Patriots slip past Ravens to reach the Super Bowl

Posted by Michael David Smith on January 22, 2012, 6:12 PM EST

Reuters

The New England Patriots are heading to the Super Bowl, and Billy Cundiff’s name will live in infamy in Baltimore.

In a hard-fought slugfest in New England, it was the Patriots who came out on top, 23-20, after Cundiff missed a 32-yard field goal that could have sent the game into overtime with 11 seconds remaining. The snap was a little off on the play, but the hold was good. Cundiff just missed it.

Tom Brady did not have a particularly good game, completing 22 of 36 passes for 239 yards, with no touchdowns and two interceptions. But that was enough for him to get his 16th playoff win and a trip to Indianapolis and a shot at his fourth Super Bowl ring.

“I sucked pretty bad today, but our defense saved us,” Brady said at the postgame ceremony. “I’m going to try to go out and do a better job in a couple weeks but I’m proud of this team and my teammates.”

For the Patriots, it was a great defensive effort, particularly from defensive tackleVince Wilfork, who had a monster game.

And for the Ravens, it will be an offseason in which they wonder what might have been if Cundiff had made that kick.

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Philbin: Dolphins will be up-temp attacking in all phases

Posted by Michael David Smith on January 21, 2012, 4:50 PM EST

Getty Images

New Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin met the media in Miami today and said his coaching philosophy is that the Dolphins are going to employ an up-tempo, attacking style on offense, defense and special teams.

But while Philbin said he’ll draw on his experiences as the Packers’ offensive coordinator, he also downplayed the extent to which he can simply give the Dolphins the same system that the Packers had.

“You can not just take the Green Bay playbook and slap it down in South Florida,” Philbin said.

Steelers defense facing big changes

Posted by Michael David Smith on January 22, 2012, 8:59 AM EST

AP

Expect the Steelers’ defense to look a lot different in 2012 than it looked in 2011.

Although the Steelers have said they don’t want to tear things apart this offseason, the reality is that they’re currently slated to be about $25 million over the 2012 salary cap, which means there are going to be some difficult decisions to make. And many of those decisions will involve releasing longtime veteran starters on defense.

1/22 Sunday morning one-liners

Posted by Josh Alper on January 22, 2012, 9:12 AM EST

AP

When CB Aaron Williams wasn’t battling injuries, he had a good rookie season for the Bills.

Based on his own math, Dolphins coach Joe Philbin has been in the coaching profession for 10,061 days.

When will the Patriots choose to push the tempowith a no-huddle attack on Sunday?

Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com thinks Jets coach Rex Ryan is making the 2012 season about himself.

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti is trying to get to his first Super Bowl.

Bengals QB Andy Dalton won the NFLPA’s Emerging Player Award.