This Week
The New England Patriots visit the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, FL on Sunday at 1 p.m.
| The Patriots | —- | The Jaguars | ||
| Overall | 10-4 | Overall | 2-12 | |
| Road record | 5-2 | Home record | 1-6 | |
| AFC South | 3-0 | AFC East | 0-3 | |
| AFC | 9-1 | AFC | 2-8 | |
Jeff Triplette is the referee assigned to the game.
The Line/Prediction
As of Thursday the line on the game from 5dimes.eu via Yahoo Sports has the Patriots at minus 15.5. The over under is 50.5.
My Prediction is Patriots 48, Jaguars, 21. Give the points (Patriots) and take the over. I am 3-11 against the spread and 10 of 14 on calling the over/under in 2012.
Tickets
The Jags are reporting the game as a sell out. In fact in order to meet demand for tickets they have opened up additional sections of seats that are usually tarped off.
Jacksonville has not had a home game blacked on in over three seasons. Their sell out streak sits at 25 consecutive games.
Tickets to the game, if available, can be purchased through Ticketmaster. You can check the availability here.
Getting to the Game
If you’re lucky enough to be going to the game in Jacksonville make sure you check out the links.
Here is the up to date weather forecast from the Weather Channel for Jacksonville FL.
Click for all the game day information including stadium directions and parking information, parking map and an EverBank Field seating chart.
Tailgating
Here’s a bunch of different tailgating recipes from Tailgating.com. There’s something there for everyone and every type of meal or snack. I’ve tried some of the recipes and they’re very good.
And with tailgating many people enjoy some adult beverages. With that in mind check out Drink Nation for how to make all sorts of great drinks. You can look things up by name, ingredient(s) or theme.
Whether it’s at the game, a bar or a friend’s house moderation is always the key to a great time. Please don’t drink and drive and designate a sober driver. Remember You Drink, You Drive, You Lose.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television
CBS in televising the game regionally and Kevin Harlan will do play by play while Solomon Wilcots will provide the game analysis. You can look here for your local affiliate.
See if you’re getting the game courtesy of J.P. Kirby at the506.com.
The DirecTV designation is Channel 711.
Here are all the rules on NFL TV broadcasts including explaining the blackout rules, flex scheduling and commercial breaks.
Radio
The Patriots Radio Network broadcasts the game from flagship station WBZ-FM, 98.5 the Sports Hub in Boston. Gil Santos handles the play-by-play and former Patriots QB Scott Zolak will do the game analysis. It all starts with Gary Tanguay and Andy Gresh with the pregame show at 10 a.m. along the network. The post game starts after the final gun and continues for three hours along the network.
The Patriots radio network call is available on Sirius Channel 123 and on SiriusXM Internet Channel 818.
The Jaguars Radio Network has Brian Sexton calling play by play and former Jags DE Jeff Lageman doing the color via their flagship station WOKV-AM/FM.
Their call is available on Sirius Channel 104, XM Channel 233 and SiriusXM Internet Channel 814.
Patriots All Access
Patriots All-Access features behind the scenes looks, interviews and breakdowns with head coach Bill Belichick and in depth features on the team. It’s hosted by Steve Burton of WBZ-TV (Boston) and airs weekly in most New England television markets.
- Boston MA on TV 38 Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m.
- Providence RI on WNAC Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m.
- Manchester NH on WMUR Saturday at midnight
- Portland ME on WMTW Sunday at 5 a.m.
- Hartford CT on WCTX Saturday at 5 p.m.
- Springfield MA on WFXQ Saturday at 7 p.m.
- Bangor ME on WVII Sunday at 11 a.m.
You can also watch it anytime on the team website in the media section.
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Last Week
The Patriots lost at home to the 49ers, 41-34. The Jaguars lost on the road to the Dolphins, 24-3.
History
- The Patriots lead the all-time series 8-1 including playoffs.
