I am not really happy with the Giants this week.  Haven’t been happy with them for the last 3 weeks, truth be told.  It’s not so much the attitude they’ve displayed this week or the bad judgment they’re guilty of, for showing up to Arizona dressed like pall bearers.  It’s not their lack of respect, it’s their lack of gratitude.  These are the same guys that have been talking all week about the galvanizing effect of playing the Patriots close in the regular season’s final game.  Many of them credited it with giving them the confidence to make their memorable run through the NFC conference.  Three impressive games that allowed them to show their city, and the rest of a doubting NFL, that they were championship timber.  They’re the toast of Manhattan and are the Last Hope for those who do not want to see the Patriots win another Super Bowl.  They are now America’s Underdog.  And they seem to really be enjoying it.  Not just the attention, but the thrill of playing their best and coming together at most important part of the season.  Who wouldn’t, right?

My problem isn’t with any of this, it’s the fact that I haven’t heard one Giant thank the Patriots for any of it.  After all, it’s the historic success of the Patriots that allowed the Giants to share some limelight in what would have been an uneventful evening at the Meadowlands 4 short weeks ago and ride that winning energy all the way to the Phoenix.  If the Patriots weren’t so damn good it’s likely that this week we’d be reading about Brett Favre’s favorite fertilizer, be subjected to Tony and Jessica at the Maxim party, or what it’s like to be reared by a man named Bum.  Instead it’s the shocking revelation that Eli Manning didn’t say a word to the world until he was three years old - a trait that virtually guarantees him Super Bowl glory (this is great news for my neighbor with the 6 year old who loves the taste of paint chips), actual score predictions, and half-hearted trash talk. 

And the Patriots are responsible.  They turned the 10-5 average team with the shaky QB and a bad secondary into the “hottest team in the NFL”.  They are so damn good they forced the Giants into playing inspired football and once they started, they didn’t want to stop.  They’ve taken this precious gift from New England and have cashed it in for a Super Bowl berth.  And not one word of thanks.  Not even an “hey, man, I appreciate it” head nod.

It’s just not right.

This years Patriot team is so damn good that it took two teams to the Super Bowl.  The Patriots made you, Giants, and Sunday they are going to destroy you.

The argument for the Giants winning this game seems to boil down to the fact that they outplayed the Patriots for 3 quarters a month ago, but couldn’t close the deal; now they are playing much better (an arguable proposition), the Patriots are the same or have even regressed a bit (also arguable), therefore the Giants will be able to finish the job this time around.  Even the most ardent Giant partisans seem to concede that at the very best, it will be a close game, and pin their hopes on the Giants making more big plays down the stretch and pulling out the win.  However, what this analysis ignores is that the Patriots are at their very best in close games when the game is on the line.  You can count on exactly one finger the number of big games in which the Patriots were outplayed late in the 4th quarter and let a tight game slip away.  That one time obviously was last year’s AFCCG, and this year’s team was built with the express purpose of not allowing that situation to happen again.  They proved that repeatedly this year–this was probably the best team since the ‘03 edition in terms of managing “close and late” situations and doing enough to win.  I do not believe this is entirely luck–I think there is a skill to it–and the Patriots are the best in these situations in today’s NFL.  I’ve resigned myself to the fact that this is probably going to be a real nail-biter (these games just always turn out that way, right?), but again, even if the Giants are able to neutralize the Patriots obvious strengths and keep the game close, they are still going to need to overcome the Patriots’ less obvious but equally important strength of managing the 4th quarter to victory.  It’s just too tall a task. Patriots 31, Giants 28.

You’ve got to hand it to the Giants. They made it here the hard way, winning all three road games. I still don’t think they are in the class of any of the final four AFC teams, though.

I’ve always been a closet Eli Manning fan. I think it’s because he’s always been crapped on for not caring enough, which isn’t true. I see his disintrest as a positive quality that helps him remain calm when he needs to deliver. He doesn’t have the charisma of his brother, but when all of the chips are on the table, I’d take Eli over Payton and his anxious feet when you have to come from behind in the fourth quarter of a playoff game.

I don’t think Eli has the weapons around him to win his next game, though. Burress has come up big in the playoffs so far, but in my opinion the lack of a good check down option for Eli is going to be the Achilles heal for the Giants offense. Despite Shockey’s mouth and antics, his hands are going to be missed when they need to complete a third and seven with Plaxico and Toomer covered. I think the Pats will allow Steve Smith some opportunities to make big catches before they start worrying about a rookie in the Super Bowl beating them.

