WHEN THE PATRIOTS HAD THE BALL

Both Tom Brady and Laurence Maroney struggled early in the game. Brady completed only six of 11 passes for 52 yards with an interception in the first quarter (29.4 quarterback rating), and Maroney had two rushes for three yards in the opening stanza. But as the temperature dropped, both Brady and Maroney heated up. Brady finished the game 22 for 33 for 209 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions, and Maroney had 22 rushes for 122 yards and a touchdown as the Patriots kept the Chargers off-balance by mixing up their run and pass calls consistently throughout the game. The Patriots were 7 for 13 on third-down conversions and amassed 347 total yards.

WHEN THE CHARGERS HAD THE BALL

With the NFL's leading rusher, LaDainian Tomlinson, hurt (knee), the Chargers put the ball in the hands of quarterback Philip Rivers -- who only practiced one day last week and was listed as doubtful for the game -- and backup running backs Michael Turner and Darren Sproles. All three were effective at times during the game. Using the play-action pass set up by Turner (17 rushes 65 yards) and Sproles (3 rushes, 34 yards), Rivers completed 19 of 37 passes for 211 yards, but he threw two costly interceptions and had no touchdown passes. The Chargers were able to move the ball up and down the field except for where it mattered most, in the red zone (0 for 3). San Diego's offense totaled 311 yards.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Fans were shocked to see Maroney back returning kickoffs Sunday in the second half. He returned two kickoffs for 43 yards (21.5 yards per return), giving the Patriots good field position. Ellis Hobbs (2 punt returns, 39 yards) also had a good day returning kickoffs … After entering the game 1 for 3 on field goals in the 2007-08 postseason, San Diego place kicker Nate Kaeding was 3 for 3 Sunday, hitting field goals from 26, 23 and 24 yards, but it wasn't enough … Patriots place kicker Stephen Gostkowski, who set an NFL record for extra points during the regular season (74), was 3 for 3 on extra points Sunday ... Patriots receiver and special teams star Kelley Washington made a great save on a Chris Hanson punt that was going into the end zone, helping pin San Diego back at its own 4-yard line. Kyle Eckel downed the punt after Washington kept it in play.

COACHING

Patriots defensive coordinator Dean Pees made it obvious from the start that the Patriots were going to stack the line of scrimmage and blitz to contain the Chargers' powerful running attack of Tomlinson, Turner and Sproles, and to make hobbled quarterback Philip Rivers try to beat them. The strategy worked, as the Patriots were able to intercept Rivers twice … Before the game, Belichick said that the Patriots all week stressed the importance of playing well on third down and in the red zone. The Patriots struggled in the red zone for most of the season, but Sunday, in their most important game so far, the Pats held the Chargers to zero touchdowns on three trips. They also limited San Diego to three first downs on 12 third-down attempts.

INTANGIBLES

The Chargers were 12-0 this season when they won the turnover battle, but the undefeated Patriots won despite losing the ball three times against two takeaways … Since Belichick became head coach in 2000, the Patriots have had consistent late-season success, winning 22 of 25 games played between Dec. 25 and the end of the NFL postseason. In addition, the Patriots have a 48-8 record in games played on or after Thanksgiving since 2001, which is the best winning percentage (.857) in the NFL during that span … The Patriots improved to 23-3 since 1993 when the kickoff temperature is 34 degrees or less … The Patriots have won 18 straight games, 23 of their last 24 games dating back to last season, and 11 straight playoff games at home … There was a lot of trash talking Sunday. When Jabar Gaffney caught his 12-yard touchdown, he mocked San Diego Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman by doing Merriman's famous dance. As payback, San Diego cornerback Antonio Cromartie mocked Randy Moss' famous "parting the defense" move when he intercepted Brady in the end zone on a pass thrown to tight end Ben Watson in the third quarter.