- The Patriots are 3-1 against the Jaguars in the playoffs.
- The Patriots are 2-1 on the road in the series.
- New England has won the last five meetings.
- Jacksonville’s lone series win was in the 1998 post season vs. a Pete Carroll coached team.
- The two teams last met in 2009 at Foxboro and the Patriots won 35-7.
Patriots Team Notes
Here is the Patriots roster, depth chart and injury report for the game.
2012 Patriots Schedule/Results
The Patriots overall franchise record is 424-369-9. They have won three Super Bowls (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX) in seven appearances. Overall they are 23-16 in the post season.
They last appeared in the playoffs in 2011 when they beat Denver home in the AFC Divisional Playoff, 45-10 and defeated Baltimore 23-20 in Foxboro in the AFC Championship Game. They lost Super Bowl XLVI to the New York Giants 21-17.
The Patriots were 13-3 (2-1 in playoffs) in 2011 and are the defending four-time AFC East Champions as well as the defending AFC Conference Champions. They have won the division 10 times (including this season) and the conference 5 times since 2000.
This is the Patriots final regular season road game and they return to the site where they won their last Super Bowl (XXXIX vs. Philadelphia).
The Patriots have played 6 of the 9 teams this season that have former NFL players as their head coach.
New England is the only NFL franchise to score 500 or more points in 4 seasons (2007, 2010-2012). They join St. Louis (1999-2001) as the only teams to have done it three years in a row.
Even if the Patriots were to be shutout in the seasons final two games they will still average more than 30 points a game for the season.
New England is 81-47-1 against teams in the AFC South.
Since 1999 the Patriots have the best record in the NFL at 157-65.
Since 2001 the Patriots are 72-17 in games played on Thanksgiving or later.
Since 2001 New England is 43-6 in December games.
The New England defense has forced a turnover in 25 consecutive games dating back to Week 6 in 2011.
The Patriots have seven non-offensive touchdowns in 2012. The 2010 Patriots and 1961 Patriots teams own the team record with nine non-offensive touchdowns. The NFL record for most non-offensive touchdowns is 13 by Seattle in 1998.
Date Game Touchdown
9/9/12 at Tennessee Dont’a Hightower 6-yd. Fumble Return
10/21/12 vs. N.Y. Jets Devin McCourty 104-yd. Kickoff Return
11/18/12 vs. Indianapolis Julian Edelman 68-yd. Punt Return
11/18/12 vs. Indianapolis Aqib Talib 59-yd. Int. Return
11/18/12 vs. Indianapolis Alfonzo Dennard 87-yd. Int. return
11/22/12 at N.Y. Jets Steve Gregory 32-yd. Fumble Return
11/22/12 at N.Y. Jets Julian Edelman 22-yd. Fumble Return
The Patriots are 1st in the NFL in points per game with 36.1. While they allow 22.5 points per game good for 17th in the NFL.
The New England defense has sacked the opponents quarterback 29 times this season while their quarterbacks have been sacked 23 times.
New England is PLUS 22 in turnover differential, 1st in the NFL. The offense has given up 7 INT and 7 fumbles, while the defense has 16 INTs and 20 fumble recoveries.
The Patriots are 98 for 198 (49.5%) in 3rd down efficiency and 6 for 9 (66.6%) on fourth down attempts. Opponents are 73 for 177 (41.2%) in 3rd down efficiency and 8 for 19 (42.1%) on 4th down attempts.
New England is 44 of 64 (68.8%) in the red zone while opponents are 23 for 39 (59%) in the red zone in 2012.
In goal to go situations New England is 35 for 43 (81.4%) and opponents are 18 for 24 (75%).
Since Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994 they:
- Have the most Super Bowl wins, 3.
- Have the most regular season wins, 203.
- Have the most wins including playoffs, 222.
- Have the most conference titles, 6.
- Have the most division titles, 12.
- Have the most playoff wins, 19
- Have played the most playoff games, 29.
