The Patriots have won seven of the eight meetings between the teams, including a 3-1 mark in the playoffs. New England has claimed all six home games against the Jaguars, including three contests in the postseason. Jacksonville’s lone victory in the series came in the 1998 playoffs.
When and Where
Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
Records
Patriots 9-5 (4-2 AFC East)
Jaguars 7-7 (3-3 AFC South)
Skinny
The Patriots are always focused on the next game, no questions asked. The next meeting, the next practice, the next film session, the next weightlifting program — it’s all geared to maximize their three-hour performance the next Sunday.
Their tunnel vision this week is set squarely on the Jaguars, but even the Patriots will admit the light at the end of the tunnel is in the back of their minds. If they beat the Jags, they’ll win the AFC East championship for the first time in two years and the seventh time since 2001.
"Yeah, absolutely, we are aware of that, absolutely," said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. "We know what that will do this week, and that’s really one of our goals at the start of the season — to win our division. If we could do that this weekend, that would be an accomplishment. You win games along the way, and they are important, too. But you can’t really win [the division or a playoff spot with early-season wins]. You just get yourself in position, and we’re actually in position to do it. It doesn’t matter what everybody else does. If we win on Sunday, then we’ve achieved one of our goals this year. We’re aware of that."
The Patriots can win the division with one win or tie in the next two weeks, or also with a Dolphins loss or tie. If the Patriots and Dolphins finish tied at 9-7 at the end of the regular season, the Dolphins will repeat as AFC East champs.
"We put ourselves in a good position, and hopefully we can carry it out and really accomplish one of the things we wanted to at the start of the season," said Patriots center Dan Koppen. "We’ll have our work cut out for us."
While the AFC playoff race remains wide open, the Patriots are one of the few teams that can put speculation to rest by finishing the job this weekend. They don’t want to spoil that opportunity.
"Obviously, it’s very important in making sure we take care of business," said wide receiver Wes Welker said. "We have an opportunity to that, and hopefully we get out there and take care of business."
Projected Starters
Patriots
Offense
Quarterback: Tom Brady
Wide receiver: Randy Moss
Wide receiver: Wes Welker
Running back: Laurence Maroney
Running back: Kevin Faulk
Tight end: Ben Watson
Left tackle: Matt Light
Left guard: Logan Mankins
Center: Dan Koppen
Right guard: Stephen Neal
Right tackle: Nick Kaczur
Defense
Left defensive end: Ty Warren
Defensive tackle: Vince Wilfork
Right defensive end: Jarvis Green
Outside linebacker: Tully Banta-Cain
Middle linebacker: Jerod Mayo
Middle linebacker: Gary Guyton
Outside linebacker: Pierre Woods
Left cornerback: Shawn Springs
Right cornerback: Leigh Bodden
Strong safety: Brandon Meriweather
Free safety: James Sanders
Specialists
Kicker: Stephen Gostkowski
Punter: Chris Hanson
Long snapper: Jake Ingram
Holder: Chris Hanson
Kick returner: Matthew Slater
Punt returner: Wes Welker
Jaguars
Offense
Quarterback: David Garrard
Wide receiver: Mike Sims-Walker
Wide receiver: Torry Holt
Tight end: Marcedes Lewis
Running back: Maurice Jones-Drew
Fullback: Greg Jones
Left tackle: Eugene Monroe
Left guard: Vince Manuwai
Center: Brad Meester
Right guard: Uche Nwaneri
Right tackle: Eben Britton
Defense
Left defensive end: Derrick Harvey
Defensive tackle: John Henderson
Defensive tackle: Terrance Knighton
Right defensive end: Quentin Groves
Weakside linebacker: Daryl Smith
Middle linebacker: Justin Durant
Strongside linebacker: Clint Ingram
Cornerback: Derek Cox
Cornerback: Rashean Mathis
Strong safety: Gerald Alexander
Free safety: Reggie Nelson
Specialists
Kicker: Josh Scobee
Punter: Adam Podlesh
Long snapper: Jeremy Cain
Holder: David Garrard
Kick returner: Rashad Jennings
Punt returner: Mike Thomas
Stat Sheet
Patriots
The Patriots have only defeated one team (Baltimore) that currently has a winning record.
The Patriots are averaging 398.3 yards in total offense per game in 2009, which is the second best mark in team history. They’re only averaging 13.0 less yards per game than the 2007 record-setting squad (411.3), but the 2009 Patriots are only scoring 26.1 points per game — 10.7 less points per game than the 2007 team (36.8).
The Patriots are the only team in the league that has won at least nine games in nine consecutive seasons since free agency began in 1993.
The Patriots are 75-46-1 against the teams that are currently in the AFC South.
