Preview

New England (9-7) at Jacksonville (11-5)

9:30 a.m., Channel 2

* HEAD TO HEAD: The Patriots are 3-0 against the Jaguars, including a 26-20 victory last season and a 20-6 victory in the AFC championship game on Jan. 12, 1997. In the latter, the Jaguars outgained the Patriots, 289 yards to 234, but were victimized by four turnovers as they attempted to reach the Super Bowl in only their second season.

* SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS: In a game matching banged-up teams, the Patriots are hurting more. Quarterback Drew Bledsoe and wide receiver Terry Glenn are sidelined because of injuries. Scott Zolak will start at quarterback for the third week in a row. He led the Patriots over the San Francisco 49ers two weeks ago, but he completed only 14 of 31 passes for 127 yards in last week’s loss to the New York Jets. On a more positive note for the Patriots, defensive end Willie McGinest is expected to play despite a nagging leg injury. “I can’t sit here and keep talking about my leg,” said the former USC standout, who will line up against former Trojan teammate Tony Boselli in one of the game’s most intriguing matchups. “I can just give 100% with what I’ve got.” The Patriots tied for second in the NFL with 24 interceptions, a league-leading nine by cornerback Ty Law.

* SCOUTING THE JAGUARS: Mark Brunell, who has been sidelined since Dec. 6 because of an ankle injury, is expected to play. With the left-hander, who has passed for 873 yards and five touchdowns in three games against the Patriots, the Jaguars are one of the AFC’s elite teams. Without him, they’re ordinary, as they showed by losing two of their last three games. Rookie Jonathan Quinn, who looked much better in last Monday’s victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers than he did in losses to the Tennessee Oilers and Minnesota Vikings, will get the call if Brunell is unable to play or is ineffective. Led by rookie Fred Taylor, whose 1,223-yard season included six 100-yard games, the Jaguars ranked third in the AFC in rushing.

* NOW YOU KNOW: Taylor scored 17 touchdowns during the regular season, tying Randy Moss of the Minnesota Vikings for the league lead among rookies.

* THEY SAID IT: Jaguar defensive tackle John Jurkovic, on the return of Brunell: “Certainly it will be a lift. We know who the main gun is. The main gun is Brunell.”

* THE LINE: Jaguars by 8 1/2

Logs

NEW ENGLAND

21 At Denver 27

29 Indianapolis 6

27 Tennessee 16

30 At New Orleans 27

40 Kansas City 10

14 N.Y. Jets 24

9 At Miami (OT) 12

21 At Indianapolis 16

10 Atlanta 41

10 At Buffalo 13

26 Miami 23

25 Buffalo 21

23 At Pittsburgh 9

18 At St. Louis 32

24 San Francisco 21

10 At N.Y. Jets 31

JACKSONVILLE

24 At Chicago 23

21 Kansas City 16

24 Baltimore 10

27 At Tennessee 22

28 Miami 21

16 At Buffalo 17

24 At Denver 37

45 At Baltimore 19

24 Cincinnati 11

29 Tampa Bay 24

15 At Pittsburgh 30

34 At Cincinnati 17

37 Detroit 22

13 Tennessee 16

10 At Minnesota 50

21 Pittsburgh 3