In the U.S. National Football League playoffs, the New England Patriots are just two wins away from a perfect 19-0 season after beating the Jacksonville Jaguars, 31-20.
Only the 1972 Miami Dolphins have gone through a season without a loss , posting a 17-0 record when teams played two fewer games in the regular season.
The Patriots improved to 17-0 late Saturday while advancing to the National Conference championship game.
Visiting Jacksonville took an early 7-0 lead, and was tied with New England at half-time, 14-14. But the Patriots controlled the second half on superb passing by star quarterback Tom Brady, and the running of Laurence Maroney.
Brady completed all but two of his 28 passes in the game, throwing three touchdowns. Maroney rushed for 122 yards, including a one-yard touchdown plunge.
New England will host the AFC title game next week, facing the winner of Sunday's contest between the Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers.
Earlier Saturday, the Green Bay Packers beat the Seattle Seahawks, 42-20, to advance to the National Conference championship game.
In a snowstorm in Green Bay, the Seahawks took an early 14-0 lead before Green Bay tied the game with two touchdowns - the first on a 15-yard pass from quarterback Brett Favre to Greg Jennings. Running back Ryan Grant then added the first of his three touchdowns, and Jennings scored another for the Packers.
The Packers will meet the winner of Sunday's game between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants in the NFC title game.
It will be the Packers' first NFC Championship game since 1998. Brett Favre is 0-9 in Texas Stadium while the Packers beat the New York Giants 35-13 at the Meadowlands in September.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.
