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| BAL at PIT | BUF at ATL | CAR at NYG | DAL at WAS | DEN at PHI | DET at SF | HOU at MIA | JAX at NE |
| KC at CIN | MIN at CHI | NYJ at IND | OAK at CLE | SD at TEN | SEA at GB | STL at ARI | TB at NO |
Week 16 Game Recap: Jacksonville Jaguars 7, New England Patriots 35
Jacksonville Jaguars
| QB David Garrard, Pass: 19 - 25 - 185 - 0 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 4 - 10 - 1 |
Garrard struggled mightily in this game, throwing two picks and a meager 185 yards passing in a game where the Jacksonville offense played from behind the entire contest. With Maurice Jones-Drew being bottled up the entirety of the game, Garrard, often pressured, was ineffective as a throng of defenders found the ball wherever he went with it. His first INT came at the end of the first quarter when he tried to push the ball downfield, overthrowing his intended target, which resulted in a 57-yard return by Meriweather. Garrard's second interception came in the red zone on the Jags opening drive of the second half when he tried to force it to Simms-Walker. Despite his abysmal day passing the ball, he did have a rushing TD to bail out his fantasy owners today. As the Jags head into next season, things aren't as bleak as they appeared today. Garrard does have some very talented young weapons on the outside in Mike Thomas and Mike Simms-Walker and they will look to build around their young playmakers.
| RB Maurice Jones-Drew, Rush: 18 - 63 - 0, Rec: 3 - 35 - 0 (3 targets) |
The Jags key offensive weapon was held in check all afternoon as a young Patriots defense put on their third fine performance in three weeks. Jones-Drew was held under 100 total yards, and wasn't able to use his powerful lower body to break away for any big plays. While he ran hard on all of his 21 touches, the NE defense wrapped him up like a calf in a rodeo, limiting him to minimal gains throughout the contest. His afternoon was epitomized in the first quarter by a huge 4th and 1 play deep in Jacksonville territory where Jones-Drew was drilled for a loss, giving NE fantastic field position.
| RB Rashad Jennings, Rush: 2 - 25 - 0, Rec: 3 - 19 - 0 (4 targets) |
Jennings big frame provides Jacksonville with a nice change of pace to the 5 foot 7, Maurice Jones-Drew. His 5 touches weren't much, but he produces with each and every opportunity (as evidenced by his 44 yards today). While he continues to see limited value, playing behind Jones-Drew, he has some nice ability and could become one of the better handcuffs in fantasy football next year.
| WR Mike Thomas, Rush: 1 - 0 - 0, Rec: 6 - 57 - 0 (6 targets) |
The talented rookie led all Jacksonville receivers with 6 receptions for 57 yards on the day. He nearly had a TD when he stretched the ball across the pylon on a WR screen pass, but stepped out of bounds while leaning across the goal line. The reception did set up a 2 yard David Garrard TD run. The small, but elusive receiver, is turning into a quite a playmaker as the Jags continue to rely on his steady hands and solid route running. Look for Thomas' role with the team to exponentially increase next year as an aging Torry Holt moves to the sideline and the Jags look to implement their youthful playmakers.
| WR Torry Holt, Rec: 2 - 23 - 0 (4 targets) |
While he only had two receptions on the day, Holt did accomplish what only two other NFL receivers have ever done -- 11 straight seasons with 50+ receptions. Holt had an 18-yard leaping catch called back on a holding penalty in the 2nd quarter.
| WR Mike Sims-Walker, Rec: 2 - 19 - 0 (3 targets) |
Sims-Walker's first catch of the day didn't come until the middle of the 2nd quarter, as he was nowhere to be found, limited to just two catches for minimal yardage. His only quality target came on the first drive in the second half where Garrard tried forcing it to him in the end zone and was intercepted. In a game where the Jags were behind the entire contest, fantasy owners expected more from the talented receiver, but were sorely disappointed. Sims-Walker's targets were limited, as the Jags offense couldn't sustain any drives.
| WR Nate Hughes, Rec: 1 - 20 - 0 (1 targets) |
The rookie from Alcorn State continues to be a non-factor from a fantasy perspective, but he may have had the best catch of the day, a 20-yard snag in tight coverage over the middle.
| TE Zach Miller, Rec: 2 - 12 - 0 (3 targets) |
The once college QB converted to NFL tight end, continues to slowly be implemented into the Jags offense (adding another 2 receptions to his season total). Miller was targeted in the end zone once in the second half, but was well covered and failed to make the difficult catch. He is one of the nice young potential players with promise, in what could be a much-improved Jaguars offense next season.
| TE Marcedes Lewis (1 targets) |
Lewis left the game in the first half with a head injury and did not return.