This time Pats’ will have the right side of their OL back, and we see what that has meant for Maroney in the past two games. They also don’t have to force the ball to any specific receivers in order to break those pesky records. Brady will have the full buffet of receivers to choose from, so I’d be surprised if we see the fourth down kicking units make five appearances like they did in week 17.

Take the Over, Not the Underdog.

Everybody loves the underdog, from David to the Little Engine That Could.

Pundits cite the ‘01 Patriots or the ‘90 Giants as examples that yes, your team too can do the impossible. (Of course, they never mention the one element those teams had in common.)

Why not the ‘89 Broncos, the ‘92 Bills or ‘94 Chargers? They were big underdogs, too, and so good at it, they never broke character through their respective Super Bowls. Updated rule: Everybody loves the underdog, until the underdog loses.

But let’s not insult these Giants. They’re a nice team. They put it all together at the right time, and made a legendary march on the road through the playoffs. They feature an embattled young quarterback, an enigmatic wide receiver, a sack-happy defense, and an NFL lifer at coach.

They’re the ‘85 Patriots. What’s not to like?

(Editors Note: Throughout the afternoon, we’ll be bringing you last-minute thoughts from the members of our esteemed Patriots Roundtable, as they prepare to watch their team take the field for its fourth Super Bowl of the last seven years.)

I am excited about this game. I have read a lot of the pre-game stuff, and been talking with my friends and family about it a lot. I have gotten my ire up at the surprsingly talkative New York Giants. I’m ready to go. Which surprises me a bit. All the winning the Patriots and Red Sox (who I am also a fan of) have done the past few years spoils you a bit. And as a result, I think you lose the passion as a fan to some degree. Not that I don’t follow it closely and I still attend every game. You never lose your fandom or interest or happiness when they win. But I think that feeling you have, perhaps before the first one, that it would absolutely crush you if they lose and pure joy if they win diminishes when you get into dynasty territory. Then I think it becomes more like admiration or appreciation than pure adrenaline rush. But I think I am more fired up for this Patriots game than I have been for awhile. And more so than before their last Super Bowl win. Maybe its the history they can make by going undefeated. Whatever it is, I’m ready to go and I think most Patriots fans are. This isn’t just a mundane champion of the year that the NFL crowns every year they’re going for here. It’s a chance, as Junior Seau says, to be a part of ever. And that is special. And a great reason to get fired up. 6:18 p.m. can’t get here soon enough.

by the Patriots Daily Staff
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First, a little housekeeping: we’re having some technical difficulties this morning in posting this week’s Patriots Buffet Table. But please, stay tuned later today for another winning entry from the PD Kitchen Staff.

Edit: And just like that, here it is. With beer cans! Thanks, Kitchen Staff!

The Patriots are poised to entertain the Chargers in the third AFC Championship game to be played in Foxborough, so the Roundtable guys have gathered again for another confab. Let’s listen in.

You are a Patriots fan. Tony Masserotti says you were disappointed that the Colts lost last Sunday. Were you?

Dan Snapp: A little, so it’s sad to say maybe Masserotti speaks for me here. I’ve enjoyed the rivalry, and I’ve always looked ahead to the Colts game on the schedule each year. Plus, I think the way the Patriots played in that November 4th tilt has been vastly underrated. They were gonna kill the Colts in a rematch, so we were deprived of the Peyton face.

Travis Graham: No. It was actually quite the opposite. I don’t know if this is a sign of an “unhealthy” sports fan, but I got more enjoyment out of watching the Colts lose than watching the Patriots win. The path to the Superbowl is a little easier for the Patriots now, but that wasn’t the only reason why I was so happy. I just enjoy watching the Colts lose, especially at home. I have no rational explanation for this.

Bruce Allen: Tony Massarotti (or Dan Shaughnessy) does not speak for me. I also enjoyed seeing the Colts lose, and have no disappointment that they’re not coming to town on Sunday. I think the columnists are upset because they had all their “storylines” lined up in advance and now the Chargers have come and upset the apple cart on them. Happily for the lazy media types, they were handed quite a gift with the Randy Moss story this week. Now they can break out all the character columns and thoughts they had stored up all season without a chance to use.

