Filed under: Jets, Patriots, AFC East, FanHouse Previews, NFL Analysis
New England Patriots safety Patrick Chung was watching Saturday's Oregon-Oregon State football game from the comforts of his couch. He was taking in the rivalry known as The Civil War with his own unique perspective having played at Oregon from 2005-08.Now in his third year in the NFL, Chung might have been using some of that perspective as fuel for tonight's showdown with the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium. Jets-Patriots has its own unique ring to it when it comes to rivalries, and with sole possession of first place in the AFC East at stake, this one has moved up another level in intensity.
"I can't downplay Oregon, but I can't downplay the Jets-Patriots," said Chung, who was the heart of the Ducks' defense as a free safety. "They're both good rivalries."
The other similarity this year happens to be the stakes as Oregon needed to beat Oregon State to secure its place in the BCS national championship game against Auburn. New York and New England are tied at 9-2 but the Jets won the first meeting, so a win tonight all but locks up the division for them.
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Over on the Jets' sideline there is a player with another unique perspective when it comes to this rivalry because he has been a part of the hype within the AFC East over the years in a different uniform. Outside linebacker Jason Taylor spent 12 seasons with the Miami Dolphins and had a more heated rivalry with the Jets during those years, but he also had his fair share of intense games with the Patriots and his fair share of success against Tom Brady.
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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/12/06/jets-patriots-expecting-monday-night-football-classic/
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