Looking to wrap it up
Win over Jaguars would raise spirits
Patriots. Jaguars. Playoff hopes.
That sums up the high-stakes atmosphere expected today at Jacksonville's
"It's for a division title, so in that sense it's a playoff game," said Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. "All the work we put in comes down to this [game]."
With a victory today, the Patriots (10-4) would clinch the AFC East championship and a playoff berth. Meanwhile, the Jaguars (8-6) are still clinging to playoff hopes, in need of wins today and next Sunday in Kansas City.
"It's a big game for both teams," said fourth-year Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio. "Obviously, it's more important for us in that it's such a must-win situation for us."
That might be the case, although the Patriots have been approaching today as if they have no tomorrow. The team could still clinch the division title with a victory next Sunday in Tennessee, or by virtue of one more Jets loss -- tomorrow at Miami, or next Sunday against Oakland.
But naturally, the Patriots hope to wrap things up today. The benefits would be many, from not facing a true must-win situation against the Titans and dynamic rookie quarterback Vince Young in the final week of the season, to resting some banged-up players, to giving the coaching staff extra time to prepare for a playoff game, to building momentum.
"It is the point in the year that Coach [Bill] Belichick always talks about how the best players have to step up and the best teams have to step up at this point. We consider ourselves that, and we want to be that," said five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Richard Seymour.
"I think you can't talk about it, you have to go out and do it, and we have an opportunity to try to take on that role. This is a big game for us, to say the least. It is a playoff atmosphere down there."
Awaiting the Patriots is a team that has played its best against top teams, and at home. The Jaguars are 6-1 at Alltel, and have held opponents to an average of 9.1 points in those games. With a defense anchored by defensive tackles Marcus Stroud and John Henderson, and the playmaking ability of first-time Pro Bowl cornerback Rashean Mathis (seven interceptions), the Jaguars are the only team in the NFL to not allow more than 17 points at home this season.
But the Patriots, who are on pace to set the franchise record for fewest points allowed in a season (13.8 per game), have been at their best on the road (5-1). The Patriots have allowed opposing offenses just 17 touchdowns this season, the fewest in the league. The Jaguars have surrendered just 19, tying them for second fewest, so points should be difficult to come by today.
Several players on the Patriots' defense spoke of the importance of stopping the run, as the Jaguars -- who will turn to rookie Maurice Jones-Drew in the absence of starting running back Fred Taylor (hamstring) -- enter with the NFL's second-rated rushing offense (163.1 yards per game). Along those lines, the Patriots practiced in pads Thursday, which is unusual this late in the year, but was deemed necessary so defenders could work on their timing in the running game.
The game is a rematch from last season's AFC wild-card round, when the Patriots posted a 28-3 victory by breaking open a 7-3 game late in the third quarter.
In reviewing his notes from that game, Belichick was reminded of the Jaguars' size at most positions, making them one of the NFL's biggest teams. Belichick needed no reminder, however, at what was at stake today.
"We know what our situation is," he said. "We need to win to get into the playoffs and so that's all that really matters."
Mike Reiss can be reached at mreiss@globe.com. 