Greg Doyle: Absolutely not. That is so silly. Why would I care? As a fan, I’m not looking for storylines, I am looking for championships. If the Patriots go on to win one, think anyone will remember they didn’t beat the Colts? Most of these idiots in the media never can seem to keep straight what years they beat the Colts in the divisional round (2004) or AFC Championship (2003) or any of the details accurately of their championship runs and they are going to try to tell us its important now? Too funny.

Dan: A distinction should be made between media reasons and fan reasons. I don’t care about storylines; I want championships, regardless of whom they have to go through to get it. And if they win it without meeting the Colts in the playoffs, there’s no luster lost from the achievement. But fans are gonna feel what they’re gonna feel. I was a little disappointed it wasn’t the Colts because beating them always has an extra oomph to it.

Kevin Thomas: I don’t really buy the idea that it would be a lesser accomplishment to beat the team that was good enough to KO the champs, because frankly, I didn’t think there was any team out there up to that challenge. We knew going in that whoever was coming to Foxborough this weekend was going to be a damn good football team. It will be a moot point after the opening kickoff on Sunday.

In September, the Chargers and Pats had a rematch of their bitter, emotional playoff game last January, and New England won decisively. Is there a difference between the Chargers then and today?

Dan: Adjusting to the coaching changes, the emergence of Antonio Cromartie, the Chris Chambers pickup, and I like Eric Weddle a lot. The team can’t be overlooked, as they have a load of talent on both sides of the ball.

Scott Benson: The first thing that comes to my mind is Cromartie. He was a backup then and now he’s one of their best players. I shudder to think of him with the ball in his hands on Sunday.

Bruce: I think there’s no question that the Chargers have gotten their act together over the course of the season. They’ve gotten stronger as the season has gone along - always a bad thing for playoff opponents. In some ways they’re still the same over-emotional club that explodes at each other as much as at the opposition, and this could be their Achilles heel.

Do the Chargers have a chance to beat the Pats if Phillip Rivers and LaDainian Tomlinson don’t play?

Scott: Oddly, I can’t imagine any scenario where Tomlinson beats the Patriots. Is he going to run for 150 or hit 200 in total yardage against the Pats? I don’t see it. So Turner (4.2 a carry Sunday) and Sproles (where are these short people coming from?) can cover there. Rivers is freaking me out. How is this sidearm loudmouth completing these passes? So I’m going to say yes, they can beat them without Tomlinson, and no, Billy Volek may not hold up for four quarters against the Pats.

Travis: I’ve been critical of Rivers in the past, but his three quarters of play on Sunday was some of the best passing I’ve ever seen from him. I’d be much happier with Volek taking the snaps and not have to worry about a repeat performance.

Bruce: After last week, you certainly can’t count them out in any situation. While the offense put together some good drives, it was really the defense that won that game for them. With the defense healthy, they can hang in this game.

The Patriots defense gave up 350 yards to the Jaguars, including 270 through the air. The Jaguars possessed the ball for nearly as long as New England did. This performance came on the heels of giving up 35 points to the NY Giants in the final regular season game. Is the Patriots defense good enough to go to the Super Bowl, and win it?

Bruce: Of course it is. They took away the vaunted Jaguars running game, which is what they wanted to do. When they needed to make plays late, they made them. It might’ve been frustrating watching the Garrard throw the ball all over the field on Saturday, but Taylor and Jones-Drew were mostly ineffective. That’s pretty impressive.

Dan: They’re not asked to dominate. They’re asked to take away what teams do best. I think they do that well enough to win.

Scott: I’m resigned to the idea that every single game will be the exact same thing. Get run up and down the field a few times and then dodge a bullet by a sixteenth of a inch. I’m thinking of Dennis Northcutt from last week, as one example. But I do think that they’ll continue to summon the key stops, particularly in the second half, to hold up their end. I do think ahead to the off-season, and wonder about the changes to come. I don’t think the front seven is a particular strength of this team anymore, and it’s no wonder, as some of the most essential members are now 10+ year vets. If they go on to win the Super Bowl, the Patriots will have seemingly gotten everything they could out of this core group. Will they try to wring more, or will this be the off-season they step into the next era?

Dan: There will be a time when we’ll have to face the sober reality of “next year”, and the sadness of the handful of longtime friends who’ll no longer be part of our autumns (an expected retirement or two, I suspect a surprise one, and possibly one with the choice of retirement or a lesser role forced upon him). For now, let’s just drink this up and enjoy it while it lasts.

The Patriots employed their usual spread-shotgun offense on Saturday night, but they also hunkered down for a very productive running game featuring Laurence Maroney. What do you expect to see against the Chargers?