- Are tied for the most playoff seasons, 14.
- Have the best playoff win percentage, .671.
- Have drafted the most Pro Bowl players, 20.
New England set the following team records in 2011:
- Total yards, 6,848.
- First downs, 399.
- Net passing yards, 5,084.
- 100+ yard receiving games, 18.
- Games with 30+ points, 12 (tied for most in NFL history).
Patriots Staff Notes
This is the link to head coach Bill Belichick’s Wednesday press conference on the Jets.
Bill Belichick is 5-2 vs. the Jags in his career including playoffs. He is 5-0 with New England.
Overall in his NFL career Belichick is 185-101 in his 18th NFL season. He is 149-57 with New England and 36-44 with Cleveland. He is 17-7 in the playoffs, 16-6 as head coach of the Patriots in the post season. When you combine his regular season and post season records he is 202-108.
Belichick’s 202 wins are good for 7th all-time.
Belichick is one of five head coaches in NFL history whose father (Steve Belichick) played in the league. The others are former Kansas City head coach Todd Haley (Dick Haley), former San Francisco head coach Mike Nolan (Dick Nolan), former Cincinnati head coach David Shula (Don Shula) and former NY Jets head coach Joe Walton (Frank Walton).
Belichick is one of just four coaches to win three Super Bowls, joining Chuck Noll (4), Joe Gibbs (3) and Bill Walsh (3). Those men are all in the Hall of Fame.
He is the only coach in NFL history to win three championship titles in four seasons.
He is the only coach in NFL history to have led his team to 10+ wins in 9 consecutive seasons.
Patriots Possible Starters
Offense:
- LT: Solder
- LG: Mankins
- C: Wendell
- RG: Connolly
- RT: Vollmer
- TE: Hoomanawanui
- TE: Hernandez
- WR: Lloyd
- WR: Welker
- QB: Brady
- RB: Ridley
Defense:
- DE: Ninkovich
- DT: Wilfork
- DT: Love
- DE: Jones
- LB: Mayo
- LB: Spikes
- LB: Hightower
- LCB: Talib
- RCB: Dennard
- S: McCourty
- S: Gregory
Patriots Players Notes
This Tom Brady’s 13th NFL season he is 5-0 vs. the Jags including 2-0 in the playoffs.
Overall Brady is 134-39 as a starting QB and is 16-6 in the playoffs for an overall record of 150-45. Brady is a 7 time Pro Bowl QB; two time NFL MVP and has won 3 Super Bowls while twice being named the games MVP. He is also listed as the 21st Greatest Player in the History of the NFL according to the NFL Network.
He was ranked in the preseason by ESPN’s Ron Jaworski as the 3rd best quarterback in the NFL.
Brady has 330 TD passes in his career he is now 5th all-time. Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton is 4th with 342.
Brady has 134 regular season career wins; he is 5th all-time.
Brady finished the 2011 season with 5,235 passing yards and joined Drew Brees (5,476 in 2011 and 5,069 in 2008), Dan Marino (5,084 in 1984) and Matthew Stafford (5,038 in 2011) as the only players in NFL history to reach 5,000 passing yards in a single season.
Brady has thrown at least 1 TD pass in 46 consecutive games.
The Patriots are 89-16 when Brady throws at least 2 TD passes in a game.
Brady has 53 games in his career with 300 or more passing yards he is 5th all-time.
On the season Brady is 355 of 560 (63.4%) for 4276 yards with 30 TDs and 6 INTs his QB rating is 100.1.
WR Wes Welker now has catches in 115 consecutive games including playoffs, 98 as a Patriot. The last time Welker did not have a catch in a game was 12/24/05 as a Dolphin.
Welker leads the team with 100 catches for 1172 yards. He is the 1st player in NFL history to do it five times.
Welker has the second most receptions (750) all-time among undrafted receivers. Rod Smith is the NFL’s all-time leader with 849.
