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Section 326: We're on to Minneapolis

Before I launch into the various reasons why the Patriots will beat the Jaguars on Sunday afternoon, let me preface this with one major caveat: The following 650 words should be ignored or deleted if Tom Brady’s hand is a mangled mess on Sunday.

Now with that out of the way, the Jacksonville Jaguars should be no match for the Patriots with a healthy Brady at the helm. I have heard the arguments about how an upset could occur, I’m just not buying them. Yes, the Jaguars have the top-rated defense in the NFL. But let’s take that with a grain of salt. Look at the other quarterbacks in the Jags’ division, the AFC South…Jacoby Brissett for the Colts, Marcus Mariota for the Titans, and a combination of Tom Savage/TJ Yates for the Texans. That’s six games not exactly against the cream of the QB crop, and Mariota put up 37 points against them the first time they played.

As for their out-of-division schedule? They held an awful Deshone Kizer of the Browns and an equally terrible Joe Flacco of the Ravens to a touchdown each and lost 23-20 to the immortal Josh McCown and the Jets. Blaine Gabbert beat them, scoring 27 points! That ten games of downright bad quarterbacks as their competition. What happens when they face a good quarterback? The Seahawks Russell Wilson put up 24 against them. Big Ben posted 42 in the playoffs. Jarred Goff and the Rams beat them 27-17, and last but not least…Jimmy G. carved up the number one defense for 44 points.

With all due respect, I am not trembling at the feet of the vaunted Jaguars defense.

Lest we think the Patriots defense is chopped liver, think again. Look at the total points allowed by both teams. The Jags rank first at 268, but the Patriots aren’t far behind at 296. That’s 28 points or four touchdowns over the course of an entire season. I understand the AFC East isn’t exactly a juggernaut, but it did field a wild card team just like the AFC South. But when you’re comparing the quality of quarterbacks within the division, the Jags clearly had an easier run. The Patriots defense is right there with the Jags, especially if you eliminate the Pats September debacle.

But let’s admit the Jags defense is probably better. I’ll give the five Jacksonville fans who apparently exist the benefit of the doubt. When comparing offenses there is no dispute. Jacksonville is quarterbacked by Blake Bortles. Let me repeat that. BLAKE BORTLES is the quarterback of the team playing the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game. He passed for a pedestrian 3,687 yards this year with a completion percentage of 60%. He threw 21 touchdowns and 13 picks. There is no other way to spin those numbers other than stunningly average. The Jags also don’t have any receivers who should be breaking Malcolm Butler’s or Stephon Gilmore’s ankles on Foxboro’s synthetic turf. Allen Robinson is a game changer, but he tore his ACL in the team’s season opener. Leonard Fournette is a stud at running back, but he banged up his ankle last week. After that, I challenge you to name another offensive player on this team.

Compare that offense to the one led by the GOAT, Thomas Brady. Brady is on pace to win his third MVP, throwing 32 touchdowns and a mere eight interceptions. He has thrown for nearly a thousand more yards than Bortles and his quarterback rating is roughly 20 points higher. He has a tight end who will join him in the Hall of Fame one day and a sprinkling of running backs and receivers who can make plays all over the field. I’m also fairly certain he has watched the film of his former backup Jimmy Garopollo marching up and down the field against Jacksonville about a month ago. The blueprint is there and the Patriots have the personnel to easily duplicate the 49ers game plan.

My prediction? Pats win 30-16 and Tom Brady makes his eighth Super Bowl appearance. It really is the best of times for Patriots fans.

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