FOXBORO - Kevin Faulk has been a member of the Patriots organization for nine years. The Patriots drafted him in the second round (46th overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft out of LSU.

While he has never been consistently a go-to-guy running the ball for the Patriots, he has built his career around being an exceptional third-down back and special-teams player, and by having an uncanny ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and pick up yards after the catch.

Sunday, in the AFC championship game, all of those abilities were on display as Faulk, the franchise record-holder for receptions by a running back, led the Patriots with eight receptions for 82 yards (10.3 yards per catch).

"He's been big for us all year," New England coach Bill Belichick said. "We've had guys step up all year, and Kevin and Laurence [Maroney] have done a great job for us -- and certainly did today."

Faulk said he was prepared to play a big role in Sunday's game if he needed to, and that's exactly what happened.

"Real simple: Be prepared no matter what the situation is," Faulk said. "You might be in on third down, you might be in first or second down, we never know. If the opportunity comes, you have to be ready no matter what."

Faulk was certainly ready Sunday.

Six of his catches came on either first or second down. The other two were his biggest catches of the season. With the Chargers trailing 21-12 and needing a stop, they got New England in second and 18 from its own 17-yard line with 8:04 remaining in the game.

Faulk came to the Patriots' rescue to keep their drive alive.

Brady threw a screen pass to Faulk, who sprinted seven yards up the right side of the field to make it third and 11 at the 24.

Faulk said he knew the Patriots could gain a lot of positive yards on screen passes Sunday.

"It's something we've seen on film the first game that we played, and they kind of gave it to us a little bit and we just went with that," Faulk said.

Brady went to Faulk again on the next play, but overthrew. Faulk, however, made a fantastic diving catch right at the first-down marker. Because of it, the Patriots were able to keep the drive alive and prevent San Diego's offense from returning to the field for a possible rally attempt.

"Hey, I just saw the ball and I just dove for it," Faulk said. "It was the opportunity to make a first down and make a play for my team."

Three plays later, the Chargers got the Patriots in a third and 3 situation with 5:17 remaining. Brady found Faulk over the middle for a 14-yard gain, and the Patriots were able to prevent the Chargers' offense from getting back on the field.

Faulk has won three Super Bowl titles with the Patriots. At 32 years old, he knows that time is running out on his chances to win another one, so he is cherishing this opportunity right now.

"Once the clock was ticking down, the emotion level just runs real high, and I think the whole team is that way," Faulk said. "Just because of the feeling, it doesn't matter how many times you've been there or what you've done over the course of your career, when that moment comes, you can't hold your emotions. You can't hide them."

Faulk said, now that it's getting late in his career, thoughts have started to creep into his head about retiring.

"Of course you talk about it," Faulk said. "You ask guys who you are close with how they are feeling, how your bodies feel. What we love to do is play football and when that time comes, you'll know, your body will let you know. Your thought process, your family members that you trust, they will let you know."

But don't expect Faulk to retire anytime soon. His teammates respect him so much that they voted him a team captain this year.

"It means so much to me," Faulk said. "It's one of the most important things in my life. When the guys -- when coach announced it, it was such a surprise to me, but at the same time I knew how hard I've worked to get to this point throughout my whole career, and just being able to hear your name being called as captain is just a very special honor."