| 2005 AFC Divisional Game- January 7th, 2006 |
| A Perfect 10
Nearly flawless Patriots extend playoff run by dismantling Jaguars FOXBOROUGH -- The Patriots were so un-Patriot-like for so much of the 2005 regular season that some took it as a sign their campaign could end early, maybe even in the first round of the playoffs. The season and the chase for history were extended another week with an impressive 28-3 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars last night before a rabid sellout throng of 68,756 at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots, seeking a record third consecutive Super Bowl title, won their record 10th straight postseason game, scoring 21 points in a span of about seven minutes that was capped by an Asante Samuel interception return for a score on the first play of the fourth quarter. ''How sweet it is," defensive end Richard Seymour said. ''We live to fight another day. That's the most important thing at this point. We played well as a team, obviously it wasn't our best performance, but it was enough to get the job done." Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who improved to 11-1 in the postseason, the best playoff record in NFL history, said his squad put in a solid effort in all three phases of the game. The Patriots advance to the divisional round and will play next weekend on the road against either Indianapolis or Denver, both of whom beat New England in the regular season. ''If guys can continue to improve and continue to do the things coaches ask them to do -- do their job at a high level -- we can continue to get better," linebacker Rosevelt Colvin said. ''The result of that tonight was 28-3, and we're looking for more." New England (11-6), which entered the playoffs having lost two more games this season than it had in the past two years combined, dominated the second half against the Jaguars, who ended the regular season 12-4 to earn their first playoff berth since 1998. The game was even statistically in many respects, with the Patriots outgaining the Jaguars, 307 yards to 292. But the Patriots' defense provided the difference by holding the Jaguars to one third-down conversion in 12 attempts, forcing two turnovers, and scoring a touchdown. ''I think it was a great overall effort by the whole team," said linebacker Monty Beisel, who started for the injured Tedy Bruschi. ''They were big bodies and were going to come out there and try to pound us, but we matched them man-for-man in the first and second quarter, and got them out of what they wanted to do." You couldn't have felt the Jaguars' angst any more if Aretha Franklin had sung the national anthem and Rodney Dangerfield was the PA announcer. Outside their locker room in Jacksonville, they posted newspaper articles that hinted the Patriots were not giving them their proper respect They could have earned that respect last night, but the Patriots would have none of it. The Patriots got big plays from many corners. Tom Brady tied a team postseason record with three TD passes. David Givens extended his streak of playoff games with a touchdown to six. Troy Brown had the second postseason touchdown catch of his 13-year career. Linebacker Willie McGinest had 4 1/2 sacks, and passed Bruce Smith as the NFL's all-time playoff sacks leader. And Samuel duped Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich into an interception that he returned 73 yards for a game-breaking score. Tight end Benjamin Watson, playing in his first playoff game, factored in a couple of key plays -- one a mistake and the other a spectacular run, the biggest play of his two-year career. 1 2 3 4 F Jacksonville 0 3 0 0 3 New England 0 7 14 7 28 SCORING SUMMARY 1st Quarter None 2nd Quarter Patriots - Tom Brady pass completion to Troy Brown for 11 yards. - Patriots 7 Jaguars 0 Jacksonville - Josh Scobee 36 yard field goal - Patriots 7 Jaguars 3 3rd Quarter - Patriots - Tom Brady pass completion to David Givens for 3 yards. - Patriots 14 Jaguars 3 - Patriots - Tom Brady pass completion to Ben Watson for 63 yards. - Patriots 21 Jaguars 3 4th Quarter - Patriots - Byron Leftwich pass intercepted by Asante Samuel and returned 73 yards for a touchdown. - Patriots 28 Jagaurs 3 Team Stat Comparison JAC NE 1st Downs 15 17 -3rd down efficiency 1-12 7-14 -4th down efficiency 1-4 0-1 Total Yards 292 307 Passing 205 189 -Comp-Att 21-39 15-27 -Yards per pass 4.6 6.1 Rushing 87 118 -Rushing Attempts 17 28 -Yards per rush 5.1 4.2 Penalties 8-40 4-32 Sacks against 6-42 4-12 Turnovers 2 0 Fumbles-lost 2-1 4-0 Interceptions thrown 1 0 Possession 29:34 30:26 PASSING Jaguars B. Leftwich 18-31 179 yards 1 INT; D. Garrard 3-8 68 yards Patriots T. Brady 15-27 201 yards 3 TDs RUSHING Jaguars F. Taylor 8-24; B. Leftwich 3-26; D. Garrard 2-14; A. Pearman 2-8; G. Jones 2-15 Patriots C. Dillon 17-40; K. Faulk 6-51; T. Brady 2-9; A. Davis 1-13; P. Pass 1-6; M. Cassel 1-(-1) RECEIVING Jaguars M. Jones 6-94; R. Williams 4-56; E. Wilford 4-53; F. Taylor 3-13; J. Smith 3-30; K. Brady 1-1 Patriots B. Watson 5-91-1; K. Faulk 4-45; D. Branch 2-36; A. Davis 1-3; T. Brown 1-11-1; D. Givens 1-3-1; C. Dillon 1-12 TACKLES Jaguars D. Smith 7; A. Ayodele 6; R. Mathis 5; M. Peterson 6; G. Sensabaugh 5; M. Stroud 5; D. Grant 5; K. Wright 4; R. Hayward 4; J. Henderson 3; M. Wiley 3; R. Meier 2; T. Cousin 1; T. Gilbert 1; M. Williams 1; P. Thomas 1 Patriots M. Vrabel 9; W. McGinest 8; E. Wilson 4; T. Brown 4; A. Samuel 4; A. Hawkins 4; A. Davis 3; E. Hobbs 3; R. Colvin 5; M. Beisel 2; C. Brown 3; V. Wilfork 4; R. Seymour 2; J. Green 2; H. Poteat 1; T. Warren 1; M. Stone 1; D. Davis 1; L. Paxton 1; M. Chatham 1 SACKS Jaguars D. Smith 1-1; M Peterson 1-3; R. Hayward 1-4; R Meir 1-4 Patriots Willie McGinest 4.5-36; R. Colvin 1-3; R. Seymour .5-4 INTERCEPTIONS Jaguars None Patriots Assante Smauel 1-73-1 |
| New England 28 Jacksonville 3 |
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