New England at Jacksonville


Breaking down the Pats and Jags


Inside the Patriots playbook


AFC: Four on the floor


Brunell returns to practice, hopes to go Sunday


Jags follow blueprint for building


Jags tired of getting Jurk-ed around

The Matchup
Jaguars RB Fred Taylor vs. Patriots RB Robert Edwards.
The Question
Which rookie running back is best suited to carry his team's banged-up offense?

Fred Taylor		Robert Edwards
ATT: 264 | YDS: 1,223 | REC: 44 | YDs: 421 TOTAL TDs: 17 By Mark Malone Special to ESPN.com Fred Taylor is simply a better back than Robert Edwards. The rookie from Florida has a unique blend of breakaway speed and punishing power. You don't see that very often in the NFL. Taylor can make moves, accelerate quickly, and get through a secondary and pick up 40, 50 or 60 yards, which he's done a considerable number of times this year. But, as we saw in the Monday night game against Pittsburgh, he'll put his helmet right in the middle of your numbers and drive you back. He doesn't care if you are 285-pound Levon Kirkland. Much like Edwards, Taylor does a good job of catching the ball out of the backfield. Edwards might have a little edge there, but overall, Taylor is by far and away the best rookie running back in the NFL. He didn't play a full 16-game schedule, and he's not going to Hawaii, but he's been playing at a Pro Bowl-caliber level for the last two months. If you remove Randy Moss from the equation, Taylor is the Offensive Rookie of the Year. He has 17 touchdowns, and that's incredible, especially since he has started only 12 games. The fact he didn't play a full season might be a benefit for both Taylor and the Jaguars. Rookies tend to hit a wall. Although he's gotten a lot of carries over the last month, for the first month or so, Taylor didn't play a whole lot. That might help him be effective for Jacksonville throughout the playoffs.		ATT: 291 | YDS: 1,115 | REC: 35 | YDs: 331 TOTAL TDs: 12 By Merril Hoge Special to ESPN.com Robert Edwards has to be, and can be, the impact player for New England to beat Jacksonville. Scott Zolak is a solid backup, but he's not their star quarterback. The Patriots are hurt at wide receiver. They have Tony Simmons and Shawn Jefferson, but Terry Glenn and Troy Brown are out. Not only does Edwards have to boost the Patriots by running the football, he has to catch the ball out of the backfield. He's had some good games, but he has to carry the Patriots more than Fred Taylor will with the Jaguars because Mark Brunell is more than likely to play, but Drew Bledsoe won't be suiting up for New England. The Jaguars have two great wideouts and a lot of weapons, but Edwards and Ben Coates are New England's biggest weapons on offense right now. Edwards, despite being a rookie, has to say he's the man and that they have to give him the football. And he's shown he can do that at times. A long season easier wears on rookies. Edwards is a humble kid and a good player, but this is a new season, and he has to gut it out. If he wants to win the game, that's what he has to do. I don't think the Patriots are capable of winning unless they get a special performance out of somebody on the perimeter. If Edwards catches five or six balls and rushes for 100 yards, New England has a good chance.