To Pats Fans: Trust us. We know what we're doing

The Patriots are no stranger to the AFC Championship game.

Tedy Bruschi, noting that this will be his sixth AFC Championship game said, "You learn to prepare for these games. These are the games you want to be in. You try to break it down. You break down the game to its simplest form. 'How do I do my job better? How can I best prepare?'

As a team, the Patriots have prepared well for AFC Championship game, appearing in six games since 1985.

The Patriots are 5-1 in AFC Championship Games:
Jan. 21, 2007 -- Colts 38, Patriots 34 (at RCA Dome)
Jan. 23, 2005 -- Patriots 41, Steelers 27 (at Heinz Field)
Jan. 18, 2004 -- Patriots 24, Colts 14 (at Gillette Stadium)
Jan. 27, 2002 -- Patriots 24, Steelers 17 (at Heinz Field)
Jan. 12, 1997 -- Patriots 20, Jaguars 6 (at Foxboro Stadium)
Jan. 12, 1986 -- Patriots 31, Dolphins 14 (at Orange Bowl)

This must win mentality comes from the fact that the Patriots don't worry about their opponents. They don't fear them. They prepare for them. 17 times the Patriots have taken the field this season, and 17 times they have left victorious. The Patriots are not about the streak this season though; it is all about being the last team standing on February 3, 2008. "If we lose," Bruschi explained, "We won't be saying, 'Oh, man, the streak is over.' "

The streak is there though, and the Charger are coming to town, looking to end it. Don't let week 2 fool you...this is not the same Chargers team that lost 38-14. This is a much improved team than the one that started the season at 1-3.

Quarterback Tom Brady knows this better than any one."We've been in big games all year," Brady said. "There was the buildup to the start. There was the week after Spygate. There was the Cowboys. There was the Colts. There was Baltimore on Monday night. There was Pittsburgh. And there was the last game with the Giants. We know how to handle these games."

When all is said and done, it will be the Patriots standing victorious again. Prediction: Patriots 31, Chargers 20.