Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
The Patriots are so close to clinching the AFC East, they can smell it.
But finally wrapping up the division two days after Christmas won't be easy with the Jacksonville Jaguars (7-7) playing for their playoff lives.
The Jags actually need this game more than the Pats do. A loss and the Jags can all but kiss a shot at the playoffs goodbye.
But the Patriots are at home -- a place they're undefeated at -- and they're looking to punch their ticket into the postseason and make it three straight victories down the home stretch.
The Jags are a very solid team, however, and it's not going to be easy. Well, regardless of who the Pats play, we all know it's never easy.
Jacksonville can give the Pats fits with a potent ground game led by the ultra-talented Maurice Jones-Drew, who is a threat running and receiving. Jacksonville relies on Jones-Drew like the Pats typically rely on quarterback Tom Brady. Usually, the Jags don't win unless Jones-Drew carries them.
He must be stopped, gang-tackled and hit hard on every single play. It would be a major boost if the Pats can get defensive linemen Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren back from injury. They've been practicing and you'd like to think they will play since they got much-needed rest last week against hapless Buffalo.
They are big keys up front, in hopes of neutralizing Jones-Drew. If the Jags can't run or run like they want to, then they will need to pass with the inconsistent David Garrard. The million dollar question is : Will we see the good David or the bad David?
When he's on, the emerging young wideout Mike Sims-Walker is burning secondaries with solid speed, hands and a knack for finding the end zone (7 TDs). Torry Holt --remember him from the St. Louis Rams days? -- is nothing more than a possession receiver (no TDs this year) but a WR that still catches everything thrown his way.
Also, the Pats better be aware of where Jones-Drew is even when he's not carrying the football. The running back has 49 receptions (tied with Holt for second on the team) for 333 yards and one score.
Yes, you guessed it, Jones-Drew is going to be handful for the Patriots defense, which has been so up and down this year.
Offensively, I see a major advantage for the Patriots. I know this offense has sputtered recently, but the Jags are just the team to get the passing attack back on the right track.
Jacksonville simply can't stop the pass. They allow 244.4 yards per game through the air, and you can bet coach Bill Belichick wants Tom Brady to attack them all afternoon long. Just like every week, we should see Randy Moss deep (although it was nice to see him in the slot and running different routes last week to get his hands on the ball wasn't it?) and Wes Welker short.
Calling Benjamin Watson! I know he's still on the team and maybe Brady might want to target him a little more because I bet just about every defense isn't worrying too much about him catching the ball. If the tight end starts getting more involved, watch this offense start rolling again. The Jags also give up 103.7 yards per game on the ground, so Laurence Maroney can keep them honest by continuing to run his tail off. Take that Patriots fans who had given up on the former first-rounder. Maroney isn't a bust, I don't want to hear that. He's got 735 yards rushing and 9 TDs. Not bad for a guy who just about everyone wanted to see cut during the preseason. Maroney has the talent, he's just needed to be consistent. I think, at least down the stretch, he's proven to be a key performer and one of the biggest bright spots on offense.
Chad's Take: Jacksonville wants to control the clock with Jones-Drew punishing the Patriots' defense, and then take its shots down the field to Sims-Walker when the Pats put the eighth man in the box to stop the run. The Jags, in particular Jones-Drew, will put points on the board and move the ball down the field. But they need to score touchdowns when they get in the red zone. If it's field goals, look out because the Pats will make them pay.
Brady's been banged up for weeks, but this is the perfect week to get himself and the offense back in gear. Brady should have plenty of time to sit back and pick the Jags' secondary apart (Jacksonville has only has 14 sacks on the season), and expect big games from Moss and Welker. Watson could be huge, too, if given the chance. I'm smelling a division championship on Sunday, but it's going to be a street fight for 60 minutes.
Prediction: Patriots, 31-27