Quarterback Tom Brady is 4-0 in his career against the Jaguars, including a 2-0 mark in the playoffs. He has completed 91-of-128 passes (71.1 percent) for 940 yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions in those four games.
Brady is 16-1 at home in December.
Brady has won 22 consecutive home games, including the postseason.
Brady has seven 300-yard games this season, which is one shy of his career high (2007).
Brady needs 55 passing yards for his team-record third 4,000-yard season.
Wide receiver Randy Moss has caught 10 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns in three career regular-season games against the Jaguars.
Moss became the first player in Patriots history to record 10 receiving touchdowns in three consecutive seasons.
This is the first time since 1996 the Patriots have had two players score at least nine touchdowns in the same season, with Moss (10) and running back Laurence Maroney (nine) accomplishing the feat. It’s the sixth time in team history and only the second time since 1977.
Wide receiver Wes Welker has at least 10 receptions in six games this season, which is one game shy of Andre Johnson’s single-season record.
Welker needs four receptions to give him 113 this season, which would break his own single-season team record.
Jaguars
The Jaguars (0-6) are one of just four teams that have not beaten the Patriots in Foxborough. The Ravens (0-3), Bears (0-3) and Texans (0-1) are the others.
The Jaguars have 32 new players on their roster from one season ago, including a league-high 16 rookies. Just seven of their 2008 opening-day starters are still on the team.
Quarterback David Garrard has completed 273 of 452 passes (60.4 percent) this season for 3,210 yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He is also second on the Jaguars with 68 rushes for 273 yards (4.0 per carry) and two touchdowns.
In two career starts against the Patriots, Garrard has completed 39-of-56 passes (69.6 percent) for 473 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
Running back Maurice Jones-Drew has rushed 278 times for 1,246 yards (4.5 per carry) and 15 touchdowns this season. He also has 49 receptions for 333 yards and one touchdown.
Jones-Drew’s 96 points this season are the most among non-kickers.
Jones-Drew needs two more touchdowns in 2009 to break running back Fred Taylor’s single-season team record (1998).
Wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker is the Jaguars’ leading receiver with 59 receptions, 822 yards and seven touchdowns.
Since 2000, wideout Torry Holt leads the NFL with 3,702 receiving in December.
Holt is 10th in NFL history with 918 career receptions, one more than Moss.
Defensive tackle John Henderson leads the Jaguars with three sacks in 2009.
Black and Blue
(From Thursday’s practice report)
Patriots
Wide receiver Sam Aiken (shoulder) had limited participation.
Linebacker Tully Banta-Cain (shoulder) had limited participation.
Defensive end Jarvis Green (knee) had limited participation.
Offensive tackle Nick Kaczur (shoulder) had limited participation.
Guard Stephen Neal (ankle) had limited participation.
Defensive end Ty Warren (ankle) had limited participation.
Defensive tackle Vince Wilfork (foot) had limited participation.
Cornerback Leigh Bodden (thigh/right shoulder) had full participation.
Quarterback Tom Brady (right finger/rib) had full participation.
Wide receiver Julian Edelman (forearm) had full participation.
Defensive lineman Myron Pryor (chest) had full participation.
Cornerback Shawn Springs (knee) had full participation.
Running back Fred Taylor (ankle) had full participation.
Tight end Benjamin Watson (knee) had full participation.
Jaguars
Wide receiver Torry Holt (non-injury reason) was out of practice.
Cornerback Rashean Mathis (groin) had limited participation.
Linebacker Tank Daniels (groin) had limited participation.
Defensive tackle John Henderson (shoulder) had full participation.
This Date in Patriots History
In 2003, the Patriots avenged a season-opening loss to the Bills with a 31-0 victory in the regular-season finale at Gillette Stadium. Tom Brady completed 21 of 32 passes for 204 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions, and he also ran five times for 23 yards. David Givens, Troy Brown, Bethel Johnson and Daniel Graham each caught a touchdown pass. Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe was held to 12-of-29 for 83 yards and one interception, and he was benched in favor of Travis Brown, who threw a game-ending interception to Larry Izzo in the end zone.
The Patriots became the second team since the 1970 merger to win their last 12 regular-season games, and they finished 14-2 before going on to win their second Super Bowl.
The Patriots are 1-2 all-time on Dec. 27.
Overheard
"Yeah, if I didn’t, that would mean I would have to throw games, and that wouldn’t be right."
—Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew on drafting himself in his fantasy football league.
Press Box
Patriots
The Patriots are just OK right now.
Brady has faced a brutal schedule this season.
Those close to Wes Welker have always seen the same guy.
Jaguars
Check out Fred Taylor’s Q&A with a Jacksonville reporter.
Maybe everything isn’t so peachy between Taylor and Jags coach Jack Del Rio.
