2006 New England Patriots season

Infobox NFL_season

team = New England Patriots
year = 2006
record = 12-4
division_place = 1st AFC East
coach = Bill Belichick
stadium =Gillette Stadium
playoffs = Won Wild Card Playoffs (Jets) 37-16
Won Divisional Playoffs (Chargers) 24-21
Lost Conference Championship (Colts) 38-34
pro bowlers = 2
uniform =

The 2006 New England Patriots season was the 37th season for the team in the National Football League and 47th season overall. The Patriots finished the regular season 12-4, improving on their 10-6 record of 2005, when the team finished in first place in the AFC East but lost to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional playoffs. Back-to-back losses in November ended the team's streak of 57 games without consecutive losses, three games shy of the NFL record.cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/11/13/sports/web.jets.php|title=NFL: Jets end streak of losses to Patriots|work=The New York Times|publisher=International Herald Tribune|first=Karen|last=Crouse|date=2006-11-12|accessdate=2007-06-19] With the fourth seed in the AFC playoffs, the Patriots eclipsed their 2005 advancement in the playoffs, but fell to the Indianapolis Colts in the , the eventual Super Bowl XLI champions.

Offseason

taff changes

First-year defensive coordinator Eric Mangini was hired to be head coach of the New York Jets, marking the second year in a row that New England's defensive coordinator was hired as a head coach. [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/01/mangini_links_1.html|title=Mangini links|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-01-17|accessdate=2007-06-19] He would be replaced as defensive coordinator by Dean Pees, [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/01/pees_the_choice_1.html|title=Pees the choice|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-01-17|accessdate=2007-06-19] who had been linebackers coach for the club the past two years and as secondary coach by assistant secondary coach Joel Collier. Assistant offensive line coach Matt Patricia was moved to linebackers coach to replace Pees. [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/04/belichick_bits.html|title=Belichick bits|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-04-30|accessdate=2007-06-19] Quarterbacks coach Josh McDaniels was promoted to offensive coordinator after New England went one season without replacing former offensive coordinator Charlie Weis. [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/01/mcdaniels_promo.html|title=McDaniels promoted|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-01-20|accessdate=2007-06-19]

Departures

Free agency saw multiple departures for the Patriots, including long-time kicker Adam Vinatieri signing with the Indianapolis Colts,cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/03/eyes_on_adam.html|title=Eyes on Adam|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-03-21|accessdate=2007-06-19] and wide receiver David Givens signing with the Tennessee Titans. [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/03/givens_update_1.html|title=Givens update|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2008-03-14|accessdate=2007-06-19] Linebacker Willie McGinest, the Patriots' first-round pick in the 1993 NFL Draft, was released on March 9 [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/03/mcginest_out.html|title=McGinest out|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-03-09|accessdate=2007-06-19] and signed with the Cleveland Browns six days later. [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/03/mcginest_to_bro.html|title=McGinest to Browns|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-03-15|accessdate=2007-06-19] Tyrone Poole, [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/03/poole_released.html|title=Poole released|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-03-16|accessdate=2007-06-19] Duane Starks, [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/02/pats_cut_starks.html|title=Pats cut Starks|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-02-25|accessdate=2007-06-19] and Chad Brown were also released early in the offseason, [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/03/chad_brown_rele.html|title=Chad Brown released|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-03-13|accessdate=2007-06-19] with Brown returning for training camp [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/07/brown_to_town.html|title=Brown to town|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-07-27|accessdate=2007-06-19] before being cut again prior to the start of the season. [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/09/personnel_moves.html|title=Personnel moves|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-09-01|accessdate=2007-06-19] Other free agency departures were André Davis (Buffalo Bills), [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/03/andre_davis_to.html|title=Andre' Davis to Bills|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-03-12|accessdate=2007-06-19] Christian Fauria (Washington Redskins), [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/03/fauria_to_skins.html|title=Fauria to 'Skins|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-03-12|accessdate=2007-06-19] Matt Chatham (New York Jets), [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/03/chatham_to_jets.html|title=Chatham to Jets|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-03-13|accessdate=2007-06-19] Tim Dwight (New York Jets), Tom Ashworth (Seattle Seahawks), [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/03/ashworth_to_haw.html|title=Ashworth to 'Hawks|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-03-23|accessdate=2007-06-19] and Michael Stone (Houston Texans). [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/04/marshall_in_tow_1.html|title=Marshall in town|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-04-09|accessdate=2007-06-19]