WR Brandon Lloyd had a career high 190 receiving yards on Sunday vs. San Francisco. It was the most in a single game by a Patriots receiver in 2012.
TE Aaron Hernandez and Lloyd each had 10 catches on Sunday marking the third time in franchise history the Patriots had a game with multiple layers having 10+ catches.
TE Rob Gronkowski has 37 receiving touchdowns and 38 touchdowns overall (1 rushing) since 2010. The NFL record for most receiving touchdowns in a player’s first three NFL seasons is 43 by Randy Moss and the NFL record for most touchdowns overall by a player in his first three NFL seasons is 47 by Barry Sanders (4 receiving and 43 rushing).
He is tied for the team lead with RB Stevan Ridley with 10 TDs.
Ridley leads the team in rushing with 1105 yards on 252 carries.
RB Danny Woodhead had 2 TD’s on Sunday night it was his 2nd two TD game of the year.
TE Mike Hoomanawanui’s 41-yard grab in the 3rd quarter was the longest of his career.
K Stephen Gostkowski has two field goals of 50 or more yards in 2012. With one more he will be the first Patriots kicker with three field goals of 50 or more yards in one season.
Gostkowski (7 for 10) needs one more field goal of 50 or more yards to tie Adam Vinatieri (8 for 17) for most in team history.
DE Rob Ninkovich leads the team with 8 sacks, it is a new career high for sacks.
Rookie DE Chandler Jones and Ninkovich lead the team with 11 QB hits each.
Ninkovich and LB Brandon Spikes lead the team in forced fumbles with 5 each, which ties Mike Vrabel’s franchise record.
Ninkovich has 3 forced fumbles on sacks this season.
Ninkovich and DT Vince Wilfork lead the team with 4 recovered fumbles each.
Mayo leads the team through 14 weeks with 170 tackles (105 solo). Spikes is second with 123 tackles (79 solo).
S Devin McCourty leads the team with 5 INTs. Sunday night was the 3rd one that he has made in the end zone in 2012.
McCourty also has team high 13 passes defensed in 2012. CB Kyle Arrington is 2nd with 10 passes defensed.
WR Matthew Slater has a team high 19 tackles on special teams. Rookie S Nate Ebner is 2nd with 15 tackles on special teams.
There are only three players on the team who played on at least one of the Super Bowl championship teams, Brady (3), Branch (2) and Wilfork (1).
Roster moves this week:
- 12/22 – WR Kamar Aiken promoted from practice squad.
LB Mike Rivera (ankle) was the only Patriot to miss both the Wednesday and Thursday practices.
QB Tom Brady (right shoulder) missed Wednesday practice as a rehab day. He returned on Thursday.
TE Rob Gronkowski (forearm/hip) most likely will be inactive again this week with a targeted return for Sunday December 23 in the season finale at home against Miami.
DL Ron Brace (back) did not dress against San Francisco and he is not on the injury report this week.
LB Tracy White (elbow) did not dress against San Francisco is listed as having had limited participation.
The Patriots captains for 2012 are QB Tom Brady, DT Vince Wilfork, G Logan Mankins, LB Jerod Mayo, CB Devin McCourty and WR Matthew Slater (special teams).
Patriots players with Jacksonville-area ties are TE Aaron Hernandez, LB Brandon Spikes and DE Jermaine Cunningham (suspended) who played at the University of Florida.
Former Jaguars returning as Patriots are LB Tracy White and G Dan Connolly.
The Patriots have 5 New England natives on the roster they are: TE Aaron Hernandez (Bristol CT); OL Donald Thomas (New Haven CT); DE Ron Brace (Worcester MA); LB Niko Koutouvides (Plainville CT) and OL Jamey Richard (Weston CT – IR).
