Clan-Members » early defence.Ruckman Nic Naitanui was sorely mis

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- When the NFL schedule was released in April, two late-season showdowns between the New England Patriots and New York Jets made for some possible intrigue in the race for AFC East supremacy.Well, not even close.Tom Bradys bunch is rolling toward its eighth straight division title and 13th in 14 years. Meanwhile, Ryan Fitzpatrick and the sputtering Jets (3-7) are looking at a sixth consecutive season without a playoff appearance.The game even got flexed out of a prime-time slot on Sunday night. That doesnt mean that Bill Belichick and the Patriots (8-2) are taking their latest matchup at MetLife Stadium lightly.Its always a tough game, Patriots safety Devin McCourty said. I think Bill said that seven of the last eight games are like one score or overtime that we played them. Its going to be a tough challenge because I think both teams know each other well.New England has won eight of the past 10 meetings, but New York came away with a 26-20 overtime victory last December. The Jets are looking to beat the Patriots in two straight for the first time since winning the last matchup in 2008 and the first of the 2009 season, which would be a rare positive in a dismal season so far.I think it would be, especially them being one of the top teams in the league now, this would definitely give us more confidence, I feel, as a team coming out with a win on Sunday, Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis said. I think wed be able to feed off that.And, Belichick is right: Other than a 49-19 drubbing by New England in 2012, the teams have been closely matched lately. There have been margins of one point (Patriots 17-16, 2014), two points (Patriots 27-25, 2014), and three by three points (Patriots 29-26 in OT, 2012; Patriots 13-10, 2013; Jets 30-27 in OT, 2013). There were New Yorks six-point win last December and a seven-point Patriots win (30-23) in the first meeting last season.Everything we do this week is going to be very important toward the outcome, Belichick said, based on how tight all of those other games have been.Here are some things to know for the latest Patriots-Jets matchup, in which a New England victory would make it the first former AFL franchise with 500 total wins:BRADY KEEPS ROLLING: After sitting out the first two practices with a knee ailment, Brady was back on Friday .The Patriots star is having a fantastic season and could tie Peyton Manning for the most total wins by a QB with 200. He also needs just 57 yards passing to become the fifth player in NFL history to reach 60,000. Oh, and another win over the Jets would give him 22 against his rivals, joining Brett Favre as the only quarterback with at least that many against two teams.We all know what a great player he is and even in a historical context what a great player he is, Fitzpatrick said. But to be able to take the hits week after week and continue to be out there ... its amazing to see a guy like that, that just looks better than ever.FITZ IS BACK: After sitting out a game with a sprained left knee, Fitzpatrick returns as the Jets starting quarterback.Bryce Petty, who filled in for a game while making his first NFL start, returns to the sideline. While some fans and media think its the wrong move by Todd Bowles, the coach insists he wants to win and believes Fitzpatrick gives the Jets the best chance to do so against the Patriots.Im not into the other argument right now, Bowles said of those who think New York should give Petty playing time to develop. Im into winning ballgames.LOTS OF OPTIONS: The Patriots offense got a boost last week when running back Dion Lewis returned at San Francisco after having surgery for a torn knee ligament last year.Lewis was on the field for 21 of 76 offensive snaps in New Englands win over the 49ers, giving the Patriots three running back options -- along with LeGarrette Blount and James White -- in the game plan for really the first time this season.Weve got three guys that all have different roles and I think that all three guys impacted the game in a positive way, whether that was with the ball or without it, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said. Well try to build off of that, but I have confidence in all three of those guys and look forward to continue to use all three of them the best we can each week.THIRD-DOWN PROWESS: Whether it has been the return of Brady to the offense or tweaks in the play calling, one big component in New Englands offensive success over the past month has been its production on third down. The Patriots rank second in the NFL, converting on 65 of 134 (48.5 percent) attempts.Belichick is expecting a lot of different looks and blitzes from the Jets. That could mean even more use for Danny Amendola, who has been one of Bradys go-to receivers both on third down and in the red zone.Hes a really dependable, consistent player; tough, Belichick said. He seems like he always has his best plays in those critical situations when you need them most.---AP Sports Writer Kyle Hightower in Foxborough, Massachusetts, contributed.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Josh Reddick Jersey . At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line. Jeff Bagwell Astros Jersey . The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling "puts an end to my dreams of being a top player," the 27-year-old Troicki said in a statement. 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Last years grand finalists West Coast risk missing the AFL finals if they dont find form quickly after suffering an upset 19-point loss to Collingwood.The Eagles, faced with a challenging run to September, desperately needed to bank four premiership points at the MCG on Saturday.Instead, they were outplayed by a side out of the finals equation, and were thumped 47-28 in clearances and beaten 13.13 (91) to 11.6 (72).West Coast now confront Fremantle, Greater Western Sydney, Hawthorn and Adelaide.They are unlikely to slip outside the top eight but, as coach Adam Simpson points out, thats far from impossible.Every game is big for us. Were still fighting for a top-eight spot, Simpson said.We will have to rely on other sides (if the Eagles keep losing).We need to keep winning. Otherwise, whats the point?Its not a lost cause ... weve got to be confident, got to be optimistic.But theres also the sense of reality, too, so weve got to work our way through it.Saturdays result was all the more remarkable because Collingwood forward Darcy Moore - arguably best on ground in the first two quarters - hurt his hamstring and played no part in the second half.Collingwood were simply too hard and too desperate, headlined by a club-record tally of 119 tackles.Our ability to not give up and still fight for the season has got to be as stronng as it ever has, Simpson said.ddddddddddddWere probably more concentrating on our mindset ... rather than ladder position.Were still very much alive but weve got to get our heads around what we need to work on.That list is reasonably long.Simpson lamented the way his charges folded at critical moments, easy goals from stoppages and how fragile the Eagles looked in early defence.Ruckman Nic Naitanui was sorely missed, with Brodie Grundy helping himself to 45 hitouts.Simpson was upbeat Naitanui would return from injury against the Dockers.We cant rely on one guy, Simpson said.Hes a good player and he will help us ... but we had 22 players out there.The Eagles trailed for most of the match but regained the lead early in the fourth term, when Jamie Cripps converted his set shot from a tight angle.The hosts response was overwhelming.Collingwood made a mockery of the low-scoring game, piling on four goals in the space of eight minutes.We didnt use the ball well at all but we were able to play the way we wanted to play long enough to get the job done, Magpies coach Nathan Buckley said.Taylor Adams and Scott Pendlebury tallied a combined 70 possessions, 24 tackles and 15 clearances for the hosts. 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