Patriots survive against Ravens; Seattle knocks out Carolina

The New England Patriots dug out of two 14-point deficits -- the first team to do so in NFL playoff history -- to reach the AFC title game for the fourth straight year with a 35-31 win over the Baltimore Ravens.

Patriots quarterback & Michigan alumni Tom Brady completed 33-of-50 passes for 367 yards for an offense that picked up just 14 yards rushing, which is the second fewest in team playoff history. Brady's 46 career playoff touchdown passes surpassed Joe Montana's 45 for most in NFL history.

Top-seeded New England (13-4) will remain at Gillette Stadium to host the winner of this Sunday's Indianapolis-Denver divisional game in the AFC Championship in Foxboro, Massachusetts.




Russell Wilson threw for 268 yards & three touchdowns and Kam Chancellor returned an interception 90 yards for a touchdown midway through the 4th quarter as the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Carolina Panthers, 31-17, in an NFC Divisional playoff game.

Chancellor's return was the longest touchdown in Seattle's postseason history, topping Percy Harvin's 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in last season's Super Bowl. The Seahawks (13-4) never trailed and became the first defending Super Bowl champion to win a playoff game the following season since New England in January 2006.

Seattle will now host either Green Bay or Dallas next Sunday afternoon in the NFC Championship game.