ignings

The offseason brought the arrival of fifth-year wide receiver Reche Caldwell from the San Diego Chargers, [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/03/more_on_caldwel.html|title=More on Caldwell|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-03-17|accessdate=2007-06-19] who would become the Patriots' leading receiver in 2006. Another acquisition came during the preseason, when the Patriots signed veteran linebacker Junior Seau, who had retired just four days earlier. [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/08/seau_signed.html|title=Seau signed|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-08-18|accessdate=2007-06-19] Other arrivals were Mel Mitchell, [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/04/mitchell_agrees.html|title=Mitchell agrees|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-04-01|accessdate=2007-06-19] Martin Gramatica, Tebucky Jones, [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/04/pats_sign_pair.html|title=Pats sign pair|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-04-06|accessdate=2007-06-19] and Barry Gardner. [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/05/pats_sign_2.html|title=Pats sign 2|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-05-08|accessdate=2007-06-19] Free agents or potential free agents Don Davis, [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/02/pats_resign_dav.html|title=Pats re-sign Davis|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-02-07|accessdate=2007-06-19] Hank Poteat, [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/03/poteat_resigns.html|title=Poteat re-signs|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-03-02|accessdate=2007-06-19] Ross Tucker, [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/03/tucker_agrees_1.html|title=Tucker agrees|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-03-05|accessdate=2007-06-19] Artrell Hawkins, [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/03/hawkins_agrees.html|title=Artrell agrees|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-03-08|accessdate=2007-06-19] Chad Scott, [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/03/scott_resigned.html|title=Scott re-signs|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-03-22|accessdate=2007-06-19] Troy Brown, Stephen Neal, [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/03/neal_brown_in_f.html|title=Neal, Brown in fold|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-03-24|accessdate=2007-06-19] and Heath Evans [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/03/evans_terms_1.html|title=Evans' terms|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-03-29|accessdate=2007-06-19] were all re-signed, while Richard Seymour, [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/04/more_on_seymour.html|title=More on Seymour|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-04-12|accessdate=2007-06-19] Dan Koppen, [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/10/koppen_extended_1.html|title=Koppen extended|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-10-12|accessdate=2007-06-19] and Russ Hochstein [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/06/hochstein_exten.html|title=Hochstein extended|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-06-06|accessdate=2007-06-19] all received long-term contact extensions.

Trades

On June 5, the Patriots traded wide receiver Bethel Johnson to the New Orleans Saints for defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan, the sixth overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/06/bethel_traded.html|title=Bethel traded|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-06-05|accessdate=2007-06-19] Sullivan was arrested on June 30 in New Orleans, Louisiana for marijuana possession after being stopped for a vehicle music noise violation. [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2006/06/30/patriots_sullivan_arrested/|title=Patriots' Sullivan arrested|work=The Boston Globe|first=Jerome|last=Solomon|date=2006-06-30|accessdate=2008-05-31] Neither players made their respective rosters to begin the 2006 season. [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/10/gaffney_signed_1.html|title=Gaffney signed|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-10-09|accessdate=2007-06-19] [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/10/vikes_sign_beth.html|title=Vikes sign Bethel|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-10-10|accessdate=2007-06-19]

The preseason also saw the eventual loss of Super Bowl MVP wide receiver Deion Branch. Branch held out all of mini-camp, training camp, the preseason and into the regular season before eventually being traded to the Seattle Seahawks for a first-round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft on September 11. [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/09/branch_traded.html|title=Branch traded|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-09-11|accessdate=2007-06-19]

