The New England Patriots handed the San Diego Chargers two devastating losses last year. The magnitude of those wins would pale in comparison to a San Diego victory on Sunday.

Though Sunday's AFC championship game matches the NFL's hottest teams of the past two months, the Patriots enter as huge favourites to knock off the banged-up Chargers and reach the Super Bowl for the fourth time in seven seasons.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady set a league record with 50 touchdown passes this past season.
(Nick Wass/Associated Press)

"They've always kind of been that benchmark team that everybody looks to," San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson said, "and so it's just a great opportunity to get a chance to play against possibly the greatest team to ever play."

All the records achieved by Tom Brady, Randy Moss and their team during an undefeated regular season won't mean much if the Patriots don't get back to the Super Bowl, having won it all following the 2001, 2003 and 2004 seasons.

The regular season saw New England score an NFL-record 589 points while Brady set a league record with 50 touchdown passes and Moss broke one with 23 TD receptions, but that offence is facing a much improved San Diego defence. The Chargers have given up averages of 13.1 points and 285.1 yards over the last eight weeks — all wins — while forcing 26 turnovers and totalling 26 sacks.

"This defence will challenge us more than any defence we've faced all year," Brady said. "And I hope we play as well as we can … the only way I think we're gonna be able to advance through this round is to play our best football."

This is the round that ended the Patriots' run last season, blowing an 18-point lead in a 38-34 loss at Indianapolis, and many hoped to see a rematch this weekend but San Diego spoiled those plans with a 28-24 road win over the Colts last Sunday.

"Going out on the road and winning in Indy shows the kind of mental toughness they have," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "They've got a very talented team. I think everybody realizes that."

A day before the Chargers' latest win, New England ran its season record to 17-0 with a 31-20 victory over Jacksonville. A win Sunday will make the Patriots the first team in NFL history to post an 18-0 record, topping Miami's Super Bowl-winning 17-0 season from 1972.

NFC championship game

Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers enjoy one of the best post-season home-field advantages in the NFL. The New York Giants, however, might not be intimidated by the frigid conditions at Lambeau Field because of their outstanding play on the road.

Favre looks to add another chapter to his legendary career and lead the Packers into their fifth Super Bowl on Sunday by winning the NFC championship game against the Giants, who are riding the longest single-season road win streak in league history.

For only the second time in his career, Favre will play an NFC title game at Lambeau Field. Green Bay beat Carolina at home in 1997 en route to its first Super Bowl victory in 29 years, and the only one of Favre's career.

"It's been 11 years, I think, since … I have to kind of refresh my memory on it," Favre said. "Times have changed a bunch, I guess."

The Packers, who lost Favre's second Super Bowl appearance in 1998, are 13-2 all-time in playoff games on the "Frozen Tundra" of Lambeau Field.

"Home-field advantage is what we are focused on," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "I think it is an advantage for any football team. It is definitely going to be cold here Sunday."

It may not be an advantage against the Giants (12-6), who are truly on the road to the Super Bowl. Two playoff victories have run their streak of road wins to nine straight, dating to a season-opening loss at Dallas.

New York now looks to set another NFL mark by winning 10 road games in one season, breaking the record it shares with the 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers.

"I think it is just a matter of the grit, the determination, the character, the leadership, the toughness, and the mental toughness," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "In a lot of ways when we come out and we get booed, we are kind of interested in how high the volume of the boos are."

The Giants avenged two regular-season losses to the Cowboys with a 21-17 win at top-seeded Dallas last Sunday in the divisional round. New York is one win away from its fourth Super Bowl appearance and first in seven years.

"This is an opportunity that can make all the dreams that you have ever had since you're a little kid come true with a couple wins," New York receiver Amani Toomer said.