Jets vs. Patriots: 10 Players To Watch in Sunday's AFC Clash

The New York Jets and New England Patriots will meet for the third time this season on Sunday afternoon. The two teams have split the regular season series, with each winning on their home field. Of course, the game everyone remembers is the 45-3 Patriots' beatdown of the Jets on Monday Night Football on December 6th.

This game will have a little bit more at stake, with the winner playing for the AFC championship next weekend.

There has been a lot of talk out of both teams leading up to this game. Rex Ryan has done his usual pregame talking. Antonio Cromartie made headlines with his quotes in the New York Daily News about how much he hates Tom Brady.

Wes Welker stirred the pot a little bit at a press conference on Thursday in which he made numerous references to feet. The Jets took offense to that, and linebacker Bart Scott has come out and said Welker will be lucky if he makes it through the whole game.

Now the time for talk is over. All we have left is the game to be played. Who are the players that are going to make the difference? Who will step up their game and lead their team to victory?

Can New England maintain the momentum they had the last two months of the regular season?

Can the Jets go into New England and knock off their AFC East rival?

Here are the 10 players to look out for in tomorrow's AFC divisional round clash.

Tom Brady

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FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 19: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots looks tso pass against the Green Bay Packers in the third quarter of the game at Gillette Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Image

We might as well get the obvious guys out of the way early, right?

What else is left to say about Tom Brady that hasn’t already been said? He is going to win the MVP award in a landslide. He has a touchdown-interception ration of 36-4. He hasn’t thrown an interception since a game against Baltimore in mid-October.

He knows how to read the defense as well as any quarterback in football. He makes great use of every weapon at his disposal. You have to put pressure on him if you hope to have a chance against the Patriots.

Mark Sanchez

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 26: Mark Sanchez #6 of the New York Jets rolls out to look for a receiver against the Chicago Bears rush at Soldier Field on December 26, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Jets 38-34. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty

This was going to be the year Mark Sanchez took the next step in his career and became the next great quarterback. He showed flashes of brilliance in last year’s postseason. His numbers this year were very disappointing.

For the season, he completed 55 percent of his passes and only threw 17 touchdowns. He has been very hit-or-miss this season.

Last week against the Colts, he did not inspire a lot of confidence. A number of passes he threw sailed way over his receivers' heads. If he does that again this week, New England will take advantage and turn those throws into interceptions.

Sanchez has to play like he did in the playoffs last year for the Jets to have a chance.

Danny Woodhead

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 26: Danny Woodhead #39 of the New England Patriots runs against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Orchard Park, New York. New England won 34-3. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

When the Patriots picked up Danny Woodhead off the scrap heap, there was a collective silence that went through the New England area. That was because nobody had any idea who he was.

They know who he is now, and they are thrilled the Jets cut him loose.

Woodhead doesn’t touch the ball a lot, but when he does, he makes the most of his opportunities. He averaged almost six yards per carry and had five rushing touchdowns. In addition, he caught 34 passes out of the backfield for nearly 400 yards.

You could make a case that Woodhead is the most dangerous weapon the Patriots have. He had a big game against the Jets in December with four catches for 104 yards.

The Jets will have to find an answer for him so he doesn’t repeat that performance.

Darrelle Revis

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PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 19: Darrelle Revis #24of the New York Jets warms up prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 19, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

The Patriots offense is so dangerous because they have so many weapons they use. Darrelle Revis will have to play like, well Darrelle Revis. The Jets need their best player to be on top of his game in this game.

If they can neutralize one side of the field, it will make their defense much more efficient. Revis only allowed Reggie Wayne to get one catch last week. He will need to have another game just like that this week.

Vince Wilfork

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FOXBORO, MA - AUGUST 12: Vince Wilfork # 75 of the New England Patriots watches the action from the sidelines during the preseason game against the New Orleans Saints at Gillette Stadium on August 12, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/G

Troy Polamalu will win the Defensive Player of the Year Award, but you could make a strong case for Vince Wilfork.

