WILD CARD PREVIEW: JETS-PATRIOTS

When two teams match up in the playoffs, it's often that there will be a contrast in styles. When I look at the Patriots-Jets matchup, I see a different type of contrast. What differs between the Patriots and the Jets are the expectations. New England should be where they are today. Every year their fans assume that they will win the division, play in the playoffs, and make a run at the Super Bowl. The Jets, on the other hand, are the most unlikely of playoff teams. Coming off a 4-12 season, Jets fans would have been happy enough if they just went 8-8. But a team that has always been synonymous with losing has shocked even themselves. On Sunday, the Jets and Patriots will take the same field. It's time to throw the expectations out the window.

QUARTERBACKS: It's obvious who is the better quarterback in this matchup, but sometimes we understate the importance of both players. When we look at Tom Brady, we know the incredible story that has propelled him to become the most clutch QB in all of football. So when we see that Brady is back in the playoffs, it's hard to recognize how remarkable this season has been. Coming into this season he lost both his top WRs. He's been forced to throw to the likes of Reche Caldwell and Chad Jackson all season. These players would fight for starting jobs in other systems, but Brady is the rare Michael Jordan type player that makes everyone around him better. If you put any other QB on this team, you would see an offense that struggles mightily. For the Jets, their QB was in a totally different situation at the beginning of the season. Unless you live in New York, you don't realize just how at risk Chad Pennington's job was. He had surgery after surgery and looked incapable of throwing the deep ball. The Jets brought in Patrick Ramsey and drafted a QB of the future, but Pennington fought off everyone to remain the starter. He still can't throw the deep ball too well, but he's the perfect type of QB for the offense he is in. EDGE: NEW ENGLAND

RUNNING BACKS: Both teams in this game like to spread the carries around among their running backs. However, the Patriots do this with far more talented players. Corey Dillon has been a star in the past, but at this stage in his career he is far better off splitting carries. His partner in the backfield is Laurence Maroney. While he splits carries this season, it's quite obvious that this rookie will become a future star in the league. Alone neither of them can carry a full load, but together they make New England as capable a running team as anyone in the NFL. The Jets do the same thing with players that the casual fan have never heard of. The guy who gets the bulk of the carries is Cedric Houston. He's not a flashy runner and rarely breaks the big run, but Houston is the type of RB who puts his head down and picks up the tough yards. The Jets also use rookie Leon Washington to carry some of the load. Washington is the one player on the whole Jets offense who can score from wherever he is on the field every time he touches the ball. Despite having two promising young players, it would be hard to make an argument that would warrant choosing them over the Pats backfield. EDGE: NEW ENGLAND

RECEIVERS: As mentioned before, the Patriots elected not to keep Deion Branch and David Givens around this offseason. Rather, they tried to fill their holes with average regulars Reche Caldwell and Doug Gabriel and rookie Chad Jackson. None of these receivers have really stepped up in 2006, and the Pats eventually got so fed up with Gabriel that they cut him. Their best WR actually plays TE and goes by the name Ben Watson. However, down the stretch Watson struggled with numerous injuries and may not play on Sunday. The Jets have gotten a lot more consistent play out of their wide outs. Their go to guy is Laveranues Coles, and he has shown over the years that it is hard to find a more gutty WR in the game. He always fights for the tough catch, and despite several nagging injuries he is yet to miss a game. His teammate Jerricho Cotchery has burst onto the scene this season as one of the best number two WRs in football. He has a bit more speed than Coles which makes him always a threat to go deep. This are of the offense is one of the greatest strengths for the Jets. EDGE: NEW YORK

DEFENSE: It seems every season that New England will lose a top player or coordinator on their defense, and instead of getting worse, they don't miss a beat. While this defense may not have the big names like Patriots teams of the past, they are still among the league's top units. Like most Belicheck coached teams, they excel at forcing the run and creating turnovers. They are very physical, and against a team like that Jets that doesn't have too may play makers, they will look to force the tempo. The Jets defense has tried to take a page out of the Patriots book under Coach Mangini this season. They have improved behind the strong play of safety Kerry Rhodes and linebacker Johnathan Vilma, but they are not yet an elite defense. They struggle at times stopping the run even against weaker running backs like Justin Fargas in week 17. If the Jets want to have a chance on Sunday, they will not only have to mirror the scheme of New England, but also be as physical the former World Champs. EDGE: NEW ENGLAND

SPECIAL TEAMS: For the first time in years, the Patriots are without their ace in the hole of Adam Viniteiri for the playoffs. Their decision to let go one of the best pressure kickers in the playoffs may come back to haunt them at some time during the playoffs. They've elected to go with rookie Stephen Gostkowski for the whole season. He has been shaky at best so far this season, and there is no idea how he will perform in the playoffs. The Jets seem to have the kicking edge with second year man Mike Nugent. After an up and down rookie season, Nugent has been dead on in 2006 and moved up to the class of the leagues most accurate kickers. The Jets also have a wild card of their own in return man Justin Miller. He has world class speed and has already lifted the Jets at a few key times this season with electrifying kick returns for touchdowns. Before the day is over, he could make an impact on this game. EDGE: NEW YORK

FINAL ANALYSIS: The Jets have made some giant strides this season, and just being in a playoff game is an accomplishment in itself. The one reason why they match up better with the Patriots than most other teams is Coach Mangini's familiarity with the New England system. While this should have an impact on the game, it would be unlikely that it would be significant enough to cause an upset. The Patriots are just too experienced and too talented to drop a playoff game to a division rival. While this may be a close game for awhile, look for the Patriots to eventually pull away in the end. PREDICTION: PATRIOTS 28 JETS 13