It wasn't pretty but in the NFL, wins count all the same. And at the end of the night, the Patriots had outlasted the Chargers, 23-14, thanks in large part to a late Julian Edelman 69-yard touchdown reception and a solid performance from start to finish by a defense missing Dont'a Hightower.

"That was the key to the whole game -- the way the defense played," said quarterback Tom Brady, who finished 28 of 44 for 317 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

"We have great character," cornerback Darrelle Revis said. "I've been saying that all year -- guys stick in there and play within the game. Sometimes things are going to happen, and the offense might have to pick the defense up one game, and the defense might have to pick up the offense. Special teams might have to pick both sides of the ball up. We have to continue to execute our game plan throughout 60 minutes, and that's what we keep on doing."

The Patriots spent the week in San Diego after playing in Green Bay last Sunday. Some players said it was like training camp, while outsiders wondered if Southern California in December would be a distraction for a team trying to hold onto the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

"This was my first time doing this, and I think it was team bonding," Revis continued. "Guys were hanging out with each other, spending time, and that's what you need. You need unity on the team, chemistry, especially coming off a loss in Green Bay. I think it was a good time for us."

And bad for the rest of the conference. The Patriots face the Dolphins, Jets and Bills over the final three weeks of the regular season. If they win out -- and there's no reason they shouldn't -- a first-round playoff bye and homefield advantage is theirs.