FOXBORO — In the words of “The Fonz,” Arthur Fonzarelli (those of you under 35, Google “Happy Days” for the reference), “I was wrrrrrrr!”No, I mean it, when I said how bad the New England Patriots defense has been from Week 1 to Week 18, I was 100 percent, “wwwwwwrrrrrrroooo!”I’m telling you, after watching the Pats step up and hold on to this AFC Championship victory, 23-20 over Baltimore, I know that they are indeed, “gooooooooooo!”Seriously, standing in front of defensive backbone Jerod Mayo for at least 11 minutes, I felt the need to apologize. Somehow, some way, this Patriots defense willed your team to Super Bowl XLVI.I could sit here all night, high above Gillette Stadium and try to explain why Joe Flacco couldn’t land the knockout blow. And I could tell you all night about the Ravens, playing not to lose instead of playing to win.Nope, last night, we praise the Pats defense and every Tom, Dick and Sterling that Bill Belichick has run through here.”Coming into every week, we’ve been thinking when we get healthy, we’ll be pretty good,” said linebacker Jerod Mayo. “That’s been our mindset. With this defense, the sky is the limit.”Honestly, I guess that in this day and age holding the opposition to 398 yards of offense on 70 plays and a 53 percent conversion rate on third down is “the sky.”Since he put things on himself yesterday, saying that he, “sucked,” I too will blame Brady for making me so tough on this band of Patriots’ defensive overachievers.Week after week, you watch Brady surgically dismantle the opposition, pouncing on every little mistake they make. Give Wes Welker room to breathe, and a Brady heater is en route. Zip, 12 yards, move the chains.Again, from Week 1 to Week 18, I have watched opposing receivers gallop freely like playful colts in the Pats’ pasture, only to be ignored, snubbed or underthrown to by some JV QB.From Chad Henne to Joe Flacco, it’s been the one constant.Today is the day I admit. As mediocre as they are, and as overrated as Jerod Mayo and every other Pats fan from Augusta to Block Island has them, this defense is not only good enough to get to the Super Bowl. They can win it.Sterling Moore, whoever you are, grab a game ball for your swipe from Lee Evans.Vince Wilfork, you are a massive mountain of Hall of Fame NFL superstar material. I know not how that motor continues to run for so long at such high rpms with such efficiency, but captain, you are a madman.Brandon Spikes, celebrate your pick.Devin McCourty, cheer that Flacco couldn’t find you on the field yesterday.Julian Edelman, brag about the day you held Anquan Boldin to just 6 catches for 101 yards.Today, this defense proudly owns the title, AFC champion.And I will say it with distinction as I apologize.Gentlemen, I was wrong.