N.E. Patriots: Beasts Of The AFC East Once Again

The Patriots took care of business and clinched the AFC East for the seventh time in ten years. There will be no playoff bye this year, but the Patriots look like they putting everything together.

It’s all about getting hot at the right time.

 Remember those NY Giants that knocked off the undefeated Patriots in 2007?

Win and New England is in.

Pretty simple, right?

It looked simple against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Jacksonville was fighting for their playoff lives but they didn’t play like that.

New England dominated the Jags in every phase of the game.

The offense was 2007-esque. Brady was crisp, accurate, and on his game. Brady was almost perfect. He went 23 for 26 for 267 yards with 4 td’s. He hit seven different receivers, but his dynamic duo was dominate.

Jacksonville had no answers for Randy Moss and Wes Welker.

Moss only had 4 catches for 45 yards. However, three of those catches were for scores. Randy Moss is back, enough said.

Wes Welker is Wes Welker. He hauled in another 13 passes for 138 yards. Ho-hum.

Wrap your head around this. Welker leads the league with 122 catches and he missed two games! He is second in yardage behind stud receiver, Andre Johnson of the Houston Texans.

Can you say Pro Bowl?

The running game was not to be overshadowed on this day. Yes, Laurence Maroney shot himself yet again in the foot by fumbling on the goal line. Prior to that he was running very well, but you if cough up the ball, you are going to ride the pine.

Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, and a now healthy Fred Taylor carried the running attack the rest of the way. They amassed a gaudy 197 yards on the ground and added a score.

Granted, the Jacksonville Jaguars defensive unit is no longer an elite squad. However, you need to beat the teams you are supposed to beat.

The Patriots completed a perfect home record going 8-0.

The defense played as good as they have all season. They contained Maurice Jones Drew who has been having a Pro Bowl season. “Pocket Hercules” only rushed for 63 yards on 18 carries. He was also kept out of the end zone.

The Jaguars passing game was a far cry from the attack that sliced up the Colts the previous week. David Garrard threw for 185 yards and had two costly interceptions. The passing game was so inept that it prompted Mike Sims-Walker to spew venom on Twitter.

He tweeted the following, “That was embarrasing, and ur guess is as good as mine as to why they don't throw me the ball!!!”

Oh yeah I guess there is no spell check on Twitter Mike!

Well its going to be pretty embarrassing when Jack Del Rio benches you next week!

Unlike the Jags, the Patriots shut up and do their job.

They reclaimed their AFC East crown after a one year hiatus.

The Patriots now can allow their injured starters to rest against Houston next week in the regular season finale.

And they need it.

Rest up for the playoffs and take care of business in Wild Card round at home.

That is New England’s next goal to achieve.

Joe Gill is a featured blogger for Boston Sports Then and Now, Rootzoo.com and Trufan.com