New England Patriots
| QB Tom Brady, Pass: 23 - 26 - 267 - 4 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 2 - 4 - 0 |
Brady and company were unquestionably in rhythm against Jacksonville in the all important fantasy league championship week. The Pats offense rolled up 464 yards and scored 35 points before lifting the foot off the gas in the 4th quarter. Brady had all sorts of time in the pocket, and his Offensive line gave him perfect protection as he took command of a play-off ready unit. Three of his 4 TD's went to Randy Moss, and the other to TE Chris Baker. Brady had his way, finding Welker and Moss 17 times with a sprinkling of grabs from his other receivers in what he claimed was their best 60 minutes of football this season. He really had but one bad throw the entire afternoon and was clicking on all cylinders. This offense looks primed and ready for January and will be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs.
| RB Sammy Morris, Rush: 12 - 95 - 1, Rec: 1 - 3 - 0 (1 targets) |
The old veteran came out of the shadows today and had a monster game against the Jags defensive unit, galloping for 95 yards and a TD on 12 carries. Morris ran with abandon, utilizing his physical, bruising style to punish the Jags front line. Morris looked like a rugged stallion, making the NE rushing attack a vicious force to be reckoned with. He pushed the pile and pounded the rock with ease and his fresh legs give this NE running attack a ferocity that they'll need in the playoffs.
| RB Fred Taylor, Rush: 11 - 35 - 0 (1 targets) |
After missing the majority of the season due to injury, Taylor returned to the field (facing his former team) and the Patriots gave him a sizable workload. He only averaged 3 yards per carry, and looked a little rusty, dropping an open screen pass, but the Pats got his feet wet. Don't be surprised if they look to get him more involved in the offense in week 17 as they will want to get him back into football shape for their playoff run.
| RB Kevin Faulk, Rush: 6 - 41 - 0 |
Faulk contributed with 6 carries for 41 yards and continues to find his way on the field despite the loaded committee of backs on this NE roster. In what could be a four-headed rushing attack, with a returning Fred Taylor, it's unsure what his role will be going forward. Faulk did get one running play in the red zone late in the first half, which set up Moss' 2nd TD, a 6 yard pass.
| RB Laurence Maroney, Rush: 5 - 22 - 0 |
The roller coaster season continues for the young, talented NE running back. Maroney fumbled at the goal line on New England's opening drive, which has clouded his role heading into the week 17 and beyond. He started the game with four strong carries for 19 yards, but only saw the ball once more the entire game, after his goal-line turnover. With a healthy Fred Taylor returning to the mix, and Sammy Morris having a monster game, Maroney's role is diminishing and his status is now in doubt.
| WR Wes Welker, Rec: 13 - 138 - 0 (13 targets) |
Welker continues to be the catalyst of this offense and quite possibly the most important element in the NE passing attack. His ability to catch balls on short crossers and option routes allow him to take advantage of his exceptional quickness in space as he continues to torment defensive coordinators around the league. This was Welker's 7th game of the season with 10+ catches and his sixth 100+ yard game of the season. He leads the NFL with 122 catches on the year (and this after missing two games with injury). Welker has also taken more licks than any other receiver in the league this season.
| WR Randy Moss, Rec: 4 - 45 - 3 (5 targets) |
The Randy Moss controversy from a few weeks ago has appeared to awaken a dormant, sleeping giant. Moss finished the game with only four receptions, but three of those four grabs went for touchdowns. Moss' best catch wasn't a TD, but an athletic spinning catch on the sideline that Brady threw up for grabs. His big play production sparked this team once again and they are now on fire heading into the playoffs. The last two weeks, the Patriots have had Moss running vertical routes near the end zone to utilize his jump-ball athleticism, and it is reaping huge rewards. His first TD of the day was a 2-yard pass after the offense got the ball on downs at the Jacksonville 35. Then with 45 seconds left in the first half, Brady found Moss in the back of the end zone after breaking his route to go for the open spot on a 6-yard score and a 28-0 lead. His 3rd TD came in the beginning of the fourth quarter, a 17-yarder, where he reached out to the goal line. While the play was being reviewed, the fans chanted his name, a complete turn-around from two weeks ago when they were calling for his head.
| WR Sam Aiken, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (1 targets) |
Aiken has faded into the background as of late. He had one catch for seven yards and was a non-factor in the game.
| WR Julian Edelman, Rec: 1 - 28 - 0 (2 targets) |
Edelman had only one reception on the day, but it did go for 28 yards, and he looked shifty, pulling away from the defender who couldn't get more than a handful of jersey on the speedy receiver. His reception set up Moss' 3rd TD of the day.
| TE Chris Baker, Rec: 2 - 32 - 1 (2 targets) |
They don't call him Chris Baker the TD maker for nothing. Baker, the 2nd string TE, was the recipient of a 26-yard TD pass from Tom Brady as the offense cashed in on a 57-yard interception return to end the first quarter.
| TE Ben Watson, Rec: 1 - 14 - 0 (1 targets) |
Watson's only catch of the day came on the Patriots opening drive where he just missed the pylon on a 14-yard reception. Watson was mostly relegated to run blocking and dirty work this week, something he does extremely well for this offense.