Dan: I can’t imagine seeing much of Maroney up the middle, but I hope we see him in the flat catching screens. I think the Chargers are susceptible to overpursuit.

Travis: I figure we’ll see more of the same. The Pats had a balanced offense working to perfection last week. I think they could have easily put up 50 if they needed to. One of the key contributors for the success of the running game was the (bizarro) Marvin-esque return of Stephen Neal. Neal and Mankins neutralized the Jaguars’ DTs, which let Maroney get a few steps in forward before he had to start making cuts.

A lot will be made of the coaching “mismatch” this week. But the Chargers just got their first two playoff wins in thirteen years, including one that knocked out the defending champs. Is Norv Turner being underestimated?

Dan: They had a great gameplan against the Colts, so good for Norv. He’s got a tough rep to overcome. I still can’t get over what he said back in week two, that he kept the first series script hidden from the team until Sunday morning. Belichick was that much in his head. But he and his coaches beat the defending champs in their own building, despite getting raped by the refs, with key plays from their second string quarterback and third string running back. Norv must be doing something right.

Bruce: Turner is actually getting some criticism for being too conservative after the Colts lost the ball on downs just before the two minute warning, which gave the Colts another shot with the ball. Overall, offense is his strength and he seemed to have a pretty good plan for the Colts defense for most of the afternoon. That being said, he’s a little out of his league in this coaching matchup. The players are a different story, but I don’t think we need to worry about the Patriots being outcoached this week.

Greg: I suppose he is being underestimated, in so far as I do not think Turner is the complete buffoon of a coach he is sometimes portrayed as. He is a decent coach and knows offense. He is not Belichick or anywhere near his level though. I am somewhat more concerned about the weather, truthfully. The cold forecast makes it hard to execute perfectly on offense, so I see that keeping the game close more than the coaching matchups.

Kevin: Do you think there is anything to the idea that the cold weather will negatively affect the warm-weather Chargers? I’m not sure if anyone has ever looked into that question statisticly, but my guess is it would be near impossible to isolate the impact of cold weather over other factors. I do remember that Tampa was winless in cold weather games over a ridiculously long stretch, but of course they almost always stunk until St. Tony arrived. Quickly scanning the box scores, it looks like the last time the Chargers played a game where the game-time temperature was below 32 degrees was in 2004 at Clevelend (a 21-0 win). Before that was at Kansas City in 2001 (a 20-17 loss). So, during the entire Tomlinson era, that’s only two games played in freezing weather. Obviously, not enough to predict one way or the other how it might affect them on Sunday. At the very least, though, it would be a ready-made excuse should things start to turn against them on the field.

Greg: Yes, I expect a lower scoring game than the Patriots have generally played this year. I don’t expect either of the offenses to roll up and down the field. Not to say they’ll be completely ineffective, but I just don’t think the conditions will be condusive to a shoot-out in the thirties. But who knows.

Adding to what I said about Turner, I went back and checked Bill Belichick’s record against Norv Turner. I included any game where Belichick was either head coach or defensive coordinator and any game where Turner was either head coach or offensive coordinator. Their history dates back to when Belichick was head coach in Cleveland and Turner was the offensive coordinator of the Cowboys.

It’s interesting. Belichick initially struggled against Turner’s offenses. Belichick’s team’s lost 3 of the first 4 matchups with Turner’s offenses averaging 26.25 points per game.However, Belichick has turned that around to win 5 straight games against Turner offenses, giving up an average of only 14.2 points per game. Overall, Belichick is 6-3 versus Turner offenses and has given up an average of 19.55 points per game.

by the Patriots Daily Staff
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There’s only 36 hours (or so) to go before New England fans see their undefeated Patriots take the field for the first playoff game in what could be the greatest season in NFL history.

Their opponent will be the 12-5 Jacksonville Jaguars, runners of the football, punchers of the mouth, thought to be the perfect adecdote to the Patriots’ perfect spread-em-out air show.

Even worse, they’re supposed to be able to use our own weather against us.

It’s NOT too late to make different plans for Saturday night.

Oh, hell, yes it is….the PD Kitchen Staff has already whipped up this weekend’s Buffet Table, and we are not letting perfectly good Shrimp Skewers go to waste.

Since we’re going ahead with the game, let’s call on the Roundtable gang for a volley of Pats patter.

The Jaguars were among the most outspoken teams when the Patriots were in the Spygate crosshairs. The head coach and a team leader were widely quoted. Do the Patriots have long memories this weekend?

