PLAYOFFS!?!?!?- Wildcard Weekend Part 3 of 4

In case you're keeping track, so far we've got the Colts over the Chiefs in the battle of skinny black coaches, and the Seahawks over the Cowboys in the clash of fat old white coaches who coached against each other in the Super Bowl 10 years ago.

So that's how Saturday is going down, now let's look at one of the Sunday games.








NY JETS (10-6)
AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (12-4)
Sunday, Noon CST

PATRIOTS O (11TH OVERALL, 12TH RUSH, 12TH PASS)
VS. JETS D (20TH OVERALL, 24TH R, 14 P)
Teams who have any kind of running game have shredded the Jets recently. Before winning their last 3 games of the season against the unimpressive troika of Minnesota, Miami, and Oakland, the Jets gave up 140+ yards rushing in 4 out of 5 games, and one of those was against these same Pats. New England's got the ground game rolling lately too, going over 100 yards their last 4 times out. Tom Brady and the passing game have been struggling lately, but the Patriots should be able to ride Corey Dillon and Laurence Maroney in this game.

ADVANTAGE- PATRIOTS


JETS O (25TH OVERALL, 20TH RUSH, 17TH PASS)
VS. PATRIOTS D (6TH OVERALL, 12TH R, 2 P)

It's the 25th ranked offense against the 6th ranked defense. You don't need to be Brian Baldinger to figure this one out. Actually, it would probably help you out a lot if you're not Brian Baldinger. Anyway, since we are talking about New England's defense, it's worth mentioning that safety Rodney Harrison may not play in this game, and if you remember what New England's defense looked like last year when Harrison was injured, you are probably suffering from PTSD. However, last year is not this year, the secondary can withstand his loss now. The main reason for that is corner Asante Samuel who is having an otherworldly season (10 INT, 24 PD) and who effectively takes away half the field.

ADVANTAGE- PATRIOTS


VARIOUS AND SUNDRY

Again, I'm no Brian Baldinger, but I can't really remember the Patriots losing at home to the same team twice in the same season too many times. I can't really remember them losing any playoff games at home either. I think I remember once they did, when Tony Eason was their quarterback.

ADVANTAGE- PATRIOTS


HERE'S YOUR FORECAST
The Jets are kind of like the Boise State of the NFL Playoffs. Except the Jets lost 6 times this year instead of zero, and I can't really think of anything they are good at. I will pick the Jets to win this game. Then I will hug some snakes. I will hug and kiss some poisonous snakes. Now THAT's irony.

PATRIOTS 20, JETS 6