AFC notes: LT, Peyton, Pats are December's best

Four weeks remain in the NFL regular season as the push to the playoffs intensifies around the league.

 

"We always look to play our best football in December," says San Diego Chargers running back LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON, who leads the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in December since 2000.  "That's when we want to be at our best.  We focus more in December because we know what's coming up."

 

Winners of 15 consecutive games in December, Tomlinson and the Chargers aim to ride that momentum to a fourth consecutive AFC West title.

 

"We seem to finish strong," says Tomlinson.  "We've talked about it and really made it one of our mottos.  I think that has a lot to do with our mindsets in December.  We want to play our best football in December going into January.  This team is a real focused team, and we have a knack for really taking it one game at a time and taking that idea to heart."

 

New England Patriots quarterback TOM BRADY has a history of producing late in the season.  Brady has a 26-5 (.839) record as a starter in December and says the toughest and most prepared teams come out on top.

"Toughness, preparation, playing physical and playing smart, I think those four qualities have been the makeup of this team and are the reason why we have been successful late in the year," says Brady. 

 

The teams with the best December records since the current 12-team playoff format was instituted in 1990:

 

Since 2000, linebacker JASON TAYLOR of the Miami Dolphins leads the NFL with 38 sacks in December.  Entering Week 14, Miami (6-6) is within one game of the first-place Patriots (7-5) in the AFC East.

The December leaders among active players since 2000 in various statistical categories: