Brady's Accuracy Leads Pats to 31-20 Victory

-Patriots 31, Jaguars 20
Hero: Tom Brady
Goat: Jacksonville defense
Turning Point: Dennis Northcutt's dropped pass at the NE 2 at 21-14, drop forced the Jaguars to kick a field goal
Next: vs. Indianapolis/vs. San Diego

Tom Brady added another record to his historic season. He completed 26 of 28 passes to break Phil Simms's record for completion percentage in a playoff game (Super Bowl XXI). The Jaguars defense allowed him to pick them apart all night, and in fact the Patriots didn't have to punt until the closing minute of the game. Laurence Maroney had a very good game as well, as he ran for 122 yards on 22 carries. The Jags' game plan to take away Randy Moss and the long ball clearly backfired.

The Jags strategy did them in, as Brady led the Pats on five time-consuming scoring drives. The vaunted Jacksonville defense became the latest victim of the Patriots' epic offense. I did not like the strategy because that was the Jags playing against their strength. They beat up Ben Roethlisberger last week with six sacks and were able to force three interceptions. The Jaguars are not a finesse team. They are a big physical team! Brady was going to beat them anyway, but at least let him beat you playing your game. That, and you cannot give Brady all day and to carve you up all night underneath.

It wasn't an all around great night for the Patriots though. The Jacksonville offense really carved up the Patriots defense at times, especially in the first half. David Gerrard played an exceptional football game. Other than a 1st quarter fumble that allowed the Pats to play from ahead, Gerrard really bounced back from his worst performance of the year last week vs. Pittsburgh. He led the Jags on two long TD drives in the first half. Dennis Northcutt dropped a key pass in the 3rd quarter that would have put the Jags at the New England 2 yard line. So, instead of potentially a 21-21 tie, the Jags had to settle for a field goal. That was costly cause it allowed the Patriots to go up two possessions on their next touchdown. That's really where Jacksonville's chance to win the game ended.

And as badly as the Patriots defense played at times, they did come up big when they had too. They forced the Jags to kick two field goals in the 2nd half (one aided by Northcutt's drop), and Rodney Harrison's interception all but ended the game. I am curious to see if the Patriots defense can come up big one more time if they play Indianapolis next week. I really believe that game will be an all out war that will be close to the final horn.

Pat Morgan