Event of the Day: New England Patriots versus Jacksonville Jaguars

Our event of the day is the NFL AFC Conference Championship game between the New England Patriots and the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. The Patriots clinched the East division title and secured home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a 13-3 record in the regular season. In the Divisional Playoffs game last Saturday, they beat the Tennessee Titans 35-14 at home. The Jaguars are the 3rd AFC Seed in the playoffs, and followed their AFC South triumph via a 10-6 regular season record with a 10-3 home win over the Buffalo Bills in the wild card round and then a stunning 45-42 away victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Divisional Playoffs last Sunday. Jacksonville have beaten New England only once in their 11 previous meetings, that was a 25-10 home win in a wild card game in January 1999. They’ve clashed three more times in the playoffs, the Patriots coming out on top on each occasion, the last being a 31-10 home victory in January 2008 Divisional Round. The Patriots have won their past seven competitive matches against the Jaguars.
 
The major doubt for the hosts though, is the thumb injury that quarterback Tom Brady suffered jn Wednesday’s practice that has him listed as questionable to play today. Brady is the engine behind New England’s powerful offense that was best in the league in the regular season, having thrown for 4577 yards – the league’s most. Jacksonville defense on the other side, allowed only 169.9 passing yards per game, which was best in the league, and the offense was the best team in rushing with 141.4 yards per game. Rookie running back Leonard Fournette carried the ball for 1,040 rushing yards in the regular season, while he had another 109 yards against Pittsburgh along with three touchdowns. It should be a spectacular matchup fot the AFC Championship at Gillette Stadium.
 
Honourable mentions around the globe go to last day of the 2018 Snooker Masters at Alexandra Palace in London. In the final of the tournament, Kyren Wilson will face Mark Allen, meaning there will be a first time winner of the tournament. Additionally in the NFL, there’s the NFC Championship game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Minnesota Vikings at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. It’s Day 4 of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club; and the fourth day at the CareerBuilder Challenge in California. It’s Day 7 of the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park. In the NBA, the San Antonio Spurs host the Indiana Pacers at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. Australia and England play their 3rd ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground. There’s plenty of action in the NHL, with the face off between the Anaheim Ducks and the San Jose Sharks at Anaheim’s Honda Center. The 4-man Bobsleigh is on the programme at the IBSF World Cup in Königssee.
 
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
 
Fixture
 
Photos by NFL

See what else is happening in the world of sport

Fixture calendar