Yoew! This score was not that close of a game, but the keys to the game were Ty Law catching three interceptions, Peyton Manning throwing four interceptions, Adam Vinatieri kicking five field goals and Jarvis Green recording three sacks that leads the Patriots back to the Super Bowl for the second time in three years. And they've won 14 straight, including undefeated at home in the 2003 season.

And then there was the crowd, Patriots Nation, who would not let Manning get off any audables or let the Colts offense become as explosion as they have been all season.

"The home-field advantage we have here at Foxboro is unlike anywhere else in the league," quarterback Tom Brady said after the game.

And the Defense was huge. In addition to Ty Law's three interceptions, and Jarvis Green's three sacks, Rodney Harrison had an interception and a forced fumble. They never even let the Colts score until the third quarter. But the Colts didn't help themselves either. Their first punt of the postseason was flubbed when the snap went over the punter's head deep in Colts' territory, and was forced to kick the ball into his own endzone and take a safety in order to protect field position.

"They did a good job defending us but we did things we haven't done," said Colts coach Tony Dungy. "We turned the ball over, we snapped a poor snap on the punt. We made some miscues and New England is a good enough team to take advantage of that."

While the Patriots offense had some shining moments, such as Antowain Smith carrying the ball 22 time for 100 yards even, the problems for the Patriots were on red zone offense, and having to settle for five field goals instead of running the score up on Indy. That led to excessive stress at the end of a game that should have been 41-14 and not the 21-14 score it was until a Vinatieri field goal gave the team some breathing room.

But the defense still would not let up. They kept putting pressure on the pass, keeping Manning to a 33% passer rating and going 23 for 47 for 237 yards, 4 INTs and 1 TD. They also held the offense to 98 yards rushing total.

All in all, this is one of the toughest defenses to ever see a Super Bowl, including the last three Super Bowl winners (Tampa Bay, 2001 Patriots and Baltimore). But it is the Team who got here, and who will battle it out in Houston.

The first half of this was a slugfest with Carolina in favor at 7-3.

And Donovan McNabb was hit late after getting rid of the ball and he was holding his ribs. He shuffled into the locker room at halftime, moving slow, holding his ribs and heading to an x-ray that came up negative. But then he came back to play, and he threw poorly, tossing three interceptions and the Panthers climbed all over him and the Eagles. Then there was a hit that McNabb had a hard time getting up from, and backup Koy Detmer came in for relief. Now it's 14-3 and the fourth quarter is ticking away. Detmer gets to third and three in the red zone and throws the fourth Eagle interception of the game with 5:22 to play.

With three minutes and change to play and no timeouts, the Eagles get the ball back on their own 20 yard line. But the efforts would go unperformed, and for the third straight year, the Eagles have lost the NFC Championship.

"This feels good," Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme said after the game. "But I'm not ready to start thinking about that defense (in New England) yet."

Two years ago the Panthers were 1-15. And writing this is like a science fiction story: Carolina is going to Super Bowl XXXVIII.....?

No, Big Willie McGinest is not being traded to an expansion team in Hawaii. He's going to the Pro Bowl! He will replace injured Baltimore Raven Peter Boulware. McGinest will join Ty Law and Richard Seymour for the trip.

The Monday Analysis congratulates Willie on his Pro Bowl selection.

Pro Bowl Center Damon Woody has been placed on injured reserve after injuring his knee in the game against Tennessee January 10th. In his place will be Russ Hotchstein. J.J. Stokes has been resigned by the Patriots with the open roster position.

Defensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams Lovie Smith has been hired as the head coach for the Chicago Bears. Smith and the Bears agreed to a four-year, $5.4 million deal this week, and the new head coach is ready for the job.

"I know I'm right for this job,'' Smith said. "It's an opportunity I've been waiting for and have prepared for many years.''

Smith was the defensive coordinator for the Rams for the past three seasons and was a linebackers coach for five seasons under Tony Dungy in Tampa Bay before that.

Steeler offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey has been hired as the 13th head coach for the Buffalo Bills. Mularkey, 42, has been an assistant in the NFL for 10 years, and was a player for nine seasons as a tight end for the Vikings and the Steelers. Mularkey and Bills General Manager Tom Donahue worked together in Pittsburgh where Donahue hired Mularkey as a tight ends coach.

The Steelers have hired Dick LeBeau as their defensive coordinator....Jets Coach Herman Edwards has received a two-year extension on his contract... Former Jets defensive coordinator has signed on with Minnesota....Wade Phillips has signed on with San Diego as their defensive coordinator...Dick Jauron will be the defensive coordinator for Detroit...

1. The Patriots are going to their second Super Bowl in three seasons. Incredible.

2. Here's another great statistic: The Patriots are now 4-0 lifetime in Conference Championships.

3. One more: The Krafts have owned this team for ten years this month, and inside those ten years, they have gone to three Super Bowls, more than any other owner in that time.

4. When the pressure came, Peyton become Playoffs Peyton, and could not get the job done.

5. What happened with Philly? Three NFC Championship games in three years and they're 0-3. What is wrong with the Eagles?

6. Brutally tough game by Carolina to come up with this NFC Championship win as a huge underdog.

7. Bravo to "Add 'em and Leave" Adam Vinatieri. Five field goals in bad weather, Mr. Clutch is back!

8. Player of the Game Ty Law. Whatever money he's looking for next season, the Patriots should pay it -- or maybe close to it!

9. What a sight at the Razor after the game with the fans and the fireworks. Awesome!

10. Two weeks until the big game. Ugh. Two weeks.

ejh