SAN DIEGO, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Stephen Gostkowski's 31-yard field goal with 1:10 left Sunday gave the New England Patriots a 24-21 win over San Diego and an AFC title game berth.
The Patriots overcame an eight-point deficit in the final five minutes to earn a date with the Indianapolis Colts next Sunday.
San Diego, owners of the best regular-season record in the NFL, threw away a chance to virtually clinch the game with six minutes remaining, when Marlon McCree intercepted a fourth-down pass by New England quarterback Tom Brady.
Had McCree merely knocked the pass down, San Diego would have had possession at its own 41 with an eight-point lead. Instead, he caught the ball and then fumbled it after a three-yard return, giving it back to the Patriots at the Chargers' 32.
Five plays later, Brady threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Reche Caldwell, after which Kevin Faulk ran in a two-point conversion to tie the game.
After a San Diego punt, Brady marched the Patriots 72 yards in eight plays to the winning field goal.
League MVP LaDainian Tomlinson ran for 123 yards and scored twice on 23 carries in a losing cause.
