Jones: Patriots Haven't Been Good In Rematch Games, But Won't Matter Vs. Colts
BOSTON (CBS) -- The New England Patriots beat up on the Indianapolis Colts 42-20 back in Week 11, and will now host Andrew Luck and company in Sunday's AFC Championship game at Gillette Stadium.
A postseason rematch against a regular season opponent is nothing new for the Patriots, but they haven't had as much success as one would hope in such games. Under Bill Belichick, the team is 9-8 in the playoffs when facing a team they played in the regular season -- accounting for all eight of Belichick's postseason losses.
Here is a look at those eight losses (courtesy of Mike Reiss, ESPNBoston):
2013 AFC Championship -- 26-16 loss to Broncos
2012 AFC Championship -- 28-13 loss to Ravens
Super Bowl XLVI -- 21-17 loss to Giants
2010 divisional -- 28-21 loss to Jets
2009 wild card -- 33-14 loss to Ravens
Super Bowl XLII -- 17-14 loss to Giants
2006 AFC Championship -- 38-34 loss to Colts
2005 divisional -- 27-13 loss to Broncos
98.5 The Sports Hub's Adam Jones discussed this trend on Wednesday night's show, but doesn't think this weekend fits the mold of those eight losses.
"Here is where I don't think this game fits the profile of any of the eight losses. You go back and look, a lot of the losses were games the Patriots also lost in the regular season," said Jones, pointing out the Giants in 2011, Colts in 2006 and Broncos in 2005.
The Patriots have won their regular season matchup but then lost to that opponent in the postseason four times: 2013 vs. Broncos, 2010 vs. Jets (1-1 in two game vs Jets), 2009 vs. Ravens and 2007 vs. Giants.
But Jones says that history won't be repeating itself come Sunday.
"This game earlier this year, they blew out Indy at Indy. All three meetings against them since Andrew Luck came into the league, the Patriots are outscoring them 144-66. They've absolutely dominated that matchup, so I don't think history applies," said Jones. "They don't fit the profile of a team who gave the Patriots a tough game in the regular season and/or beat them in the regular season. They've been blown out the last three times they've played them.
"I have a hard time believing the Colts are going to be the 2010 Jets, or the Broncos from last season or the Ravens the season before that," said Jones. "They're not that kind of team, and it hasn't been competitive on the field whatsoever."
Listen to the discussion below:
MORE PATRIOTS COVERAGE FROM CBS BOSTON
