Let us also remember...

[pats1]

Belichick is 19-5 (could be 20-5 if the Pats win tomorrow) against teams the Pats face for the second time in a season (includes playoffs). He's 18-2 if you disregard the scrap-to-rebuild year of 2000.

From Reiss' blog:

Here is the breakdown:

2000 -- (losses to the Dolphins, Jets and Colts; win over the Bills) -- 1-3
2001-- (wins over the Dolphins, Jets, Bills, Rams and Colts) -- 5-0
2002 -- (loss to the Jets; wins over the Dolphins and Bills) -- 2-1
2003 -- (wins over the Titans, Colts, Bills, Jets and Dolphins) --5-0
2004 -- (loss to the Dolphins; wins over Jets, Bills, Colts and Steelers) -- 4-1
2005 -- (win over the Bills and Jets) -- 2-0


The Patriots haven't played the Jaguars since December 14th, 2003.

Jaguars starters December 14th, 2003 vs. Jaguars starters in their last game:

QB - Leftwich - Garrard
RB - Taylor - Taylor
FB - Edwards - Jones
WR - Smith - Smith
WR - Edwards - Wilford
WR - Jones - Johnson
TE - Brady - Brady
LT - Pearson - Barnes
LG - Manuwai - Manuwai
C - Meester - Norman
RG - Naeole - Naeole
RT - Williams - Williams

LE - Brackens - Hayward
LDT - Stroud - Stroud
RDT - Henderson - Henderson
RE - Douglas - Spicer
LOLB - Ayodele - Ayodele
MLB - Peterson - Peterson
ROLB - Smith - Clark
LCB - Mathis - Mathis
RCB - Bryant - Wright
FS - Cooper - Grant
SS - Darius - Sensabaugh

K - Marler - Scobee
P - Royals - Hanson
LS - Zelenka - Zelenka

And the Steelers starters the last time the Patriots played them, September 25th 2005 vs. Steelers starters in their last game:

QB - Roethlisberger - Roethlisberger
RB - Parker - Parker
FB - Kreider - Kreider
WR - Ward - Ward
WR - Randle El - Randle El
TE - Miller - Miller
TE - Tuman - Tuman
LT - Smith - Smith
LG - Faneca - Faneca
C - Hartings - Hartings
RG - Simmons - Simmons
RT - Starks - Starks

LE - Smith - Smith
NT - Hampton - Hampton
RE - Von Oelhoffen - Von Oelhoffen
LOLB - Haggans - Haggans
LILB - Farrior - Farrior
RILB - Foote - Foote
ROLB - Porter - Porter
LCB - Taylor - Taylor
RCB - Townsend - Townsend
FS - Hope - Hope
SS - Polamalu - Polamalu

K - Reed - Reed
P - Gardocki - Gardocki
LS - Warren - Warren


Point made.

 

[jczxohn1]

This is why I'd just as soon play the Steelers,Broncs, and Colts. The other advantage in these match-ups is Seymour. He wasn't healthy for any of these games and the difference he has made is obvious. Of the three, the Steelers worry me most, esp., if Bettis can keep it going like he has lately. Hines Ward presents problems, also. I think our D would relish another shot at the Broncs as would Brady. The Colts are weakened, but they can play without a running game. We should be able to pressure Manning with our front 7, but that game will be a shoot-out, nonetheless, IMO.

 

[PYPER]

This is why I'd just as soon play the Steelers,Broncs, and Colts. The other advantage in these match-ups is Seymour. He wasn't healthy for any of these games and the difference he has made is obvious. Of the three, the Steelers worry me most, esp., if Bettis can keep it going like he has lately. Hines Ward presents problems, also. I think our D would relish another shot at the Broncs as would Brady. The Colts are weakened, but they can play without a running game. We should be able to pressure Manning with our front 7, but that game will be a shoot-out, nonetheless, IMO.

Those stats miss an even more impressive point. The Belechick led Patriots have never lost to a QB the second time they've seen him. It doesn't matter who won the first meeting, when they've seen a QB for the 2nd time....They've won every single game.

 

[pats1]

Let us also remember that, if the Pats pull this one off today, and get the #3 seed and either face KC or PIT, it will help more than the fact that we're playing either for the second time this season.

With a possible 3 games in 13 days, the Pats won't have too much time to prep, which can take longer since the starters barely played today.

BB has already said there isn't much to do on weeks where he's playing a team for the second time in a season. Obviously, this is the playoffs and prep is multiplied by 10, but it will be a lot easier than trying to prep for a Jax team the Pats haven't seen in 2 years.