Also during the preseason, on August 8, offensive lineman Ross Tucker was traded to the Cleveland Browns for a conditional late-round 2007 draft pick. [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/08/tucker_traded.html|title=Tucker traded|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-08-08|accessdate=2007-12-01] Two weeks later, offensive tackle Brandon Gorin was traded to the Arizona Cardinals for another conditional 2007 draft choice, which later became one of the Patriots' four picks of the 2007 sixth round. [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/08/gorin_follow.html|title=Gorin follow|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-08-22|accessdate=2007-12-01] As the Patriots made their final roster cut-downs, they also traded running back Patrick Cobbs to the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 1 for a conditional 2007 draft pick. [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/09/personnel_moves.html|title=Personnel moves|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-09-01|accessdate=2007-12-01] On September 2, wide receiver Doug Gabriel was traded to the Patriots from the Oakland Raiders in exchange for the Patriots' 2007 fifth-round pick. [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/09/gabriel.html|title=Gabriel to Pats|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-09-02|accessdate=2007-12-01] Both Tucker and Cobbs did not make their respective rosters and the Patriots did not receive the conditional picks. [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/09/pick_update.html|title=Pick update|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2006-09-02|accessdate=2007-12-01]

2006 NFL Draft

Opening training camp roster

The following is the Patriots' roster at the time of the first public training camp practice at Gillette Stadium on July 28::note label|simulcast|a|a Simulcast on WCVB-TV and WMUR-TV.

Week 1 roster

Postseason results

Wild Card Round vs. New York Jets

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Jets
R1=3
R2=7
R3=3
R4=3
RT=16
Home=Patriots
H1=7
H2=10
H3=6
H4=14
HT=37"at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts"
*Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
*Game weather: convert|50|°F|°C, sunny
*TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz (play-by-play) and Phil Simms (color commentator)
*Referee: Bill Vinovich
*Game attendance: 68,756

Tom Brady completed 22 out of 34 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns, while New England Patriots running backs Corey Dillon, Laurence Maroney, and Kevin Faulk combined for 145 rushing yards in a win over the New York Jets. Receiver Jabar Gaffney, who caught only 11 passes during the season, finished his first career playoff game with 8 catches for 104 yards.

New England took the opening kickoff and drove down the field, with Gaffney catching three passes for 34 yards on a 65 yard-drive that ended with Dillon's 11-yard touchdown run. Later in the quarter, Jets defensive back Hank Poteat recovered a fumble from Dillon on the Patriots 15-yard line, setting up Mike Nugent's 28-yard field goal to cut their deficit to 7-3. On their first possession of the second quarter, the Jets took a 10-7 lead after receiver Jerricho Cotchery (who finished with 100 receiving yards and 19 rushing yards) caught a pass from Chad Pennington and took it 77 yards for a touchdown. However, New England countered with Stephen Gostkowski's 20-yard field goal on their next drive to tie the game. Then, after forcing the Jets to punt, the Patriots marched to New York's 1-yard line. On third down with 11 seconds remaining in the half and no timeouts left, Brady took the snap, faked a handoff to Dillon, and then hit tight end Daniel Graham in the back of the end zone for a touchdown to give them a 17-10 halftime lead.

Nugent kicked a field goal on the Jets' opening drive of the second half, but New England responded with another field goal from Gostkowski to retake their 7-point lead. On the Jets' ensuing possession, linebacker Rosevelt Colvin deflected a lateral from Pennington behind the line of scrimmage. Most of the players on both teams (including Colvin) thought the lateral was an incomplete forward pass and the play was over, but New England's Vince Wilfork realized the play was still ongoing and recovered the fumble. After picking up the ball, Wilfork ran 31 yards to the Jets 15-yard line before being tackled by Cotchery, setting up Gostkowski's third field goal to make the score 23-13.

