NFL playoff final four set as Saints, Patriots advance
WASHINGTON: Super Bowl champion quarterbacks Drew Brees and Tom Brady each sparkled Sunday in leading the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots into the NFL semi-finals with home playoff triumphs.
Two days before his 40th birthday, Brees overcame a first-pass pickoff to complete 28 of 38 throws for 301 yards and two touchdowns as the Saints went marching into next Sunday’s National Conference final by beating defending champion Philadelphia 20-14.
Brady, a 41-year-old winner of five NFL titles, completed 34 of 44 passes for 343 yards and a touchdown while Sony Michel ran 24 times for 129 yards and three touchdowns as the Patriots beat the Los Angeles Chargers 41-28 for a record eighth consecutive trip to the American Conference final.
The Saints will host the Los Angeles Rams and the Patriots will visit the Kansas City Chiefs next Sunday to decide berths in Super Bowl 53 on February 3 at Atlanta.
Brees sparked the greatest playoff comeback in Saints history from a 14-0 deficit.
“Obviously we didn’t start this game the way we wanted to,” Brees said. “They jumped out to a 14-point lead. We were calm, we were poised, we knew were going to get things going.”
The Patriots, who seek a ninth Super Bowl appearance in 18 campaigns and third title in five seasons, jumped ahead 35-7 at half-time.
“The line played great and I think we just did a good job of keeping them off balance. It was a good win,” Brady said. “It’s that time of year. You’ve got to play your best.”
The Patriots beat Kansas City 43-40 in an October regular-season contest, but the Chiefs, who haven’t won a title since the 1969 campaign, were the only visitors all season to lead at New England.
“Kansas City has had a hell of a year,” Brady said. “They gave us everything we could handle in October. I’m sure it will be the same. It’s going to be fun to play them in the championship game.”
The Rams and Saints each went an NFLbest 13-3 this season, with New Orleans beating the Rams 45-35 in November. AFP