The excitement is building for this Sunday's marquee matchup between the New York Jets and the hated New England Patriots. The Pats of course are set to play their first playoff game after earning a bye week as the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC. The Patriots torched the competition in the second half of the season, and should be plenty rested and ready to go when the Jets come to Gilette Stadium. The Jets meanwhile are coming off a huge last-second win over the Indianapolis Colts. It wasn't pretty at times, especially in the first half when the Jets' offense couldn't muster much of anything. But in the second half, the Jets' offensive line took over, the defense clamped down and limited Peyton Manning to just one touchdown, and timely plays by the special teams were enough to send the Jets back to the Divisional Round for the second time in as many years.
Like we do every week, here's your preview game capsule, stuffed with series history information, team stats, as well as facts, figures and trends for both squads.
NEW YORK JETS-AFC EAST (12-5) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS-AFC EAST (14-2)
SERIES
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JETS |
PATRIOTS |
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LEADER (REG. SEASON) |
51-49-1 |
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STREAKS (REG. SEASON) |
3 of past 5 |
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COACHES VS. OPP. (REG. & POSTSEASON) |
Ryan: 2-2 |
Belichick: 16-9 |
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COACHES PLAYOFF RECORD |
3-1 |
15-5 |
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VS. COMMON OPP. (REG. SEASON) |
NYJ: 8-4 (Bal. 0-1, Buf. 2-0, Chi. 0-1, Cin. 1-0, Cle. 1-0, Det. 1-0, GB 0-1, Mia. 1-1, Min. 1-0, Pit. 1-0) NE: 11-1 (Bal. 1-0, Buf. 2-0, Chi. 1-0, Cin. 1-0, Cle. 0-1, Det. 1-0, GB 1-0, Mia. 2-0, Min. 1-0, Pit. 1-0) |
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PLAYOFF RECORD |
11-12 |
21-14 |
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LAST WEEK |
W 17-16 at Colts |
Bye (Wk. 17: W 38-7 vs. Dolphins) |
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LAST GAME (REG. SEASON) |
12/6/10: Jets 3 at Patriots 45. New England QB Tom Brady passes for 326 yards & 4 TDs as Pats score 45 points in consecutive weeks. |
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LAST GAME AT SITE (REG. SEASON) |
12/6/10 |
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LAST PLAYOFF |
1/7/07: Jets 16 at Patriots 37. Brady throws 2 TDs & New England CB Asante Samuel has 36-yard INT-TD as Patriots beat New York in Wild Card round. |
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BROADCAST |
CBS (4:30 PM ET): Jim Nantz, Phil Simms. Westwood One Radio: Kevin Harlan, Randy Cross, Kevin Kiley (Field reporter). SIRIUS: 124 (WW1), 125 (NYJ), 123 (NE). XM: 124 (WW1), 103 (NYJ), 102 (NE). |
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REGULAR SEASON STAT LEADERS
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PASSING |
Sanchez: 278-507-3,291-17-13-75.3 |
Brady: 324-492-3,900-36 (1L)-4-111.0 (1L) |
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RUSHING |
Tomlinson: 219-914-4.2-6 |
Green-Ellis: 229-1,008-4.4-13 (T2L) |
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RECEIVING |
Keller (TE): 55-687-12.5-5 |
Welker: 86 (T2C)-848-9.9-7 |
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OFFENSE |
351.0 |
363.8 |
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TAKE/GIVE |
+9 (T3C) |
+28 (1L) |
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DEFENSE |
291.5 (3L) |
366.5 |
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SACKS |
Thomas: 6 |
Wright: 5.5 |
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INTs |
Cromartie, Lowery: 3 |
McCourty (R): 7 (T2L) |
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PR |
Wilson: 7.4 |
Edelman: 15.3 (1C) |
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KR |
B. Smith: 28.6 (2L) |
Tate: 25.8 (3C) |
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PUNTING |
Weatherford: 42.6 |
Mesko (R): 43.2 |
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KICKING |
Folk: 127 (3C) (37/37 PAT; 30/39 FG) |
Graham: 75 (39/41 PAT; 12/12 FG) |