Patriots

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Tom Brady idolized Joe Montana as a kid in the Bay Area. Now he has surpassed his hero for postseason wins. Brady got his 17th, the most for any quarterback, in New England's 41-28 AFC divisional victory over Houston on Sunday. If Brady can lead the Patriots past Baltimore in next Sunday's conference title game, then win the Super Bowl, he will equal the 49ers' Hall of Famer for NFL championships. Brady has guided the Patriots to five Super Bowls, winning the first three; Montana was 4 for 4 in the big game, playing for Brady's hometown team.

Conference Championships NFC: 49ers at Falcons, Sunday at 3 p.m. (Fox29) AFC: Ravens at Patriots, Sunday at 6:30 p.m. (CBS3)  

SEAHAWKS (12-5) AT FALCONS (13-3) Sunday, 1 p.m. (Fox29); Line: Falcons by 21/2 Seattle Outlook: The Seahawks have outscored their opponents by 217-74 during their six-game winning streak. . . . QB Russell Wilson has 27 TD passes, including the playoffs - the most by a rookie in NFL history. . . . Wilson had a 100.0 passer rating in the regular season, only the second rookie to reach that mark. . . . RB Marshawn Lynch set a career high and was ranked third in the NFL with 1,590 yards rushing.

FALCONS (-2 1/2) over Seahawks Just call us "Mr. 90 Percent. " Yup. With another best-bet winner last week on Seattle, Double V has hit nine of the last 10 BBs. Ergo, Mr. 90 Percent. Why Atlanta here? How about a sick advantage the Falcons have inside the Georgia Dome. Since Mike Smith took the reins, these Southern Birds are 33-8 in the Dome. And Matty "Ice" Ryan is the conductor. Including the playoffs, Ryan is 33-6 at home and the Falcs are 20-0 at home when Ryan has a 100-plus QB rating.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - To hear Bill Belichick glumly address reporters on Monday, you'd think the Houston Texans blew New England out in the regular season - and not the other way around. "There were several things in that game that went our way, but I don't think that's really that significant at this point," the Patriots coach said in a conference call. "I don't think you can overanalyze that game. " The Patriots beat the Texans, 42-14, on Dec. 10, when Tom Brady threw four touchdown passes.

When a basketball game begins with a technical foul and two free throws because of a jersey-number mix-up, you know the next 32 minutes are going to be anything but typical. But then again, when two Suburban One Continental rivals such as Central Bucks East and North Penn get together, who is to say what is and isn't expected? The North Penn girls' team drained the first two free throws before even one second had expired on the clock and went on to win, 47-37, Friday night in a game that was at times ugly.

When a basketball game begins with a technical foul and two free throws because of a jersey-number mix-up, you know the next 32 minutes are going to be anything but typical. But then again, when two Suburban One Continental rivals such as Central Bucks East and North Penn get together, who is to say what is and isn't expected? The North Penn girls' team drained the first two free throws before even one second had expired on the clock and went on to win, 47-37, Friday night in a game that was at times ugly.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Jim Harbaugh's San Francisco 49ers hung tough late in the game to stun Tom Brady and the New England Patriots on the road and in the rain to clinch a playoff berth when few expected them to win in Foxborough, Mass. Now, after a long trip home following their 41-34 victory, the Niners (10-3-1) must play a second straight game on the Sunday night prime-time stage when they visit Seattle trying to wrap up a second consecutive NFC West crown. "This is a huge win for us," left tackle Joe Staley said.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Colin Kaepernick threw four touchdown passes in San Francisco's 41-34 win Sunday night over the turnover-prone New England Patriots. Six days after the Patriots' 42-14 win over the Houston Texans, who had the NFL's best record, they were on the other end in another game against one of the league's top teams. Kaepernick, making his fifth start after replacing Alex Smith as San Francisco's starting quarterback, threw scoring passes of 24 yards to Randy Moss, 34 yards to Delanie Walker, and to Michael Crabtree of 27 yards and 38 yards in the fourth quarter to break a 31-all tie. With the win, the 49ers (10-3-1)

If there is one thing we've learned from the first week and a half of the Episcopal Academy girls' basketball season, it is that the Churchwomen surely can keep their composure. And when it really counts, they'll make their free throws. Saturday, the Churchwomen overcame a late surge from Cardinal O'Hara to beat the Lions in overtime, going 9 for 12 from the foul line in extra time. While Tuesday's 42-29 win over Germantown Academy in an Inter-Ac League game might not have been as dramatic, Episcopal showed that same poise.