Boston Sports

FOXBORO (Sports Network) ― The well-documented frosty relationship between head coaches Bill Belichick and Eric Mangini will once again take center stage this Sunday, when the New England Patriots put their unblemished record on the line against the visiting New York Jets in the first meeting between the AFC East rivals since the infamous "Spygate" incident in Week 1.

The two sideline generals have quite a history together, as Mangini broke into the NFL ranks as a bottom-rung assistant on Belichick's staff when the latter was head coach of the Cleveland Browns in 1995. Belichick also brought his protege along when he became an assistant with the Jets two years later, and Mangini also worked under him for six seasons with New England before taking over the Jets prior to the 2006 campaign.

The friendship between the pair, which was tested when Mangini took over a division rival, became further strained after Mangini's upstart Jets defeated Belichick's Pats at Gillette Stadium in Week 10 of last season. The tension grew greater in the aftermath of New England's 38-14 victory over New York in this year's season opener.

Following the loss, the Jets filed a complaint to the NFL office accusing the Patriots of illegally videotaping New York's defensive signals during the course of the game. After an ensuing investigation by the league, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced that New England would be forced to forfeit its first-round selection in the 2008 draft and levied a $500,000 fine on Belichick.

The incident tarnished the reputation of both coaches, with Belichick viewed by many as a cheater who compiled his glossy credentials by using dirty tactics, and Mangini as a whistle-blower who broke an unspoken code among the coaching circles.

Another chapter of the story was revealed this week, when news broke that the Jets had used a second video camera in one of the end zones during one of the team's two games in Foxborough last year. The Jets claimed that they had received prior permission from the Patriots to record the game, and the NFL stated on Wednesday that such a practice is neither illegal or uncommon.

The scandal certainly hasn't hurt New England, which is seeking to join the legendary 1972 Miami Dolphins as the only other team since the NFL/AFL merger to go undefeated through an entire season. The Patriots moved a step closer to that lofty goal last Sunday, running its record to 13-0 with a 34-13 beating of the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers.

Quarterback Tom Brady led the way with four touchdown passes, giving the leading MVP candidate an impressive 45 on the season. Brady is now just four scoring tosses short of tying Peyton Manning's NFL single-season record in that category.

The Jets haven't achieved nearly the same success in 2007, nor have they been able to build off the 10 wins in Mangini's debut season that landed New York in last year's playoffs. The team had posted two victories in a three-game stretch heading into last week's battle with postseason-hopeful Cleveland, but wound up on the short end of a 24-18 decision to the Browns.

SERIES HISTORY

The Jets hold a 48-45-1 edge in the all-time regular season series with the Patriots, but as mentioned, were 38-14 home losers against New England in Week 1. Last season, New York broke a seven-game losing skid to its longtime AFC East rival with a 17-14 road victory in Week 10. New England is 10-2 in its last 12 regular season games against the Jets, with the losses over that stretch coming at home in 2002 and 2006.

The Patriots and Jets have also met twice once in the postseason, including a 26-14 road victory for New England in a 1985 AFC First-Round Playoff and last season's 37-16 triumph in an opening-round tilt.

Belichick has a career mark of 12-6 against the Jets, for whom he served as defensive coordinator from 1997 through 1999, including 11-5 while with New England. Mangini is 1-3 against both his former mentor Belichick and his ex- employer New England.

WHEN THE JETS HAVE THE BALL

Look for New York to attempt to keep the Patriots' prolific offense off the field by attacking them via the running game, something New England's opponents have had success doing in recent weeks. Running back Thomas Jones (944 rushing yards, 1 TD, 22 receptions) is fresh off a 106-yard effort against Cleveland and should get plenty of work on Sunday. Dangerous return man Leon Washington (224 rushing yards, 3 TD, 28 receptions) provides a good change of pace and is the team's best backfield receiver. The Jets come in ranked 19th in the NFL in rushing offense (103.4 ypg).

The Jets have gone 2-3 in the five games since youngster Kellen Clemens (1414 passing yards, 4 TD, 9 INT) supplanted Chad Pennington as the team's starting quarterback, but the second-year pro has endured his share of struggles under center. Clemens is completing just 52 percent of his passes and threw two interceptions in the Cleveland loss, including one in the end zone that killed a potential scoring drive. He did throw for a career-best 286 yards in the game and benefited from the return of Jerricho Cotchery (60 receptions, 1 TD) from a one-game absence due to a broken finger, as the sure-handed receiver compiled 119 yards on six catches. Steady veteran Laveranues Coles (55 receptions, 6 TD) had seven grabs for 48 yards last week despite playing on a sprained ankle which could limit his effectiveness on Sunday. Clemens was taken down four times by the Browns' pass rush and needs better protection from a line that's surrendered 39 sacks on the year.

New England owns the league's fourth-best defense in terms of yards allowed (294.0 ypg) and points allowed (17.1 ypg), but the unit has been uncharacteristically submissive against the run lately. Pittsburgh racked up 181 yards against the Patriots last Sunday, one week after New England yielded 166 yards on the ground in a narrow win over Baltimore. The shifting of linebacker Adalius Thomas (60 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 INT) from the inside to the edge in the wake of Rosevelt Colvin's season-ending foot injury might be one explanation for the team's recent subpar showings, as could five-time Pro Bowl end Richard Seymour's (16 tackles) slow comeback from a knee sprain which caused him to miss the season's first half. Fourteen-year pro Rodney Harrison (55 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT), who had 11 tackles last week, still remains a run-stopping force from his strong safety position.

