Smith's revived running: Antowain Smith is going back to Houston on a roll.

Smith's revived running: Antowain Smith is going back to Houston on a roll.
New England's running back had been inconsistent all season but rushed for 100 yards on 22 carries, outgaining Edgerrin James, in the Patriots' 24-14 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Sunday's AFC championship game.
"It was something that we needed today," Smith said of a running attack that produced 112 yards.
Now he and the Patriots are headed to the Super Bowl in the city where he played college ball.
By controlling the ball, the Patriots could keep Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning on the sidelines.
Smith had gained more than 60 yards just once in the first 14 games of the season but has done that in all four games since then.
James, who rushed for 125 yards a week earlier in a 38-31 win over Kansas City, gained 78 yards on 19 carries against the Patriots as the game-long deficit forced the Colts to pass more.
Review revisted: Referee Walt Coleman, from Tom Brady's "tuck rule" game two years ago, was in charge again Sunday when another controversial call against the New England quarterback was reviewed. This one also went his way.
Officials ruled that he had fumbled the ball away with the Patriots leading Indianapolis 21-14 with 1:20 left in Sunday's win over the Colts. But a video review showed Brady's knee had hit the ground before he lost the ball, depriving the Colts of a chance to start a potential tying drive at about the New England 20.
Adam Vinatieri followed with a 33-yard field goal that finished the scoring.
On Jan. 19, 2002, New England trailed Oakland 13-10 with 1:43 left in the fourth quarter when Brady lost the ball after going back to pass. Raiders linebacker Greg Biekert pounced on it, and the officials ruled it a fumble because Brady appeared to be trying to bring the ball back in when he lost control.
After watching the replay, Coleman announced that it was an incomplete pass and the ball belonged to the Patriots. New England won that game, then beat Pittsburgh before defeating St. Louis in the Super Bowl.
Woody sidelined: An injury that ended guard Damien Woody's season broke a streak of 13 games in which the Patriots started the same five interior offensive linemen. But they didn't seem to miss last season's Pro Bowl center as New England outgained Indianapolis on the ground, 112 yards to 98. The line kept Brady from being sacked as Russ Hochstein started in Woody's place.
Woody was placed on injured reserve Friday, meaning he would miss the rest of the season. He tore the medial collateral ligament in his right knee on the first play in New England's 17-14 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Jan. 10 but played intermittently.
Fast start: The Patriots scored on their first possession for the fifth consecutive game and haven't trailed in their last seven games.
As usual, Brady was the key player as he completed six of eight passes for 51 yards on the drive, capped by a 7-yard scoring pass to David Givens. On the 13-play drive, Givens caught four passes for 26 yards.
-- Associated Press