Familiar coaches square off in Jet-Jaguar game

Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.,
Sunday, Jan. 10

AT A GLANCE: The Jets, who are appear to be ultra-confident, are in unfamiliar territory, making their first playoff appearance since 1991. Meanwhile, after they beat the Patriots last week, the Jaguars’ Super Bowl dreams remain alive.

This game is a reunion of sorts. Not so much for the players on the field, but for the head coaches pacing the sidelines. It will be the student vs. the teacher. Tom Coughlin vs. Bill Parcells. Coughlin served as WR coach under Parcells with the Giants from 1988 to ’90. It will be the second time the two have met as head coaches. Last time, the Parcells-coached Patriots defeated the Jaguars in the AFC championship game after the 1996 season.

The Jets appear to be ultra-confident. While they aren’t necessarily cocky, they are playing with a self-assuredness not known in the Jet organization for decades. They are also finally healthy, as they expect CB Aaron Glenn (ankle) and FB Keith Byars (fractured forearm) back after both missed time in December.

The same can’t be said for the Jaguars, who have been losing starters all season. More than 10 Jaguars have been placed on injured reserve this season. QB Mark Brunell also is not completely healthy. He made his first start in a month in last week’s wild-card victory over the Patriots, but he was hardly 100 percent. He was limping at times, and his mobility seemed limited.

The Jets are making their first playoff appearance since 1991. They last won a postseason game in 1986.

WHEN THE JAGUARS HAVE THE BALL:

Much of the burden of beating the Jets will fall on the shoulders of Brunell, who has been regarded as the cornerstone of this franchise for the past several seasons. However, Brunell remains somewhat gimpy, so he could have a hard time escaping the blitzers the Jets like to send.

Jet defensive coordinator Bill Belichick likes to mix things up based on the opponent, and knowing that Brunell is not 100 percent will likely lead to more blitzes than usual. OLB’s Bryan Cox and Mo Lewis, the best Jet players in the front seven, could be sent early and often. Early in the season, the Jaguars had trouble picking up blitzes. Still, Brunell does have one of the best OT tandems in the NFL with Tony Boselli to his left and Leon Searcy to his right. However, the interior of the line has been susceptible to pass rushers at times, and it could be especially vulnerable if C Quentin Neujahr is unavailable. He was inactive last week vs. the Patriots.

Even with a less-than-perfect Brunell, the Jaguar passing game is pretty special — thanks to go-to guys Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell. Smith beat Pro Bowl CB Ty Law for a long score last week. The Jaguar WR duo will face Jet CB’s Glenn and Otis Smith, who is coming off one of his best seasons.

The Jaguars have depended on the running game more than ever this season and have been thrilled to have rookie sensation Fred Taylor. In his first career playoff game, he rushed for 162 yards.