Travis Graham: I’d be suprised if they didn’t. They’ve been pretty creative with much less material (get’cha popcorn?). Plus, I’m sure Brady has a personal axe to grind regarding J-Del’s spearing comments last year.

Bruce Allen: I’m not sure that stuff matters too much when they take the field, but I have feeling that having these things brought up again and put in front of them does do something for them. Whether it makes them focus with a little more intensity during their preparation during the week, or just put a chip on their shoulder, I’m not sure. It just doesn’t seem to me that these comments go unnoticed.

Tim Jordan: I seriously doubt Paul Spicer knows the rule the Patriots broke. Ditto for the advantage gained from it. Plus, he has a gap in his teeth that a Passat could drive through and I was raised never to take gap toothed blowhards seriously. I think the recent comments about the Patriots season will be employed more effectively. Spicer’s comments on the camera controversy just underscore that there is bad blood between both clubs. That’s a good thing for the fans. It usually means a nice post game celebration if they win. This game will be emotional because the loser’s season is over, the quotes will be entertaining material for after the game. A sidelight.

Is it up to David Garrard and the Jacksonville offense to beat the Patriots?

Travis: Only if the Pats decide to put eight in the box. Seriously, if the Pats want to shut down a RB, they will. The only time they weren’t able to stop a RB this season was when Jon Ogden was chaperoning the ball carrier. Addai had a pretty good game against them, but I think job #1 that day was to stop Manning and the receivers. I think the main reason why the Jags won’t score many points won’t be Garrard, but the wide receivers. They stink. The added depth and fresh legs that Merriweather and Wilson now bring to the Pats’ secondary (compared to where they were a month ago) will cause a frustrated Garrard to throw some desperation picks in the second half to ice it.

Scott Benson: I greatly respect what Garrard was able to do this year - only three picks in 325 throws. And Fred Taylor’s always been a good back when he’s been on the field. But the guy I fear on offense and special teams is Jones-Drew. We don’t need him to be pulling a Joe Washington this week. I don’t think they have any chance to beat the Patriots unless he has a big game.

Tim: Jacksonville wins this game with insane special teams play and turnovers on defense. That may not be likely, but it’s got a better chance than Garrard beating them, which is how you’d expect the Patriots to play them. The single most important thing the Patriots need to worry about is containing the stellar Jaguar running game. There is nothing impressive about this offense outside of it.

Bruce: They’re going to need to put up more than the 3 points they did two years ago when they came into Gillette in January. Leftwich was the starting QB that night, but Garrard did see some action for the Jags. The Jags didn’t have Jones-Drew yet, but the Patriots held Fred Taylor to 24 yards on 8 carries. Most of the players on offense are still pretty much the same as from that game. Garrard and Jones-Drew being the only real changes. They’ve shown that they’re a different team with Garrard, and he’ll need to have a big game to keep the Jags close.

The Jags defense is big and strong, but they fall decidedly towards the middle in most defensive categories. Will they be able to slow down the Pats?

Kevin Thomas: “Slow down” is a relative term. Statistically, as you note, they are a good, but not a top tier defense. I would say the Jags defense is probably in the same class as the Ravens, Giants, Cowboys, Chargers, Redskins and Eagles, and a bit below the Steelers and Colts, all teams the Patriots played this year, and who “slowed” the Pats down to the tune of 27, 38, 48, 38, 52, 31, 34 and 24 points against, respectively. I would think that the Patriots will be able to put up 30+ points on these guys. Is this year’s Jaguars defense as good as they were in ’06 or ’05? I don’t think they are, and the stats bear that out. The Patriots were able to move the ball pretty well against those arguably superior Jaguars defenses, and that was without the record-smashing offense they will have on Saturday.

Travis: I think that the Jags DBs aren’t as bad as advertised. The CBs are pretty solid, Knight is their leading tackler and the rookie Nelson has been making some big plays recently. The nickel back Terry Cousin has seen it all and is still productive at age 32. There is no glaring weak link in the secondary for the Pats to go after.  In the games this year when the Patriots offense struggled, the opposing team usually had a solid secondary; Baltimore had both of their starting CBs playing (for once), the Eagles had the CBs to stick with Moss and Stallworth, and Indy’s LBs are pretty much big nickel backs that can cover. I could see this unit being responsible for keeping the Pats under four touchdowns.

