SAN DIEGO, Jan. 14 — Tom Brady has won many games by erasing fourth-quarter deficits, leading last-minute drives, throwing improbable touchdown passes.

On Sunday, Brady proved that he can truly do it all — he won a game by throwing an interception.

The New England Patriots are moving to the American Football Conference championship game against the Colts, largely because their starting quarterback made one terrible mistake. With the Patriots trailing by 8 points, late in the fourth quarter and facing a fourth down, Brady threw an untimely interception.

It looked like the end of the Patriots’ season. It was actually the beginning of their rally. New England defeated the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium, 24-21, thanks to the immaculate interception.

Once the ball left Brady’s hand, he knew it was off-target. It was so off-target, in fact, that it went right to safety Marlon McCree. If the pass had been a little better, it would have fallen incomplete, and the Chargers would have taken control.