Early in the fourth quarter, Nugent kicked his third field goal to cut New York's deficit back to within a touchdown, 23-16. However, the Patriots responded with a 13-play, 63-yard drive that took 6:23 off the clock and ended with Brady's 7-yard touchdown pass to Faulk. Then on the first play of the Jets' ensuing drive, New England defensive back Asante Samuel put the game away by intercepting Pennington's pass and returning it 36 yards for a touchdown.

*Scoring
**1st Quarter
***NE - Corey Dillon 11 yard run (Stephen Gostkowski kick), 11:53. "Patriots 7-0. Drive: 10 plays, 65 yards, 3:07."
***NYJ - Mike Nugent 28 yard field goal, 2:36. "Patriots 7-3. Drive: 4 plays, 5 yards, 1:30."
**2nd Quarter
***NYJ - Jerricho Cotchery 77 yard pass from Chad Pennington (Mike Nugent kick), 14:45. "Jets 10-7. Drive: 3 plays, 80 yards, :17."
***NE - Stephen Gostkowski 20 yard field goal, 10:57. "Tied 10-10. Drive: 10 plays, 56 yards, 3:48."
***NE - Daniel Graham 1 yard pass from Tom Brady (Stephen Gostkowski kick), :11. "Patriots 17-10. Drive: 15 plays, 80 yards, 6:54."
**3rd Quarter
***NYJ - Mike Nugent 21 yard field goal, 8:19. "Patriots 17-13. Drive: 13 plays, 73 yards, 6:41."
***NE - Stephen Gostkowski 40 yard field goal, 4:22. "Patriots 20-13. Drive: 8 plays, 52 yards, 3:57."
***NE - Stephen Gostkowski 28 yard field goal, :04. "Patriots 23-13. Drive: 4 plays, 5 yards, 1:39."
**4th Quarter
***NYJ - Mike Nugent 37 yard field goal, 11:39. "Patriots 23-16. Drive: 8 plays, 61 yards, 3:25."
***NE - Kevin Faulk 7 yard pass from Tom Brady (Stephen Gostkowski kick), 5:16. "Patriots 30-16. Drive: 13 plays, 63 yards, 6:23."
***NE - Asante Samuel 36 yard interception return (Stephen Gostkowski kick), 4:54. "Patriots 37-16."

Divisional Round at San Diego Chargers

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Patriots
R1=3
R2=7
R3=3
R4=11
RT=24
Home=Chargers
H1=0
H2=14
H3=0
H4=7
HT=21"at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California"
*Game time: 4:30 p.m. EST/1:30 p.m. PST
*Game weather: convert|53|°F|°C, sunny
*TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz (play-by-play) and Phil Simms (color commentator)
*Referee: Tony Corrente
*Game attendance: 68,810

In the final game of the divisional playoffs, the New England Patriots faced the San Diego Chargers team, who were unbeaten at home in the regular season. The Chargers' roster included league MVP running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who broke several league records, nine Pro Bowlers, and five All-Pro players. However, four Chargers turnovers, three of which were converted into Patriots scoring drives, helped lead to a Chargers loss. San Diego lost despite outgaining the Patriots in rushing yards, 148-51 and total yards, 352-327, while also intercepting three passes from Tom Brady.

In the first quarter, after San Diego coach Marty Schottenheimer opted to go for it on 4th-and-11 instead of attempting a 47-yard field goal, quarterback Philip Rivers lost a fumble while being sacked by Mike Vrabel, setting up Stephen Gostkowski's 51-yard field goal with 40 seconds left in the period. In the second quarter, Chargers receiver Eric Parker's 13-yard punt return set up a 48-yard scoring drive that ended with LaDainian Tomlinson's 2-yard touchdown run, giving his team a 7-3 lead. Then, on the Patriots' next drive, linebacker Donnie Edwards intercepted a pass from Brady and returned it to the 41-yard line. But the Chargers ended up punting after Rivers was sacked on third down by defensive back Artrell Hawkins. Later in the quarter, Tomlinson rushed twice for 13 yards and took a screen pass 58 yards to the Patriots' 6-yard line, setting up a 6-yard touchdown run by Michael Turner with 2:04 left in the half. New England responded with a 72-yard scoring drive, with receiver Jabar Gaffney catching four passes for 46 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown reception with six seconds left in the half, cutting their deficit to 14-10.

