Pats pair know nothing is assured in playoffs

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The last time Junior Seau played in an AFC title game, 1995, his team was given little chance to beat the top seed.

"Sitting in my hotel room in Pittsburgh and hearing all the cheers and pep rallies that were going around and all the Super Bowl videos that were being taped, everything was against us," the linebacker, now with the Patriots, said. "The yellow towels were flying around. It was definitely a time when we thought we were against the world."

But his Chargers beat the Steelers 17-13 before losing to the 49ers in the Super Bowl. Thirteen years later, the Chargers aren't given much of a chance against the 17-0 Patriots.

So Seau and safety Rodney Harrison, a rookie on that 1994 Chargers team, are working hard to avoid an upset.

"I tell the young guys, 'Don't take anything for granted because at any point in time, it can be over with; whether it's a season, whether it's a game, whether it's your career,'" Harrison, 35, said Thursday. "I think I have a greater appreciation now that I'm older."

Seau, who turns 39 Saturday, and Harrison will face the Chargers as teammates for the first time in their long careers. (Both missed last season's 24-21 playoff win at San Diego with injuries.)

So Sunday should have some special emotions, especially because Seau is a native of San Diego. Right?

"I try not to get too Oprah with it and know that it's just another game and know that I'm so happy for the city of San Diego, my hometown," Seau said. "(But) it's going to be a challenge of the game of football, nothing more."

Harrison, a fiery, hard-hitting safety, also prefers to show his emotions on the field.

"It's just special to be in the AFC championship," Harrison said. "I don't know necessarily facing the Chargers makes it any more special."

Seau and Harrison left after the 2002 season, when the Chargers lost their last four games to finish 8-8 and miss the playoffs for the seventh straight season.

"Whether you want to judge my play, whether you want to judge the morale or having the same people there lose and not making any strides forward," Seau said, "you have to look at that and say, 'Maybe it's time to change.'"

Harrison went straight to New England. Seau spent the next three seasons with Miami and is in his second with New England.

Sunday, for the first time in 13 seasons, they'll play again as teammates in an AFC title game.

"It's a lot of hype around this game and deservedly so, but, at the same time, it's a football game," Harrison said. "It doesn't matter what we've done in the past."

[Last modified January 17, 2008, 22:31:09]