With the first seed in the AFC playoffs , the Patriots defeated both the Jacksonville Jaguars 31-20 and San Diego Chargers 24-12 to advance to Super Bowl XLII their sixth in franchise history ; according to the Elias Sports Bureau , this made them the first professional team since 1884 in any of the four major American sports ( football , basketball , baseball , hockey ) to win the first 18 games of their season .
The 2007 New England Patriots advanced to the Super Bowl XLII after defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars 31-20 and San Diego Chargers 24-12 .