AFC Championship Pre-Gamin’: Jaguars at Patriots – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

Tom Brady has been the Patriots’ primary starting quarterback for 16 years and has led his team to the AFC Championship Game 11 times. Some quick back-of-the-envelope math shows he is leading his team to the conference title game 68.8 percent of the time.

To put it in perspective, Brady is statistically more likely to take his team to the AFC title game than Mitch Trubisky was to complete a pass in his rookie season.

That’s how good Brady and the Patriots have been in the Brady-Belichick era.

And yet, none of that matters to a Jaguars team that boasts one of the best defenses in football. According to Pro Football Focus, 10 of the 11 starters on Jacksonville’s defense grade out as above average or better. Further, the Jaguars have three “elite” defenders (cornerback Jalen Ramsey, defensive end Calais Campbell, and linebacker Telvin Smith) and two others (defensive tackle Malik Jackson, cornerback A.J. Bouye) at the high quality level. Nearly 50 percent of that defense ranks among the two highest grade classes PFF has. That’s impressive.

Jacksonville allowed Pittsburgh to put up 42 points in the divisional round, which probably has a New England offense coming off a 35-point outburst against Tennessee drooling over the possibilities. But the Jaguars also forced two turnovers, scored a defensive touchdown, and either sacked or hit Ben Roethlisberger nine times. If New England can keep Jacksonville’s relentless defense on its heels, then it could be a long day for a team that has an offense led by quarterback Blake Bortles.

Game Info

Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6, 1st AFC South) at New England Patriots (13-3, 1st AFC East) – 2:05 p.m., CBS-TV (Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson), WSCR-AM 670/Westwood One (Kevin Kugler, Dan Fouts, Ed Werder)

Site: Gilette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.

Referee: Clete Blakeman

Odds: Patriots (-8), Over/Under 45.5 via Bovada.

Game Thread

Your game thread is down in the comments, so let’s have some good, clean (safe-for-work) fun. And hopefully, we can do this again in the near future.

Coaches

Patriots Bill Belichick (250-118 overall, 27-10 in playoffs) vs. Jaguars Doug Marrone (26-24 overall 2-0 in playoffs)

Starting Quarterbacks

Patriots: Tom Brady: 4,577 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 66.3 completion percentage, 102.8 rating

versus

Jaguars: Blake Bortles: 3,687 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 60.2 completion percentage, 84.7 rating

The Trophy

Lamar Hunt Trophy in the house at Gillette Stadium. pic.twitter.com/Kgh3BVqQXy

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) January 17, 2018

Patriots Expected Offensive Starters

QB Tom Brady

RB Dion Lewis

RB James White

WR Chris Hogan

WR Brandin Cooks

TE Rob Gronkowski

LT Nate Solder

LG Joe Thuney

C David Andrews

RG Shaq Mason

RT Cameron Fleming

Patriots Expected Defensive Starters

LDE Eric Lee

DT Lawrence Guy

DT Malcom Brown

RDE Trey Flowers

LB Kyle Van Noy

LB Elandon Roberts

RCB Stephon Glmore

LCB Malcolm Butler

S Patrick Chunk

S Devin McCourty

S Duron Harmon

Patriots Specialists

Stephen Gostkowski (kicker), Ryan Allen (punter, holder), Danny Amendola (punt returns), Dion Lewis, Matthew Slater (kick returns), Joe Cardona (long snapper)

Jaguars Offense Expected Starters:

QB Blake Bortles

RB Leonard Fournette

FB Tommy Bohanon

WR Marqise Lee

WR Allen Hurns

TE Mercedes Lewis

LT Cam Robinson

LG Patrick Omameh

C Brandon Linder

RG A.J. Cann

RT Jeremy Parnell

Jaguars Defense Expected Starters:

DE Yannick Ngakoue

NT Abry Jones

DT Malik Jackson

DE Calais Campbell

WLB Telvin Smith

MLB Paul Posluszny

SLB Myles Jack

LCB Jalen Ramsey

RCB A.J. Bouye

FS Tashaun Gipson

SS Barry Church

Jaguars Specialists:

Josh Lambo (kicker), Brad Nortman (punter, holder), Jaydon Mickens (punt returner), Corey Grant, Keelan Cole (kick returns), Colin Holba (long snapper