In the second half, Brady threw his second interception of the game. But once again, the Chargers were forced to punt after Rivers was sacked on third down. Mike Scifres' 36-yard punt pinned New England back at their own 2-yard line, and San Diego subsequently forced a punt, but Parker muffed the kick and New England's David Thomas recovered the fumble at the Chargers' 31-yard line. New England's drive seemed to stall after Brady fumbled on 3rd and 13. Patriots' tackle Matt Light recovered it and Chargers defensive back Drayton Florence drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for taunting Patriots tight end Daniel Graham. The drive continued and Gostkowski eventually kicked a 34-yard field goal to cut their deficit to 14-13. Then, on San Diego's next drive, linebacker Rosevelt Colvin intercepted a pass from Rivers at the New England 36-yard line. The Patriots then drove to the Chargers 41-yard line, but were halted there and had to punt. After the punt, Rivers completed two passes to tight end Antonio Gates for 31 yards and a 31-yard pass to Vincent Jackson, setting up Tomlinson's second rushing touchdown to give the Chargers an 8-point lead, 21-13.

New England responded by driving to San Diego's 41-yard line. On a fourth-down conversion attempt, Brady's pass was intercepted by Marlon McCree, but Troy Brown stripped the ball, and receiver Reche Caldwell recovered it. Schottenheimer unsuccessfully challenged the play and lost a timeout. Four plays later, Brady threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Caldwell. On the next play, running back Kevin Faulk took a direct snap and scored the two-point conversion, tying the game. Then, after forcing a punt, Brady completed a 19-yard pass to Daniel Graham. Two plays later, Caldwell caught a 49-yard strike down the right sideline to set up Gostkowski's third field goal to give them a 24-21 lead with only 1:10 left in the fourth quarter. With no timeouts left, San Diego drove to the Patriots 36-yard line on their final possession, but Nate Kaeding's 54-yard field goal attempt fell short with three seconds remaining in the game.

Gaffney finished with ten catches for 103 yards and a touchdown. Tomlinson rushed for 123 yards, caught two passes for 64 yards, and scored two touchdowns.

*Scoring
**1st Quarter
***NE - Stephen Gostkowski 50 yard field goal, :40. "Patriots 3-0. Drive: 9 plays, 33 yards, 4:35."
**2nd Quarter
***SD - LaDainian Tomlinson 2 yard run (Kaeding kick), 7:19. "Chargers 7-3. Drive: 9 plays, 48 yards, 4:31."
***SD - Michael Turner 6 yard run (Kaeding kick), 2:04. "Chargers 14-3. Drive: 4 plays, 77 yards, 2:23."
***NE - Jabar Gaffney 6 yard pass from Tom Brady (Gostkowski kick), :08. "Chargers 14-10. Drive: 11 plays, 72 yards, 1:56."
**3rd Quarter
***NE - Stephen Gostkowski 34 yard field goal, 2:11. "Chargers 14-13. Drive: 7 plays, 15 yards, 3:09."
**4th Quarter
***SD - LaDainian Tomlinson 3 yard run (Kaeding kick), 8:35. "Chargers 21-13. Drive: 9 plays, 83 yards, 4:44."
***NE - Reche Caldwell 4 yard pass from Tom Brady (Kevin Faulk 2 pt conversion run), 4:36. "Tied 21-21. Drive: 5 plays, 32 yards, 1:40.
***NE - Stephen Gostkowski 31 yard field goal, 1:10. "Patriots 24-21. Drive: 8 plays, 72 yards, 2:16."

