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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Tashaun Gipson recalls his first game against Tom Brady five years ago, as much as his last game eight months ago.
They had similar purposes.
Brady made two touchdown passes in the final 61 seconds to stun Gipson and the Cleveland Browns in 2013. The MVP on three occasions defeated Gipson and the Jacksonville Jaguars in January.
"There's nothing you can do when you play a guy like that," said Gipson, a free security.
The Jaguars understand it as well as anyone. They are the only AFC team that has never beaten the New England Patriots with Brady in the middle. Their 0-8 record includes a few tight games, several unbalanced defeats and, more recently, a punch that prevented Jacksonville from taking part in the Super Bowl. Now the Jags think they're late for a win against one of the NFL's biggest quarterbacks.
Their next opportunity comes Sunday against the Patriots (1-0), a rematch of the championship game. And there is no doubt that the Jaguars (1-0) have encircled for some time.
"Jacksonville never beat him?" Said Gipson.
Nope. Without victory in eight tries.
"So 1 in 9," he said, predicting a win. "I like that."
Jacksonville has been simmering since his last loss to New England, lamenting the missed opportunities to put the Patriots out of the game and what they insisted was a bad call for the forced stripping and recovery of linebacker Myles Jack.
"I would be lying if I did not say that I was thinking about last year's results," Jaguars said. Bouye said. "We absolutely want to win against them here."
"We can use that (loss) as motivation, but we can not get it back. It's a new year. It's like that every year. Whatever happened in the past, you forget it. Those who hang on to it, they stay complacent or they outdo themselves because they compare to what happened last year. We can not do that.
Yet, there are many reminders this week.
Coach Doug Marrone played Bon Jovi's "Livin 'on Prayer" during practice; the song is a staple at home games of patriots. The Jaguars also play the Super Bowl several times in the locker room.
Although players understand week 2 and there is little stake, they also know what the AFC could do on defense against a young team.
"It would show we grew up and we got that little monkey," said Jaguars defensive tackle Malik Jackson. "I think the outside world would really see us go to the next stage. But we still have 14 games to play. It's not an end in itself, but it's a game that makes sense.
For the Pats, that does not seem to mean as much.
"It will be an emotional environment," said Brady. "I think everyone, every time you play among the top teams, you want to see where you stand, and that defense was ranked very high last year and I could see why. … They have a lot of very talented players, some of them are probably the best in their position.
"It should be a very good game for us to see what we are made of."
Here are some other things to know about Patriots and Jaguars:
FOURNETTE SITS?
Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette is expected to be a "match decision" due to a stretched right thigh. Fournette missed the tests on Wednesday and Thursday because of the injury suffered during the opening match.
SPECIAL FOCUS TEAMS
The Patriots, usually strong on special teams, had difficulties in the first match. They allowed 156 yards for sending, a figure much higher than the coach of special teams, Joe Judge.
"This time of the year, often, it makes different combinations of players work and the players are well placed to play side by side," said the judge.
SECURITY OF THE BALL
The tight end of the Patriots, Rob Gronkowski, said that there would be an additional focus on the safety of the ball in preparation for the Jaguars, who have scored nine touchdowns on the defense since the start of the season last.
The Patriots had three fumbles (two lost) in their first match and Gronkowski was responsible.
"I think they're getting a one in five average business figure. This statistic out there is incredible, "said Gronkowski. "It shows how good they are for the defense, and you can not just jog. … When you have the ball, you have to protect it and put yourself on the ground.
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