AFC

NEW ORLEANS — When the New Orleans Saints finally found their rhythm, they marched one step closer to the Super Bowl.

Using a dominant ball-control offense and a few gambles that paid off, the Saints got two touchdown passes from Drew Brees and two interceptions from Marcus Lattimore in a 20-14 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Brees took the Saints on scoring drives of 92, 79 and 67 yards after falling behind 14-0. Lattimore clinched it when Nick Foles’ pass from the Saints 27 deflected off usually sure-handed receiver Alshon Jeffery with about two minutes remaining. A couple dozen Saints players surged off the sideline toward the end zone in celebration, while Jeffery fell facefirst to the turf in agony.

New Orleans (14-3) will host the NFC title game next week against the Rams (13-4). Los Angeles,

“It’s going to be a good game,” Brady said of the rematch with the Chiefs. “They’re a good team. We played them earlier this year. I know everybody thinks we suck and, you know, we can’t win any games, so we’ll see. It’ll be fun.”

The Chargers (13-5) haven’t reached the AFC title game since the 2007 season.

Philip Rivers finished 25 of 51 for 331 yards, three touch- downs and an interception. He is 0-5 in games played in Foxborough, including 0-3 in the postseason.

Brady finished 34 of 44 for 343 yards and a touchdown. He improves to 8-0 as a starter against Rivers, who drops to 1-8 against New England all-time.

For Rivers, seeing Brady again pick apart the Char- gers defense was another reminder that he was com- peting against one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history.

“He’s up there if not the all-time great, then one of,” Rivers said. “That argument can go on forever . ... Was he rolling at the highest level today? I think we can all agree on that.”

James White tied Darren Sproles’ NFL postseason record with 15 catches, totaling 97 yards.

New England scored on its first four possessions of the game to build a 35-7 half- time lead.

Julian Edelman had nine catches for 151 yards. He said the run game opened up the field for the rest of the offense.

“It was awesome to get Sony out there trucking,” said Edelman. “Rex (Bur- khead) was out there, he scored. And ‘Sweet Feet’ ( James White) being ‘Sweet Feet.’ Sony’s over there being a little horse. It was awesome.”

The Chargers added three touchdowns in the second half, but it was much too late.

Los Angeles lost for just the second time on the road (8-2) and first time outside Los Angeles this season. In their past four trips to the playoffs, the Chargers have lost in the divisional round.

“We got our butts kicked,” Los Angeles coach Anthony Lynn said.

Rivers seemed poised to keep Los Angeles in the game, connec t ing with Keenan Allen for a 43-yard score on Los Angeles’ first offensive possession.

It turned out to be just a blip. The Chargers punted the four other times they had the ball in the first half.

The Patriots were efficient throughout the opening 30 minutes, going 5 for 5 in the red zone, 5 of 6 on third down and committing only one penalty.

New England didn’t go three-and-out for the first time until its fifth offensive touch of the day when it punted with 3:32 left in the second quarter.

But Ryan Allen’s 48-yard punt was fumbled by Desmond King , sending the ball rolling toward the sideline. The referees ruled the ball went out of bounds b efore New E ngland’s Albert McClellan appeared to recover it. But the play was reversed after a challenge by Bill Belichick.

The turnover proved costly, with the Patriots scoring just four plays later when Michel crossed the goal line from 5 yards for his third touchdown of the half.

Asked if this victory proved at least some of the Patriots’ doubters wrong, Brady paused and smiled.

“I just like winning,” he said. “I just like winning.”

M il estones: Michel became just the second Patriots rookie in franchise history to have a rushing touchdown in the postseason. He joined fellow Georgia alum, Robert Edwards, who ran for a touchdown as a rookie in New England’s 1998 wildcard loss to Jacksonville.