So what do the Chargers get as a reward for winning their final 10 games of the season and earning the AFC's No. 1 seed? A date with the Patriots, who boast a coach (Bill Belichick) and quarterback (Tom Brady) that together are 11-1 in the playoffs. San Diego doesn't have nearly as much experience at quarterback, where Philip Rivers will be making his first postseason start. But the Chargers do have LaDainian Tomlinson, the league's MVP who set an NFL record with 31 touchdowns. New England is in the divisional playoffs for the fourth straight year after putting away the Jets in a wild-card game.

Patriots:
The last time the Jets and Patriots met at Gillette Stadium back in November, New York came away victorious. New England made sure there was no repeat this time around by knocking off the Jets 37-16 Sunday in the AFC Wild Card Game. When it comes to the playoffs, it's hard to beat Tom Brady and the Patriots and the Jets certainly weren't able to do just that. New England looked in control from the start, using a no-huddle offense to go 65 yards on 10 plays on the opening drive that finished with Corey Dillon's 11-yard touchdown run. Both teams were tied at 10 in the second quarter before Brady led his team on another long drive (15 plays, 80 yards) that finished with a 1-yard touchdown pass to TE Daniel Graham with 11 seconds left before halftime. The Patriots never looked back from then, limiting the Jets to just two field goals in the second half. Brady finished 22 of 34 for 212 yards and two TDs and is now 6-0 lifetime at home in the playoffs. "I think we had a great plan," Brady said. "This is a pressure defense, and I think we were prepared much more for the pressure this time around."

Chargers:
After one of the greatest individual seasons in NFL history, LaDainian Tomlinson was a near-unanimous choice as The Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player. "It couldn't happen to a better person, a man who is the face and the perfect representative of the National Football League," Chargers fullback Lorenzo Neal said. "He represents what every player should be." Tomlinson set NFL single-season records with 31 touchdowns and 186 points. He also set NFL records with nine consecutive multi-touchdown games and 19 touchdowns in a six-game span. He also became the first NFl player to score three touchdowns in three consecutive games, and the first to have three games of four or more touchdowns in one season. He also led the league in rushing (1,815 yards), caught 56 passes for 508 yards and threw two touchdown passes. Tomlinson's feats helped the Chargers end the season with a 10-game winning streak and the NFL's best record (14-2). "I would feel so much better about winning if we win the Super Bowl. It would feel like it would be everything," Tomlinson said. The Chargers will play the Patriots, Jets or Chiefs in the divisional playoffs Jan. 13 or 14.

Chargers vs. Patriots Playoff Tickets

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