Throwing the football on the Patriots has been a greater challenge for the opposition. New England is allowing just 194.4 yards per game through the air (6th overall) and has amassed 34 sacks along with 17 interceptions. Mike Vrabel (65 tackles, 9.5 sacks) has been one of the league's best pass-rushing linebackers this year and had 2 1/2 sacks in the Week 1 meeting with New York, while the versatile Thomas can get to the quarterback as well. The secondary is headlined by playmaking corner Asante Samuel (32 tackles, 6 INT, 16 PD), who's picked off 16 passes over the last two seasons.

WHEN THE PATRIOTS HAVE THE BALL

While their defense has had some recent issues, no team has yet been able to stop Brady (4095 passing yards, 45 TD, 5 INT) and the Patriots' powerful offense in 2007. New England tops the NFL in total yards (425.0 ypg), passing yards (311.3 ypg) and scoring (38.7 ppg), and needs just 54 points over the final three regular-season games to surpass the 1998 Minnesota Vikings' league record of 556. Brady shredded Pittsburgh's top-ranked pass defense for 399 yards, with both superstar wideout Randy Moss (82 receptions, 1264 yards) and Jabar Gaffney (29 receptions, 4 TD) totaling over 100 receiving yards in the win. Moss also caught two of Brady's two touchdown throws and now has 19 receiving scores on the season, three shy of Jerry Rice's league mark. Wes Welker (93 receptions, 8 TD) has also done plenty of damage from out of the slot, while wideout Donte Stallworth (41 receptions, 3 TD) and tight end Benjamin Watson (32 receptions, 6 TD) give Brady two more excellent targets. Brady's also had outstanding protection from a front line that's given up only 16 sacks in 13 games.

New England's running game has been far less consistent, as the team mustered just 22 yards on the ground on nine attempts against the Steelers. Leading rusher Laurence Maroney (529 rushing yards, 2 TD) has averaged just three yards per carry over the last four weeks, while backfield mate Kevin Faulk (218 rushing yards, 35 receptions, 1 TD) is better as a receiver than a runner. In short-yardage situations, the Pats often turn to powerful fullback Heath Evans (117 rushing yards, 3 TD).

The Patriots' slumping ground attack could be rejuvenated when it faces a New York defense that's permitting a porous 141.9 rushing yards per outing (30th overall) and allowed Cleveland's Jamal Lewis to put up 118 yards on 21 totes last week. The front seven does have an emerging star in rookie linebacker David Harris (100 tackles, 3 sacks) and an active end up front in Kenyon Coleman (70 tackles, 2 sacks), who compiled 12 tackles in the earlier meeting with New England. The Jets do have one concern on the line, as nose tackle Dewayne Robertson (44 tackles, 4 sacks) is dealing with a sore knee which limited his snaps in the Cleveland game.

New York also boasts a talented rookie in the secondary in cornerback Darrelle Revis (75 tackles, 2 INT, 14 PD), as well as a top-flight free safety in Kerry Rhodes (59 tackles, 5 INT), who's recorded an interception in four straight games. The duo has led the Jets to a respectable No. 11 ranking against the pass (194.4 ypg), although Brady had a field day against the defensive backfield back in Week 1. New York will need to get pressure from Robertson and veteran end Shaun Ellis (44 tackles, 4 sacks) to slow down the Patriots on Sunday. But since the defense has only produced 22 sacks this year, that's a task easier said than done.

FANTASY FOCUS

Brady and Moss have been two of the top five fantasy performers this season and are obvious must-plays for teams hoping to survive their playoff games. Both had big games against the Jets in the opener, with Moss racking up 183 yards and a touchdown on nine catches and Brady throwing for 297 yards and three scores. Welker is also an every-week play at receiver, while Gaffney has emerged as a key component in the offense lately and is worth a look as well. Maroney seems to be a riskier alternative at running back, as he's gotten limited touches lately and often isn't used in goal-line situations. The New England defense ranks among the top fantasy units as well and draws a favorable matchup, with the Jets possessing a young quarterback and mediocre offensive line.

On the New York side, use Jones if you've got him. He's rebounded nicely from a slow start and will be going up against a Patriots defense that has shown some cracks versus the run as of late. Cotchery also makes for a nice start as a No. 2 receiver, but avoid Clemens and be cautious of Coles due to his ailing ankle. Kicker Mike Nugent has been an undervalued weapon for the Jets, however, as he's booted four field goals in three of the team's last four games.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

The bad blood that exists between these organizations is evident, and recent history has shown that it's not a good idea to get the Patriots mad. Just ask Pittsburgh safety Anthony Smith, whose bold guarantee of a Steelers victory last week helped enable a highly-charged New England squad to score a convincing win. The Jets' best chance of keeping the margin reasonable is to attack a Patriots defense that's been showing its age as of late by running the football, but the success of that tactic depends on whether the erratic Clemens can make wise decisions in the pocket and establish some balance on offense. That's an iffy proposition, however. New England was able to move the ball with ease on one of the league's best defenses last week, and it's foolish to believe that the Jets' mediocre stop unit will be able to keep Brady, Moss and the rest of the Patriots' weapons in check. The weather forecast is predicting a mix of rain and snow in Foxborough on Sunday. Those nasty conditions may be the only thing that keeps New England from naming its score.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Patriots 38, Jets 13

(Sports Network)