst turnover differential to minus-19. The Vikings have lost 16 in a row on the road and haven't won since Thanksgiving Day 2000 in Dallas.

Getting a punt blocked, throwing an interception in the red zone and racking up nine penalties usually is a recipe for defeat. Unless the opponent is the Detroit Lions. Antowain Smith ran for 80 yards and a touchdown, and Tedy Bruschi returned an interception 27 yards for a score as the New England Patriots beat Detroit, 20-12, Thursday. "Today wasn't one of the most attractive wins of the year," said New England's Troy Brown, who caught 10 passes for 111 yards.

Asante Samuel smiled as he stood at his locker and joked about missing hot summer workouts. Repeatedly saying he was happy his contract holdout was over -- a one-year, $7.79 million salary may have brightened his mood -- the Patriots cornerback was eager to practice with his teammates who had been in training camp for a month.