AFC Championship Game at Indianapolis Colts

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Patriots
R1=7
R2=14
R3=7
R4=6
RT=34
Home=Colts
H1=3
H2=3
H3=15
H4=17
HT=38"at RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana"
*Game time: 6:30 p.m. EST
*Game weather: Played indoors, domed stadium
*TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Phil Simms (color commentator), Steve Tasker and Solomon Wilcots (field reporters)
*Referee: Bill Carollo
*Game attendance: 57,433

The Colts gained 455 offensive yards, 32 first downs, and managed to overcome a 21-3 deficit to the Patriots to earn their first trip to the Super Bowl since the 1970 season. Their 18-point comeback was the largest ever in an NFL conference championship game, and tied the record for the fourth largest NFL postseason comeback [ cite book
title=2006 NFL Record and Fact Book
id=ISBN 1-933405-32-5
pages=347] . The Colts' win came after the Patriots had eliminated the Colts from the playoffs twice in the previous three seasons.

Midway through the first quarter, the Patriots drove 71 yards to the Colts' 4-yard line, featuring a 35-yard run by Corey Dillon. On third down, running back Laurence Maroney fumbled a handoff, but the ball rolled into the end zone where offensive lineman Logan Mankins recovered it for a touchdown. The Colts responded by driving 56 yards and scoring with Adam Vinatieri's 42-yard field goal to cut their deficit to 7-3. On their ensuing drive, the Patriots drove to a fourth down on the Colts' 34-yard line. Rather than attempt a 52-yard field goal, New England decided to go for it and Tom Brady completed a 27-yard pass to Troy Brown. On the next play, Dillon scored on a 7-yard touchdown run. Then, two plays after the ensuing kickoff, cornerback Asante Samuel intercepted a pass from Peyton Manning and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown, giving New England a 21-3 lead. Later in the quarter, Indianapolis drove 80 yards in 15 plays, with Vinatieri finishing the drive with a 26-yard field goal, cutting the score to 21-6 with 11 seconds left in the half.

On the opening drive of the second half, the Colts marched down the field and scored with a 1-yard run by Manning. Then, after forcing a punt, a 25-yard reception by Dallas Clark and a 19-yard run by Dominic Rhodes moved the ball to the Patriots' 32-yard line. Following a pass interference penalty on defensive back Ellis Hobbs in the end zone, Manning threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to defensive lineman Dan Klecko, who had lined up at the fullback position on the play. Then, receiver Marvin Harrison caught a 2-point conversion pass to tie the game at 21.

Hobbs returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards to the Colts' 21-yard line. Four plays later, Brady threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jabar Gaffney, who made a leaping catch in the back of the end zone. Although he landed out of bounds, officials ruled that he was pushed out while in the air, and the Patriots took a 28-21 lead. Rhodes started out the Colts' next drive with two receptions for 23 yards and a 9-yard run. Then, Clark caught a 23-yard pass at the 9-yard line. Three plays later, Rhodes fumbled the ball at the 1-yard line, but center Jeff Saturday recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown to tie the game.

After an exchange of punts, New England kicker Stephen Gostkowski made a 28-yard field goal to give them a three-point lead. The Colts responded with a 36-yard field goal by Vinatieri, set up by Clark's 52-yard reception, to tie the game at 31. Hobbs returned Vinatieri's kickoff 41 yards to the Patriots' 46-yard line. Then, Brady completed a 25-yard pass to tight end Daniel Graham. Indianapolis managed to halt the drive at their 25-yard line, but Gostkowski kicked a 43-yard field goal to give the Patriots a 34-31 lead with 3:49 left in the game. New England's defense subsequently forced a punt, but the Patriots ended up punting back to the Colts after running only a minute off the clock.

