FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The last time the New England Patriots faced the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tom Brady completed 26 of 28 passes in a playoff game.

That kind of performance by Brady on Sunday should be enough to get the Patriots back into the postseason and, depending on the outcomes of other games, knock the Jaguars out of contention.

The Patriots won that divisional playoff game two seasons ago 31-20. This season, they haven’t lost at home and another win would clinch the AFC East after they missed last season’s playoffs despite going 11-5.

“It doesn’t matter what everybody else does,” coach Bill Belichick said. “If we win on Sunday, then we’ve achieved one of our goals this year.”

Jacksonville needs help from others to have a shot at the playoffs after losing three of four games following a 6-4 start.

“They can’t be must-wins and you keep losing,” quarterback David Garrard said. “They’ve got to be must-wins and you win one. That time is here and hopefully it happens this weekend, but there are no guarantees.”

Denver and Baltimore lead the crowded race for the two AFC wild-card spots at 8-6. Jacksonville is one of six teams at 7-7. The Jaguars missed the playoffs last year with a 5-11 record after getting eliminated the previous season when Brady threw for three touchdowns and two incompletions.

“Their defensive identity has changed quite a bit,” Brady said. “They have a new coordinator who’s brought, definitely, a different style to their defense and they’re much more of a blitzing defense.”

Brady, whose 2008 season ended with a knee injury in the opener, has played far below his level of 2007, when he threw an NFL-record 50 touchdown passes. In his last two games, he has totals of 307 yards passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions, but the Patriots won both to take a two-game lead in the AFC East with two games left.

“Our goals are still ahead of us and we have some great opportunities. Like all of us, I’ve battled some adversities,” Brady said. “A lot of it is being mentally tough and bouncing back from things that don’t necessarily go our way and then being able to just continue to respond.”

The Patriots (9-5) have bounced back from three losses in four games. But their latest wins were against two of the NFL’s weaker teams, 20-10 over Carolina and 17-10 over Buffalo.

Brady has been dealing with injuries to his ribs and a finger on his right hand. The running game, behind Laurence Maroney, has been productive, and the young defense has come through after some mediocre performances.

The Jaguars could be just the opponent for Brady to regain his old touch. They’re last in the NFL with 14 sacks and have three rookie starters on defense, including cornerback Derek Cox. He’ll have to stop Brady from completing passes to Randy Moss, who is tied for fifth in the league with 1,144 yards receiving and has 74 catches, 10 for touchdowns.

“It’s not like I can get away from that,” Cox said. “I’ve seen these guys before on TV. I’m not in awe at all. I’m here to play football.”

These are not the dominant Patriots who went 18-0 before losing the Super Bowl at the end of the 2007 season.

“They’re finding ways to win without blowing teams out,” Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis said. “We commend them on that effort, but we can’t think in our head that we’re playing the ‘championship Patriots.’ We’re playing the Patriots of ’09, and that’s how you look at it.

“If you give a team too much respect, you’re going to get your doors blown off. You can’t allow yourself to think that way and be successful.”

Garrard threw for three touchdowns in his last game, a 35-31 loss, but a late interception ruined the Jaguars’ chances of ending Indianapolis’ unbeaten season.

He’s been knocked down more than any quarterback, but is a threat running with 273 yards on 68 attempts.

“You’ve just got to really be disciplined in your rush lanes,” Patriots defensive end Jarvis Green said. “He’s very dangerous.”

Not nearly as dangerous as Maurice Jones-Drew, the NFL leader with 16 touchdowns and third with 1,246 yards rushing. He became the featured running back when the Jaguars released Fred Taylor after last season. Taylor signed with the Patriots and missed the last 10 games with an ankle injury, but participated fully in his first practice for Sunday’s matchup.

“I think the organization felt great about the contributions he made here for the time that he was here,” Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio said, “but it was time for more of Maurice, so that’s what we elected to do. And he’s delivered and had a great year for us.”

Jones-Drew’s work will be tougher if nose tackle Vince Wilfork, who missed last Sunday’s game with a foot injury, and defensive end Ty Warren, who sat out with an ankle injury, return to their starting spots. Both resumed practicing Wednesday.

The last time the Jaguars and Patriots played, Wilfork and Warren each had six tackles and Warren sacked Garrard in the playoff win at New England.

“It gave us even more experience,” Garrard said, “especially when the game’s on the line and (with) a playoff atmosphere and playoffs, period, just being able to battle with some of the greats in this league. They’re not invincible, even though they’re very good.

“We’ve got a good team, too, so we shouldn’t be scared to step up to anybody.”

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