They have 11 players who played for a New England school or a Big East Conference member. They are CB Will Allen (Syracuse – IR); DE Ron Brace (Boston College); RB James Develin (Brown); RB Tony Fiametta (Syracuse – Exempt List); DE Justin Francis (Rutgers); S Stephen Gregory (Syracuse); DE Chandler Jones (Syracuse); CB Devin McCourty (Rutgers); OL Donald Thomas (UConn); OL Jeremiah Warren (South Florida – Practice Squad) and NT Vince Wilfork (Miami).
The Patriots have 6 retired numbers: 20 – Gino Cappelletti, 40 – Mike Haynes, 73 – John Hannah, 78 – Bruce Armstrong, 79 – Jim Lee Hunt and 89 – Bob Dee.
Jaguars Team Notes
Here is the Jaguars roster, depth chart and injury report for the game.
Jacksonville’s all-time record is 140-146-0 and they are 5-6 in the playoffs with their last playoff appearance coming in 2007. That season the Jaguars beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road in the AFC Wild Card game and lost in Foxboro to the Patriots in the AFC Division game.
The Jaguars have never appeared in a Super Bowl.
The Jaguars have new ownership after Wayne Weaver sold the team to Sahlid Khan in January. Khan had previously tried to purchase the St. Louis Rams.
This is the Jags final home game of 2012.
They have only 1 home win in 2012 the fewest ever in a single season for the franchise.
This is the fourth series meeting between the teams in Jacksonville, the Jags are 1-2 as the home team. The lone win is a playoff win.
Jacksonville is one of four teams New England has never lost to in the regular season (5-0).
This is the Jags 4th game in a row against an AFC East team, they have lost the previous three games.
Since 2002 Jacksonville has 13-17 record against teams in the AFC East.
The Jaguars have had losing streaks this year of 2-, 3- and 7-games.
Jacksonville starters (offense and defense) have missed a combined 70 games due to injury this season.
The Jags lead the NFL with 6 two point conversion attempts they are 3 for 6 (50%).
Jacksonville has only lead after three quarters in 3 of the 14 games they played this season.
The Jags are only 1 of 3 teams in 2012 without a non-offensive touchdown.
The Jaguars are 31st in the NFL in points per game with 15.6. While they allow 27.4 points per game good for 29th in the NFL.
The Jacksonville defense has sacked the opponents quarterback 15 times this season while their quarterbacks have been sacked 42 times.
Jacksonville is PLUS 1 in turnover differential, 16th in the NFL. The offense has given up 11 INT and 9 fumbles, while the defense has 10 INTs and 9 fumble recoveries.
The Jaguars are 53 for 185 (28.6%) in 3rd down efficiency and 7 for 21 (33.3%) on fourth down attempts. Opponents are 79 for 189 (41.8%) in 3rd down efficiency and 4 for 7 (57.1%) on 4th down attempts.
Jacksonville is 14 of 31 (%) in the red zone while opponents are 32 for 61 (52.5%) in the red zone in 2012.
In goal to go situations Jacksonville is 10 for 14 (71.4%) and opponents are 22 for 28 (78.6%).
Jaguars Staff Notes
Read what Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Mike Mularkey had to say to the New England media about the match up.
Mike Mularkey is 2-12 in his first season with Jacksonville. He was 14-18 in two seasons with Buffalo for an overall record of 16-30.
He is 0-4 vs. New England in his career.
Prior to coming to Jacksonville he was the offensive coordinator for 4 years with the Atlanta Falcons.
Mularkey is one of 9 former NFL players who are current head coaches in the NFL.
Mularkey replaced interim head coach Mel Tucker who replaced Jack Del Rio with 5 weeks remaining in the 2011 season. Del Rio in nearly 9 seasons had a 73-63 regular season record. He was also 1-2 in the playoffs.
Tucker remained as the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator.
Linebackers coach Mark Duffner was the head coach at the College of the Holy Cross from 1981-1991.
Defensive line coach Joe Cullen played at UMass from 1986-89 and he coached there from 1990-91.