The Patriots are able to create pressure on the quarterback because teams have to put two, sometimes three, blockers on the big defensive tackle. He takes up so much space in the middle it’s difficult to control New England’s blitz packages.

If he is on his game, the Jets will have big problems with their offense. Mark Sanchez won’t have time to throw, and the running game will have no room to break through.

Antonio Cromartie

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - AUGUST 27: Antonio Cromartie #31 of the New York Jets in action against the Washington Redskins during their preseason game on August 27, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Gett

So you “hate Tom Brady?” Well here is your chance to show him just how much you hate him, Antonio Cromartie.

It seems like there are two different Cromartie’s. The good one is the guy who is in one-on-one coverage and can use his speed and instinct to stay with his man. The bad one shows up when he is stuck in zone coverage. He completely loses his focus and recognition, and it costs him.

He will be the most important defensive back for the Jets in this game. We know what Darrelle Revis is going to bring to the table. To contain Brady, you have to be able to play with two shutdown cornerbacks.

This game, this moment is the reason the Jets acquired Cromartie. It’s up to him to show he is up to the challenge.

Devin McCourty

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DETROIT - NOVEMBER 25: Devin McCourty #32 of the New England Patriots celebrates intercepting a fourth quarter pass from Shaun Hill #14 of the Detroit Lions during the fourth quarter of the game at Ford Field on November 25, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. Ne

Devin McCourty, New England’s rookie cornerback, has made quite an impression in his first year. He tied for second in the NFL in interceptions with seven. He really evolved into a solid, consistent performer as the year went on.

Against the Jets, he will likely be covering Santonio Holmes. The Jets don’t have a lot of big play threats on their team, but Holmes is by far their best home run hitter.

McCourty will have to stick with Holmes in this game and prevent the Jets from getting the big plays. The Patriots weakness this season has been in pass coverage; they ranked 30th in pass yards allowed.

LaDainian Tomlinson/Shonn Greene

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PHILADELPHIA - SEPTEMBER 02: LaDainian Tomlinson #21 and Shonn Greene #23 of the New York Jets sit on the bench during a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on September 2, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo

The reason the Jets were so successful in the playoffs last year, and against the Colts last week, was because of their running game. They got rid of Thomas Jones and brought in LaDainian Tomlinson to pair with Shonn Greene.

The Jets haven’t been as consistent running the ball this year, even though they finished fourth in the league in rushing. They will need to establish the run against the Patriots to control the clock and take pressure off Mark Sanchez.

The Patriots defensive line is a lot bigger than Indianapolis’ so that won’t be an easy task.

New England’s Trio of Tight Ends

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FOXBORO, MA - SEPTEMBER 12: Rob Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots celebrates his touchdown wit teammates Alge Crumpler #82 and Aaron Hernandez #85 in the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals during the NFL season opener on September 12,

Anytime New England gets into the red zone, they always look to throw to one of their tight ends. The trio of Alge Crumpler, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez combined for 18 touchdowns. For the record, Tom Brady threw 36 this season.

The Jets will have to contain those Patriot tight ends when they get down near the goal line because you know Brady is going to be looking at one of those three guys first.

The Patriots use their tight ends down in the red zone better than any team in football.

The Jets Offensive Line

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FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 06: (L-R) D'Brickashaw Ferguson #60, Wayne Hunter #78 and Matt Slauson #68 of the New York Jets look on dejceted late in the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 6, 2010 in Foxboro, Massac

The key for the Jets in this game will be the play of their offensive line against New England’s defensive line. The big guys up front will have to create holes for the Jets to run through so they can control the clock and keep the ball away from Tom Brady.

They will also have to prevent New England from getting pressure on Mark Sanchez. If he doesn’t have time to throw in this game, his passes will sail over his receivers' heads.

Plus, by giving Sanchez time to throw, you give the receivers a chance to create space against a vulnerable Patriots secondary. So even though the big guys don’t get the credit they so often deserve, they are the key for a New York upset over New England.