A year ago, the Patriots were overtaken in the AFC championship game by the Indianapolis Colts.

This year, New England was victorious in the AFC title game, earning a berth in the Super Bowl.

The postgame emotions were polar opposites, said veteran New England linebacker Tedy Bruschi.

[Special teams captain] Larry [Izzo] and I were talking about the feelings we had today and how different it was [than last year]. We were on the field [at Gillette on Sunday night], seeing all the confetti and the championship trophy," said Bruschi.

"Last year we were walking off the field [in Indianapolis] through the tunnel and people were screaming at us," he said. "It's a night-and-day feeling."

-STEVEN KRASNER