Scott: But Ben Roethlisberger had three interceptions against that secondary, one for a touchdown, and still threw for 340 yards and 29 points with no running game. They’ll have to stand on their head against Brady. I would only be slightly surprised to see the Patriots score 40 points in this game.

Tim: They are stout. Big. Physical.The perfect defense to spread out and exploit with 5 wides. The only pressure they generate is primarily from the line. A bad match up for Jacksonville.

Bruce: The Steelers didn’t have Willie Parker last week, and because of that the Jaguars were able to focus on the passing game of Pittsburgh, and Scott mentioned the result. Laurence Maroney should be able to keep the Jags defense a little more honest than the Steelers running backs were able to, and I don’t see Tom Brady having too much trouble find open receivers…as long as he can get the throws off.

What about the coaching matchup? The Jaguars are flying at their highest point of the Jack Del Rio era. They’ve won twelve games already, and including two emboldening wins in Pittsburgh over the last month. They’re clearly one of the four best teams in the AFC, and don’t forget, Del Rio’s Jags gave the Pats a few problems last December.

Kevin: I can’t help but get kind of a Pittsburgh Steelers-type vibe from the Del Rio Jaguars. It could be just the media hype, but don’t expect that they are planning on doing much more than lining up and relying on their “smashmouth” “physical” style to carry the day. I would much rather face that, which is a known commodity, than someone like Andy Reid coming in with nothing to lose and doing the completely unexpected: onside kicks, going for it on 4th down, throwing the ball all over the field, etc. Of course, if the Jaguars are able to come out in their base offense and run up 200-something yards on the ground, then the coaching (mis)matchup becomes kind of moot.

Bruce: Del Rio can motivate. I’m not sure how strong his X’s and O’s are. His teams come fired up to play, and play hard. Not always smart. The Jags are going to be aggressive on Saturday night, and I anticipate the Patriots coaches having some plays in mind to compensate for that style. The Patriots didn’t do a whole lot of crazy schemes this year, simply because the offense was so talented they scored enough points that the defense didn’t need to employ exotic schemes. Might be interesting to see if they break out anything new and shiny for this game.

Tim: That was a very entertaining game last year. Thinking back, it makes me pine for a healthy David Thomas this year. As far as the coaching matchup goes, it’s decidedly in the Patriots favor. That’s nothing new, but the real concern for Jacksonville (besides Jack Del Rio dressing up like Terminator again) is the way they play. They employ basic schemes that emphasize ball control and stopping the run. Teams like this don’t match-up well with any Belichick team, let alone this record setting 07 rendition.

There has been chatter this week coming from the Jax locker room talking alot about the close games the Patriots have played this year. The Giants, Eagles, and Ravens were trotted out as exhibits proving NE’s vulnerability. So, it’s worth thinking about - what did these teams do that the Jaguars can replicate to keep it close (none of them one so we can’t surmise a victory, right?)? The thing that stood out in those games was the way they approached it. They went all out and took risks throughout the game that you normally don’t see (the onside kick in the first quarter against Philly is a great example of this). Jacksonville can try this I guess, but they aren’t a great fit for it. They are disciplined, conservative team and I don’t think they’ll change that in their biggest game of the year.

Another thought would be to have them steal some ideas from the Jets gameplan, but there is no way they could execute it. Again, they just aren’t built for it.

Okay, let’s have your predictions, or any closing thoughts.

Travis: If John Henderson doesn’t play, the Pats may play more clock-control offense and let Maroney do his thing five yards at a time. On paper it won’t look like a blowout, but I see them clinching it in the third quarter with a final score of 27-10…ish.

Bruce: Despite the Jaguars newly-minted status as world beaters and media darlings, I’m not incredibly scared of them. Part of me thinks that they are being hyped as a possible Patriots-beater simply because they haven’t played them yet. The Patriots have played all the other top teams in the league with the exception of Jacksonville and Green Bay. I think the first half will the tight, but the Patriots open it up in the second half.

Scott: I’ve had the suspicion all week that this game will not be close, and that feeling is only strengthened by this AP story from a very confident Jaguars camp. I am, in a word, stunned at the stupidity, though I’m thriled to see it too. As Kevin notes, its Steelers-like, though they do stop short of guaranteeing a win. They should talk to Anthony Smith about what happens when you spend the week before the Patriots entertaining the press. Actually, it’s too late for that now. Patriots roll, 42-17, and the next time we hear from the Jaguars, they’ll be complaining about sideline communications systems and respect for the game.