PHOENIX -- If tomorrow's game comes down to a game-winning kick, this will be the first Super Bowl this decade that the New England Patriots won't be able to turn to Adam Vinatieri.

Stephen Gostkowski, a second-year kicker, has the unenviable job of replacing New England's Super Bowl hero.

Vinatieri, who left in free agency to join the Indianapolis Colts in 2006, kicked game-winning field goals in the final seconds of the Patriots' first two Super Bowl victories, and his 22-yard kick midway through the fourth quarter proved to be the difference in New England's 24-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles three years ago.

"It's not like I looked at his tape and said, 'I've got to kick this field goal or do what he did,' " Gostkowski said. "You've just got to do your job."

Lawrence Tynes made his mark in Giants history in the NFC championship game, when he missed two potential winning field goals before converting a 47-yard kick in overtime to send New York to the Super Bowl.

"I deal with it better than anyone in my family does, and I am the one out there," Tynes said. "I don't feel a lot of pressure. This is a great game, and if you are prepared for what you are doing, you shouldn't feel pressure. You should feel confident, and that's how I approach it."

No taint on season

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said "Spygate" - the Patriots' taping of coaching signals from the New York Jets' sideline in the season opener - didn't have much effect on New England's historic season.

"I don't think it taints their accomplishment," Goodell said. "What they did this season was done within the rules, on a level playing field."

It was reported yesterday that Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania sent a letter to Goodell asking for an explanation of why the NFL destroyed evidence of the cheating scandal.

Goodell said keeping the tapes would increase the chances of them leaking out.

"We thought we had locked it up, and [one tape] got out five days later," he said. "That was one of my concerns."

Belichick on Unitas

Patriots coach Bill Belichick showed his Maryland roots when a reporter asked his opinion of the best quarterback he has ever seen.

"Johnny Unitas was very impressive, and I loved watching him," said Belichick, who said the Baltimore Colts were his team while he was growing up in Annapolis. "That was pretty special. He was a great leader."

End zone

Goodell said the league would look at the seeding of the playoff teams. There could be a proposal in which wild-card teams would host a division winner if they have the better regular-season record. Under the current format, the eight division winners are guaranteed one home game in the postseason. ... The Patriots had a few close calls in their perfect regular season, but defensive lineman Ty Warren said the Ravens gave him the biggest scare. New England needed a late touchdown to edge the Ravens, 27-24, on Dec. 3. "I thought it might have been over in Baltimore," Warren said. ... New York backup defensive end Adrian Awasom was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, police said yesterday. Awasom has been on injured reserve since Sept. 18.

jamison.hensley@baltsun.com

The Associated Press contributed to this article.