Wes Welker runs with one of his 12 receptions, in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game.

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach

SEATTLE -- As runners approach the finish line, they put their head down for that final push, grit their teeth and grind out those last few meters until they reach the tape.

The New England Patriots are doing much the same thing.

After their 24-21, skin-of-the-teeth win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, the Patriots find themselves in a three-way tie atop the AFC East standings, thanks to Miami's win over Buffalo and the Jets' loss in San Francisco.

With three games to play, the division that just a few weeks ago seemed like New York's for the taking is very much up for grabs.

"We have to put our head down and keep playing, and when we have no more games left, look up and see where we are," Mike Vrabel said. "We have to think about this team and what's in front of us."

It is fairly improbable that New England is in this position. The Pats knew going into the game with the Seahawks that to help their own playoff cause, they would likely have to run the table in their four remaining games.

But to have the injuries pile up for them during the season as they have -- and things got worse Sunday, as Vince Wilfork (shoulder), Tedy Bruschi (knee) and James Sanders (ribs) all left the game and didn't return, while Ty Warren (groin) didn't start the game -- and still be in this position?

Well, Ellis Hobbs' chuckle when the topic comes up probably says it all.

"It's funny, isn't it?" the cornerback said. "It's a three-game season. It's funny how things work out."

As the overcast afternoon on the shore of Puget Sound wore on, however, it didn't look like the Patriots would be laughing. New England was down 14-3 early in the second quarter and 21-16 with 12 minutes left.

But the defense -- the one that saw two rookies, Jerod Mayo and Gary Guyton, start at linebacker, two wily (and rusty) veterans, Junior Seau and Rosevelt Colvin, see more snaps than probably even they anticipated, and cornerback Lewis Sanders playing both safety and linebacker -- clamped down over those final minutes.

And the offense figured out how to convert on third down.

New England was a combined 8 for 35 on third down over its previous three games, but Sunday it was 10 for 18, with three conversions coming on the game-winning touchdown drive.

The Patriots began the possession on their own 29 after a 10-yard punt return from Wes Welker, and Matt Cassel was dropped for a four-yard sack on first down. The Patriots recovered, however, as Cassel (26 for 44, 268 yards, touchdown) scampered for a nine-yard gain on second down. On third and 5, Kevin Faulk motioned out wide and Cassel found him for an 11-yard gain.

Three plays later, there was a five-yard gain to Jabar Gaffney on third and 4, and three more plays later, the Pats were looking at third and 10. Seattle's blitz came quickly, but Cassel got the ball away to Welker on the right sideline for a 13-yard gain.

The next play was a screen to Welker, who bobbed and wove his way to a 25-yard gain, giving his team first and goal from the 6. New England was still a yard short on third down, but had to go for it on fourth, and Sammy Morris jumped over the pile and got over the goal line.

The Patriots got the two-point conversion, firing a pass to Welker to set the final score.

Showing no ill effects from the crushing hit he took against the Steelers' Ryan Clark last week, Welker had a season-high 12 catches for 134 yards, exactly half of the yards Cassel threw for.

Needing to get into field-goal range, Seattle got a 26-yard kickoff return from Josh Wilson and started the drive at its 34-yard line. A 23-yard run by quarterback Seneca Wallace, and the Seahawks were in New England territory.

But on second and 11, the Patriots called for an all-out blitz, and Brandon Meriweather tore through the Seahawks' line untouched, sacking Wallace and smacking the ball out of his hand. Richard Seymour fell on the fumble, and the victory was sealed.

"The coaches made a great call; it wasn't anything I did special," Meriweather said.

"They made a good play," Wallace said. "They actually came out with that defense three times in the game; I called timeout twice. It's tough, because we don't have an answer for it."

They know the finish line is in sight; what they don't know, what they can't know, is what place they'll be in when it's all over.

All they can do is put their heads down and grind it out.

"We're still in it; we still have a shot," Le Kevin Smith said. "It's on us for three games, one game at a time. We can [determine] our destiny. Now with the Jets losing, it's in our hands even more."

smanza@projo.com