New stars carry forth

PHOENIX – On the New England Patriots’ final, 9-plus-minute drive to run out the clock of the AFC Championship Game, running back Laurence Maroney was bleeding from his lip and both forearms as he pounded the San Diego Chargers – a beautiful sight to his offensive linemen.

When the New York Giants’ Brandon Jacobs was hampered by an ankle injury in a critical late-season road game against the Buffalo Bills, speedy Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for 151 yards, including an 88-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

In crucial points of games, and the season, a new generation of running backs emerged for the Super Bowl XLII participants this year, and the group that can perform most effectively Sunday could have a significant impact on the outcome.

Maroney, who replaced Corey Dillon as the Patriots’ featured back at the end of the 2006 season, has rushed for 100 yards or more in four of his last five games, including back-to-back 122-yard performances in the playoffs. With the third-down pass-catching of veteran Kevin Faulk, he gives New England balance out of the backfield.

Jacobs and Bradshaw provide the Giants with an unusual power-speed punch that has neutralized the loss of retired Tiki Barber. Bradshaw emerged at the end of the season after Derrick Ward was sidelined by a broken leg against the Chicago Bears on Dec. 2.

The Giants, who rank fourth in the NFL in rushing, must run the ball well to help set up quarterback Eli Manning’s play-action passing and keep the ball out of the hands of Tom Brady and Co.

“It is a big deal,” Jacobs said of giving Manning a solid running game to make his play-action passing effective. “They think they have to move guys down in the box to stop the run, and it (makes) safeties and linebackers hold just a split second.”

Jacobs (6-4, 264 pounds) is the thunder in the equation, pounding defenses in the early part of the game.

“He wants to hit you. I mean, he’s just like a defensive player,” Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork said. “He wants to make contact. Sometimes when he does make contact, it is not good for the defender.”

Jacobs typically gets most of the carries in the first half, and then Bradshaw, a rookie, plays a bigger role in the last 30 minutes, after defenses have been worn down.

“I go in and pound them and pound them, then he goes in with a lot of quickness,” Jacobs said.

“We’re just different styles of runners, and going into the game, a defense has to focus on both of us,” Bradshaw said.

The Giants knew they were deep at running back even after Barber’s retirement and traded Ryan Grant to the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 1.

“We knew the guys we had behind (Barber) had talent,” running backs coach Jerald Ingram said. “We knew one thing: The ball underneath Ahmad Bradshaw’s arm is exciting.”

Jacobs was sidelined by a knee injury suffered in the second quarter of the season opener, making Ward the featured running back. Bradshaw suffered a setback with a couple of fumbles on kick returns.

He worked into the rotation at running back and enjoyed the big day against Buffalo in the second-to-last regular-season game, showing both power and quickness.

In three playoff games, he has run for a total of 104 yards and two touchdowns.

“I have been very impressed with his playmaking ability,” Giants center Shaun O’Hara said. “At the same time I think he brings a lot of energy to our offense. … He’s a great change-up from Brandon Jacobs.”

The Patriots don’t rely as much on the running game, but they’ll go to it for balance and to run the clock.

Maroney, a 2006 first-round draft choice who has been hampered by injuries each of his first two years, carried 11 times for 62 yards (plus had a 9-yard reception) in the fourth quarter against the Chargers as the Patriots played keep-away to protect the lead.

“He looked good in a little blood,” cracked guard Logan Mankins, of the running back’s busted lip.

“That last drive of the game, man, he was the team right there, and he was excited,” guard Stephen Neal said. “People said early on he wasn’t having a great year, but he wasn’t getting his number called very much.”

Maroney finished the season as the Patriots’ leading rusher, with 835 yards on 4.5 yards a carry, despite missing three games with a groin injury.

“Some games it may be speed; some games it may be power,” he said. “I can go inside or outside; it really doesn’t matter.”

Down the stretch, he said, “I started to get a little rhythm. The line did an excellent job blocking, and I just ran downhill. I’m trying to make the running game a factor and not make us one-dimensional.”

Faulk, with 383 yards receiving, gives the Patriots an effective receiver out of the backfield on third down.

“He creates a lot of mismatches,” Maroney said. “When you put a linebacker (on him) out there, he gets those quick first yards, quick first downs.”

The Giants appear to have the edge at the position. But the New England players have demonstrated a knack for doing what it takes.

“It’s just a sense of being prepared, being ready all year long,” Faulk said. “We heard the question about we didn’t have a running game (earlier in the season), and all I told Laurence was, ‘Be patient; you’re time is going to come.’ “