For a number of weeks now, all we’ve heard about is how tough and physical the Jacksonville Jaguars are. All we’ve heard about is what a force they are to be reckoned with come playoff time. I’ve had people at work, friends, and even fellow tailgaters warn me about their hard-nosed, smash-mouth style of play. I just don’t get it. I really don’t.

Maybe all of these people are being cautious… Maybe they’re taking the Belichick school of thought and simply treating our opponent with only the highest level of respect… But I’m just not buying it.

I remember hearing the same line of crap coming into our playoff game against Jags in 2005. I also remember the pre-game hype leading up to our late December meeting in Jacksonville last year. In both instances, the Pats won out and without much of a struggle. In 2005, Byron Leftwich was coming off his best year as a quarterback and the Jacksonville defensive line was lauded as one of the strongest and biggest in the game. The Jags were 12-4 that year and the result was a dominating 28-3 win by the Pats. In last year’s contest, the Jags needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive and all the Pats did was escape with a 24-21 win at AllTel Stadium. Brady carved the secondary apart completing 28 of 39 passes on his way to throwing for 249 yards. Let me remind you that OUR passing attack didn’t have the likes of Randy Moss, Wes Welker, or Donte Stallworth for that matter, yet Brady still completed passes to eleven different receivers. The leading receiver that day was none other than rookie tight end Dave Thomas. Who? Some of you may ask… To which I respond, “Exactly!”