The New England Patriots are two games from the first 19-0 perfect season in NFL history after beating the Jacksonville Jaguars 31-20 in the divisional play-off round on Saturday night. They will play the San Diego Chargers in Sunday’s AFC Championship game for a place in the Super Bowl after the Chargers caused an upset with a 28-24 victory over the Indianapolis Colts last night.

The Patriots equalled the record of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, whose 17 wins in 17 games represented a perfect season and a Super Bowl win, the regular season being two games shorter at the time. Tom Brady was also setting NFL records, completing 26 of 28 attempted passes, a 92.9 per cent completion rate. Such feats, however, mean little to the New England quarterback, who remembers that his team led Indianapolis by 18 points in last season’s Championship game, only to lose 38-34.

“We were here last year and I hope we perform better,” Brady said. The Patriots will host the Chargers, who emerged victorious from a topsy-turvy game in Indianapolis, where the lead changed hands five times.

The Green Bay Packers also advanced, and will face either the Dallas Cowboys or New York Giants in the NFC Championship game. Two fumbles left the Packers 14-0 down at home to the Seattle Seahawks, but in blizzard conditions Brett Favre threw for three touchdowns to lead them to a 42-20 victory.

Divisional play-offs:

American Conference: New England 31 Jacksonville 20; Indianapolis v San Diego.

National Conference: Green Bay 42 Seattle 20; Dallas v New York Giants.

Conference finals, January 20: American Conference:New England v Indianapolis or San Diego; National Conference: Green Bay v Dallas or New York Giants.

Super Bowl XLII: February 3 (at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona).

Explore More Sport

• Cycling

• Athletics

• Sailing

• US Sport