Jaguars Possible Starters
Offense:
- LT: Monroe
- LG: Pasztor
- C: Meester
- RG: Nwaneri
- RT: Bradfield
- TE: Lewis
- WR: Blackmon
- WR: Shorts
- QB: Henne
- RB: Owens
- RB: G. Jones
Defense:
- DE: Babin
- DT: Alualu
- DT: Mosley
- DE: Mincey
- LB: Stanford
- LB: Posluszny
- LB: Allen
- LCB: M. Harris
- RCB: Cox
- S: Landry
- S: Lowery
Jaguars Players Notes
Chad Henne is 1-3 as the Jaguars starting QB. Henne was 13-18 in 4 seasons with Miami. Overall he has a record of 14-21 in 5 NFL seasons.
Henne was the Miami Dolphins 2nd round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft out of the University of Michigan.
He is 1-4 vs. New England in his career all with Miami.
Henne is 112 of 216 (51.9%) for 1438 yards with 8 TDs and 5 INTs. His QB rating is 75.7.
He replaced Blaine Gabbert who was placed on the IR prior to Week 12. Gabbert was 5-19 as a starting QB in his 2nd NFL season.
He was the Jaguars 1st round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft out of the University of Missouri.
RB Maurice Jones-Drew has missed the last 8 games with a foot injury. Despite that he still leads the team in rushing yards with 414.
WR Justin Blackmon leads Jacksonville with 51 catches.
WR Cecil Shorts has four 100-yard receiving games this season. He is 75-yards short of 1,000 yards for the season he would be the first Jacksonville receiver to have a 1,000 yard season since 2005.
Shorts' 925 receiving yards lead the Jaguars.
P Bryan Anger enters the game with 82 punts through 14 games, four shy of setting the single-season franchise record.
C Brad Meester is expected to start his 73rd consecutive game, the third most in team history. Meester owns the franchise record with 92 consecutive starts.
DT C.J. Mosley enters the game with a team leading 3 fumble recoveries in 14 games. He is one shy of tying the single-season franchise record.
LB Paul Posluszny enters the game with three interceptions, tied for the most of his career.
He is tied for the team lead with CB Derek Cox.
Posluszny leads the Jags with 207 tackles for the season.
DT Tyson Alualu leads Jacksonville with 3 sacks.
Jacksonville’s captains for 2012 are C Brad Meester, Gabbert, LB Daryl Smith, Posluszny and RB Montell Owens (special teams).
Jacksonville players with New England ties are:
- DT Terrance Knighton is a native of Hartford CT.
- LB Julian Stanford is a native of Bloomfield CT.
- RB Jordan Todman is a native of North Dartmouth MA.
Former Patriots DB Antwaun Molden is now playing with the Jaguars.
DE Jeremy Mincey was originally selected by New England in the 6th round of the 2006 NFL Draft.
RB Rashad Jennings (concussion) and RB Maurice Jones-drew were the only two Jaguars to miss practice both Wednesday and Thursday. Jennings has missed the last 2 games and Jones-Drew has missed the last 8 games. I would expect both not to dress on Sunday.
The other Jacksonville players who did not participate on Wednesday all had full participation on Thursday and should be expected to play.
CB Aaron Ross (calf) was the only player to be limited on both Wednesday and Thursday. All the others that were limited on Wednesday returned to full participation on Thursday.
The Jaguars have 6 players who played for a New England school or a Big East Conference member. They are LS Jeremy Cain (UMass); RB Montell Owens (Maine); DE George Selvie (South Florida); RB Brock Bolen (Louisville – IR); G Jason Spitz (Louisville – IR) and RB Jordan Todman (UConn – IR)
Jacksonville has 1 retired number for Tony Boselli (71).
Next Week
The Patriots host the Miami Dolphins next Sunday at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro MA. Kick off is at 1 p.m. on CBS.
Follow Steve on Twitter @SteveMichaelsII
