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Associated Press 9y

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NFL, New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Tom Brady's third touchdown pass gave New England its first lead with about five minutes remaining and the Patriots reached their fourth straight AFC championship game with a 35-31 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.

Justin Tucker had given the Ravens a 31-28 lead on a 25-yard field goal with 10:17 left. Then Brady directed a masterful 74-yard drive. He completed eight of nine passes for 72 yards -- and ran for a first down -- and put the Patriots ahead with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Brandon LaFell.

The top-seeded Patriots (13-4) will face the winner of Sunday's game between the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts in the conference title game next Sunday. The sixth-seeded Ravens (11-7) had won two of three playoff games in Foxborough over the past five seasons.

SEAHAWKS 31, PANTHERS 17

SEATTLE -- Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes, Kam Chancellor returned an interception 90 yards for a touchdown, and Seattle beat Carolina in an NFC divisional playoff game.

Wilson hit Doug Baldwin on a 16-yard touchdown in the first quarter, found Jermaine Kearse on a 63-yard score in the second quarter and capped the night with a 25-yard TD pass to Luke Willson early in the fourth quarter.

The Seahawks (13-4) never trailed and became the first defending Super Bowl champion to win a playoff game the following season since New England in January 2006.

Seattle will host either Green Bay or Dallas next Sunday for a trip to the Super Bowl.

Cam Newton threw a pair of touchdowns to Kelvin Benjamin, but Carolina (8-9-1) couldn't overcome three turnovers.

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