After watching them take a 21-3 advantage, never trail for the first 59 minutes, and come within a couple first downs of an AFC championship, it's hard just hours later to look at the Patriots with the proper perspective. But if New England fans can temporarily detach themselves from their emotions, they'll realize this was a team that probably overachieved -- and could be set up to be even better next year.

Kickoff is drawing ever closer, and as we wait for the analysis to give way to action, let's address a few more of the issues surrounding the championship games in this week's Four Downs. We'll have predictions from the Monitor sports staff, take a look at the NFC title tilt and wonder whether Tony Dungy's reputation hinges on Sunday's game. But first we'll look at Peyton Manning's playoff struggles -- and ask if Adam Vinatieri is to blame.

Ask him to address an injury, or identify an opponent's weakness, and Bill Belichick will respond the way you'd expect Britney Speans to answer if you asked why she broke it off with K-Fed. You know he knows the answer inside and out, but he simply isn't going to open up to the media. Unless he's asked about football history.

The Patriots are off today as they recover from Sunday's game in San Diego and ready for a trip to Indianapolis, so there isn't much new emanating from Foxborough today. Instead, here's a look at just how remarkable this team's dynastic run really is.

Let's be clear about one thing before this blog begins: Marty Schottenheimer was not the reason the San Diego blew an eight-point fourth quarter lead to the Patriots in Sunday's AFC Divisional playoff, and he shouldn't be fired for the loss after leading the Chargers to a 14-2 mark in the regular season. But there were certainly a few moments that made us realize why he's the league's winningest coach without a Super Bowl appearance.

With kickoff coming quickly, the storylines leading up to Sunday's AFC Divisional playoff continue to compile. There are sometimes-dominant defenses on both sides of the field, multi-faceted offenses, a league MVP and one of the sport's all-time best winners. There's also a rookie quarterback, a rookie kicker, a coach trying to kick a loser's reputation and another seeking to extend his reign as the league's resident winner. We can't account for it all here in the blogosphere, but we'll nibble at elements of the Chargers-Patriots matchup in this week's Four Downs.

Well, if Bill Belichick was searching for some bulletin-board material before his team heads to San Diego, he's found it. And -- surprise, surprise -- he has Shawne Merriman to thank.

The Chargers' Pro Bowl linebacker had plenty to say in a conference call with the New England media today, some of it really complimentary, some of it refreshingly honest, and all of it reflecting an extreme self-confidence. Nothing, though, was as inflammatory as what Merriman offered up when asked if he had any predictions for what would happen Sunday.

Ask any Patriots fan why his team will beat the Chargers on Sunday, and where New England owns advantages over San Diego, and the answer will flow out faster than Rodney Harrison can find a reason to feel disrespected. "Bill Belichick," they'll say, pointing to the Pats coach as a proven winner while his counterpart, Marty Schottenheimer, is notoriously known for failing to get his team over the hump come playoff time.

Welcome to Gillette Stadium, where the Patriots lead their AFC Wild Card game against the Jets, and appear well on their way to victory. Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes, Asante Samuel returned an interception for a score and the Pats defense was tough when it needed to be as the team opened up the three-score lead that held for a 37-16 win.

After flipping through an old issue of ESPN The Magazine, which was printed this summer and projected the Miami Dolphins would win the Super Bowl, you may want to take these media predictions with a grain of salt.