Manning started off the drive with three nonconsecutive completions for 58 yards, with a roughing-the-passer penalty on the third play adding another 12, moving the ball 70 yards in a span of 19 seconds and bringing up a first down at the Patriots' 11-yard line. Three plays later, Joseph Addai's 3-yard touchdown run gave the Colts their first lead of the game with only one minute remaining. Brady responded by leading his team to the Colts' 45-yard line. But cornerback Marlin Jackson intercepted Brady's next pass with 17 seconds left, ending the game, and sending the 2006 Indianapolis Colts to their first Super Bowl in team history.

The Colts were the first #3 seed since the NFL expanded the playoffs in 1990 to host a conference championship game and the first overall since the Washington Redskins did so in 1987. It was also the first time since said season where a team hosted a championship game after playing a road game in the divisional round, and was also the first conference championship game in which neither team had the first round bye and had to play three rounds to get to the Super Bowl.

*Scoring
**1st Quarter
***NE - Logan Mankins fumble recovery in end zone for touchdown (Stephen Gostkowski kick), 7:24. "Patriots 7-0."
***IND - Adam Vinatieri 42 yard field goal, :48. "Patriots 7-3. Drive: 14 plays, 56 yards, 6:30."
**2nd Quarter
***NE - Corey Dillon 7 yard run (Stephen Gostkowski kick), 10:18. "Patriots 14-3. Drive: 11 plays, 72 yards, 5:30."
***NE - Asante Samuel 39 yard interception return (Stephen Gostkowski kick), 9:25. "Patriots 21-3."
***IND - Vinatieri 26 yard field goal, :07. "Patriots 21-6. Drive: 15 plays, 80 yards, 2:59."
**3rd Quarter
***IND - Peyton Manning 1 yard run (Adam Vinatieri kick), 8:13. "Patriots 21-13. Drive: 14 plays, 76 yards, 6:47."
***IND - Dan Klecko 1 yard pass from Manning (Marvin Harrison pass from Peyton Manning), 4:00. "Tied 21-21. Drive: 6 plays, 76 yards, 2:50."
***NE - Jabar Gaffney 6 yard pass from Tom Brady (Stephen Gostkowski kick), 1:25. "Patriots 28-21. Drive: 5 plays, 21 yards, 1:25."
**4th Quarter
***IND - Jeff Saturday fumble recovery in end zone for touchdown (Adam Vinatieri kick), 13:24. "Tied 28-28."
***NE - Gostkowski 28 yard field goal, 7:45. "Patriots 31-28. Drive: 6 plays, 33 yards, 2:44."
***IND - Vinateri 36 yard field goal, 5:35. "Tied 31-31. Drive: 5 plays, 59 yards, 2:11."
***NE - Gostkowski 43 yard field goal, 3:53. "Patriots 34-31. Drive: 5 plays, 29 yards, 1:42."
***IND - Joseph Addai 3 yard run (Adam Vinatieri kick), 1:00. "Colts 38-34. Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 1:17."

Final roster

Awards and honors

Numerous players were the recipients of awards for their performances in the 2006 regular season:

Pro Bowl selections

Patriots offensive tackle Matt Light and defensive end Richard Seymour were both named to the AFC team in the 2007 Pro Bowl. Seymour was an original selection but did not participate in the game due to an injury. [cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nfl&id=2744158|title=Jaguars' Henderson, Vikings' Williams added to Pro Bowl|work=Associated Press|publisher=ESPN.com|date=2007-01-26|accessdate=2008-06-16] Light was named as an injury replacement to Tarik Glenn four days before the game. [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/02/light_to_pro_bo.html|title=Light to Pro Bowl|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2007-02-06|accessdate=2007-06-19] Quarterback Tom Brady reportedly declined an invitation to the play in the game, favoring the 2007 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament instead. [cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/09/AR2007020901814.html|title=Vince Young Not on Vacation at Pro Bowl|work=The Washington Post|first=Greg|last=Beacham|date=2007-02-09|accessdate=2007-06-19]

Notes and references