Jaguars provide perfect test
The big loser of the first round of the NFL playoffs just might be that 16-0 team that didn’t play.
In a Saturday night divisional playoff game, the New England Patriots will put their perfect season on the line in Foxborough, Mass., against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who rank No. 1 in the NFL in rushing and defending the run.
The Jaguars, despite their Florida roots, showed themselves to be a solid cold-weather team with a victory Saturday at the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was the first time in the Steelers’ 75-year history that any team beat them twice in one season at Pittsburgh.
Jacksonville (12-5) at New England (16-0): The Patriots had three three-point wins and a four-point victory this season, all games they could have lost. But the fact they won them says a lot – they trailed by 10 points in Indianapolis with 10 minutes to go and won 24-20, then won 38-35 in the regular-season finale at the Meadowlands after trailing by 12 in the third quarter.
The fact that both teams New England beat in those games are among the NFL’s final eight demonstrates that they can get into trouble against good teams and still win.
The Jags’ resilience Saturday night was also impressive.
“The bottom line is we made the plays we needed to make at the times they needed to be made to win the game,” coach Jack Del Rio said.
Against New England?
If Maurice Jones-Drew breaks lose a couple of times, maybe.
But the Jags intercepted Ben Roethlisberger three times and won by just two points in Pittsburgh. Tom Brady threw just eight interceptions all season.
Beyond that is the experience factor again.
The Pats are seeking their third title this decade. The Jaguars’ win was their first in Del Rio’s five seasons as coach. And to win in Foxborough, they probably have to score 30 points or more, something they’re really not built to do.
Except, perhaps, in Pittsburgh.
San Diego (12-5) at Indianapolis (13-3): The Colts are considered up there with New England: simply better than the rest of the six other teams left. And while they were resting, San Diego was playing and lost one of its top players, tight end Antonio Gates, with a toe injury.
Gates’ status for next Sunday’s game wasn’t immediately known. As was the status of Indy’s star receiver, Marvin Harrison, who missed most of the season with a knee injury and didn’t play in the regular-season finale, as he was supposed to.
But the Colts had time to work in others to replace Harrison, notably rookie Anthony Gonzalez. Gates’ loss would be as important as Owens’ to Dallas.
On the other hand, the Chargers have some pleasant memories of Indy, winning there 26-17 two years ago, when the Colts were 13-0. They did it by getting pressure on Peyton Manning, notably by Shawne Merriman, who used that as a breakout game in his rookie season.
They also may be buoyed by finally breaking through in the postseason after losing at home to New England after finishing 14-2 and earning the top seed in the AFC. That loss got Marty Schottenheimer fired and Norv Turner the head coaching job.