Reggie Nelson’s job security is in question.
NFL
We know the Patriots are almost in, but who else earns an AFC playoff spot?
Let the fun begin in Cleveland. Mike Holmgren or Eric Mangini — who ya got?
Hoping to remain in Washington, Clinton Portis endorses Mike Shanahan.
Outlook
The Jaguars are a tricky team to defend because their quarterback is their second leading rusher, and their running back is their second leading receiver. Obviously, Jacksonville doesn’t have the Philadelphia Eagles' combination of Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook, but David Garrard and Maurice Jones-Drew are dangerous in their own right. However, the Jaguars are just 15th in the league in total yards and 21st in points scored, so they’re not exactly lighting the world on fire.
Garrard is a marginal quarterback who is good enough to manage the game and make a few plays to give the Jaguars a chance to win, but he won’t win a game on his own. For instance, during last week’s 35-31 home loss to the Colts, Garrard completed 18 of 26 passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns to help the Jaguars build a 31-28 lead through three quarters. But in the fourth quarter, Garrard was 5-of-14 for 48 yards and one interception in four possessions. The Jags had two possessions with that three-point lead in the final quarter, and Garrard was 2-of-5 for 11 yards. In their two possessions after the Colts took the lead, he was 3-of-9 for 37 yards and one interception, and he was also sacked once.
Jones-Drew is the unquestioned catalyst of that offense, and he’s a powerful downhill runner who can be shifty when he wants to be. He’s also a threat as a receiver, as Garrard often checks down to his running back over the middle or in the flat. The Jaguars don’t run as many screen plays as, say, the Bills, but the option is still there. However, if Jones-Drew is involved in the passing game, the players in New England’s locker room say it’s because the downfield coverage has eliminated Jacksonville’s receivers and Garrard needs his safety blanket.
Garrard averages 4.9 rush attempts and 19.5 rushing yards per game, so he’s not Michael Vick but he is the most unique quarterback the Patriots will face this season in that respect. Garrard is also strong enough to break tackles, which is another rarity for quarterbacks. Because of the Jags’ threat in the short passing game, every Patriots linebacker and defensive back has to make a conscious effort to keep his eyes in the backfield. It’s also important that cornerbacks don’t completely turn their backs on Garrard because they could get caught out of position, which could lead to a long run. Therefore, look for the Patriots to employ a lot of zone coverages to keep that threat in check.
And then there is wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker, who will be a star in the NFL if he stops getting injured. Sims-Walker is a big, fast receiver who has been getting it done since his days at Central Florida, where he was the team’s primary threat over Brandon Marshall, who set an NFL single-game record with 21 receptions two weeks ago. Sims-Walker isn’t at that point in his pro career yet, but he’ll likely pose some problems for the Patriots’ secondary if Garrard has an accurate day throwing the ball.
The Jaguars are a different defensive team this season than in years past. Mel Tucker, who was Leigh Bodden’s secondary coach with the Cleveland Browns, is in his first season as the Jags defensive coordinator. While Jacksonville used to play a 4-3 scheme, it’s now switching between the 4-3 and the 3-4, which is loosely similar to what the Patriots have been doing in 2009.
However, it’s been a work in progress for the Jags, who are 20th in yards allowed and 21st in points allowed. Rashean Mathis is still one of the better cornerbacks in the league, but safety Reggie Nelson has struggled to reach his potential. There really isn’t much else in that secondary, and the Jags are 27th in passing yards allowed and 24th in passing touchdowns allowed, which is a total turnaround from the premier pass defenses the Patriots have faced in their previous two games. As a result, look for Tom Brady and the offense to open it up a little more this weekend.
The Jaguars are also blitzing a lot more — about 50 percent of the time, according to Brady — but they’re not very good at that, either. Defensive tackle John Peterson leads the team with three sacks, and that’s a likely product of Jacksonville’s pressure, which tends to come from straight ahead over the center.
New England should also be able to run the ball against the Jaguars, who are 12th in rushing yards allowed and 10th in rushing touchdowns surrendered. All in all, this should really be the Patriots’ chance to snap out of an offensive funk because the Jags’ defense simply isn’t good enough to keep pace.
Don’t be fooled by Jacksonville’s strong performance against the Colts, which was shown last week on national television. The Jags always play the Colts tough, and that was one of Jacksonville’s best games of the season. This is also a team that lost 41-0 to the Seahawks, 30-13 to the then-0-6 Titans and 20-3 to the 49ers. What do all of those games have in common? They were on the road. Young, inexperienced teams always struggle on the road, and this week shouldn’t be much different. The Patriots might not blow them out, but they shouldn’t have a problem punching their playoff tickets this weekend.
