The Jacksonville Jaguars look to win in Foxborough for the first time in their brief history as they take on the New England Patriots for the AFC title.
Jacksonville Jaguars (12-6) at New England Patriots (14-3)
History
- Jaguars make their way to Foxborough for the second time in three seasons as teams meet in playoffs the for fifth time.
- Including the playoffs, Patriots own 10-1 overall edge in series and have won seven straight meetings dating back to ’03 (by combined 219-97 score), including a 51-17 win in ’16 at Foxborough in teams’ last meeting.
- Including playoffs, Jaguars are 0-7 lifetime at New England dating back to ’96.
- The fifth postseason meeting between teams (Patriots lead 3-1), Patriots posting a 20-6 win in ‘96 AFC Championship Game, 28-3 victory in ‘05 AFC Wild Card Playoffs and 31-20 win in ’07 AFC Divisional Playoffs – all three games at New England, while Jaguars managed 25-10 victory in ’98 AFC Wild Card Playoffs at Jacksonville.
Coaches
- Jaguars’ head coach Doug Marrone: 2-0 in postseason play.
- Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick: 27-10 in postseason play (1-1 with Browns, 26-9 with Patriots).
Postseason History
- Jaguars: making seventh overall playoff appearance (seventh since the merger), 7-6 in postseason play (7-6 since the merger).
- Patriots: making 25th overall playoff appearance (24th since the merger), 33-19 in postseason play (32-18 since the merger).
Jaguars By The Numbers
- Including playoffs, 12-6, won AFC South in ’17 (3-13 in ’16); 5-4 on road in ’17 (7-41 on road from 2011-16).
- QB Blake Bortles: Including playoffs, 16 turnovers in 18 games in ’17 (13 INT, three lost fumbles); 22 turnovers in 16 games in ‘16 (16 INT, six lost fumbles); Bortles: Including playoffs, 23 TD passes, 13 INT in 18 games in ’17 (23 TD passes, 16 INT in ’16; 35 TD passes, 18 INT in 16 games in ’15).
- Including playoffs, 37 takeaways in 18 games in ’17; 8 returned for TD (two INT, six fumbles).
- Including playoffs, 37 takeaways in 18 games in ’17 (13 takeaways in ‘16).
- Including playoffs, 59 sacks in 18 games in ’17 (33 sacks in ’16).
- Including playoffs, allowed 313 points in 18 games in ’17 (allowed 400 points in ’16).
- Including playoffs, allowed 32 offensive TD in 18 games in ’17 (allowed 37 offensive TD in ’16)…
Patriots By The Numbers
- Making their 12th appearance in AFC Championship Game in 17 seasons dating back to ’01 (seven straight appearances dating back to ’11). Have won four straight games (including playoffs).
- QB Tom Brady: Including playoffs, 147 TD passes, 33 INT in last 65 games (55-10) dating back to ‘14; Four TD passes, two INT in first four games (2-2) in ’14; Brady: 16-9 record last 25 playoff games, 52 TD passes, 28 INT (won first 10 playoff games, 14 TD passes, three INT).
- TE Rob Gronkowski: 58 receptions, 535 yards, 10 TD receptions in 11 career postseason games dating back to ’10 (scored at least one TD in six straight postseason games).
- Including playoffs, allowed 18 offensive TD in last 13 games (12-1); allowed 14 offensive TD in first four games (2-2) in ’17.
- Including playoffs, allowed 182 points in last 13 games (12-1); allowed 128 points in first four games (2-2) in ’17.
- Including playoffs, outscored opposition 246-104 in the first quarter in 36 games dating back to ’16.
Things To Look For
The New England Patriots own all the intangibles in terms of experience and consistency. But on has to wonder if the hand injury suffered by quarterback Tom Brady will have any impact on his performance at all. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense will make its share of plays. But will it be enough to pull off a major upset here?
