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Home , Eric Decker, Marty Schottenheimer, New York Jets, Thursday Night Football

AFC NOTES FOR USE AS DESIRED FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, 10/20/15 CONTACT: JON ZIMMER http://twitter.com/NFL345

JETS-PATRIOTS HIGHLIGHTS WEEK 7 NFL SLATE FEATURING 5 DIVISION MATCHUPS

In the NFL, all 16 games on the schedule are critical. But those six division games take on added significance.

“It’s going to turn around pretty quick with these Jets,” said Patriots after the Patriots’ 34-27 win at Indianapolis on night. “We’re playing for first place this week, so we need everybody ready to go.”

The NFL’s Week 7 schedule, which features five division games, kicks off with an NFC West battle between the and on .

DIVISION GAME DATE TIME NETWORK NFC West Seattle at San Francisco Thursday, October 22 8:25 PM ET CBS/NFLN NFC North Minnesota at Detroit Sunday, October 25 1:00 PM ET FOX AFC East Jets at New England Sunday, October 25 1:00 PM ET CBS AFC West Oakland at San Diego Sunday, October 25 4:05 PM ET CBS NFC East Dallas at Sunday, October 25 4:25 PM ET FOX

“I think the significance of your divisional games is well-known and well-stated,” says Giants head coach TOM COUGHLIN, whose team will host NFC East rival Dallas this Sunday. “I think the excitement of playing within the division is always there.”

The undefeated (5-0) will host the (4-1) at 1:00 PM on Sunday afternoon in a crucial AFC East contest. The two club’s combined winning percentage of .900 is the second-highest heading into a game featuring these two teams this late in the season. In 2004, both teams were undefeated coming into their Week 7 meeting in New England, which the Patriots won by a score of 13-7 en route to a 14-2 record and XXXIX title.

“You’ve got to win divisional games to get into the playoffs,” says Jets . “Everyone knows New England’s the champions. They’re undefeated right now. They’ve played good football. It’s going to be a challenge for us.”

No team has proven more adept at winning division games in recent years than New England, which has an NFL-best 25- 6 (.806) record in division games over the past five seasons.

The teams with the best division records over the past five seasons (since 2010):

TEAM DIVISION RECORD WIN PCT. OVERALL RECORD WIN PCT. New England Patriots 25-6-0 .806 68-17-0 .800 Bay Packers 24-6-1 .790 62-23-1 .727 25-8-0 .758 48-38-0 .558 Broncos 23-9-0 .719 56-30-0 .651 20-11-0 .645 55-31-0 .640

The Patriots’ sustained run of success in and out of the division begins with the head coach- combination of Belichick and . Brady has won more division titles than any other starting quarterback in NFL history (12), and Belichick’s .669 career winning percentage against division opponent ranks fourth among NFL head coaches since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger (minimum 60 games). Belichick’s 85 division wins rank fifth during that span, and he leads active head coaches in both categories.

The head coaches with the highest winning percentage against division opponents since 1970 (minimum 60 games):

HEAD COACH TEAM(S) W-L-T WIN PCT. George Allen L.A. Rams, Washington 42-18-2 .700 Minnesota 69-31-1 .688 Dallas 101-46-0 .687 Bill Belichick Cleveland, New England 85-42-0 .669 Cleveland, Kansas City, San Diego, Washington 95-51-0 .651 Note: Ties prior to 1972 not included in winning percentage.

The head coaches with the most wins against division opponents since 1970:

HEAD COACH TEAM(S) WINS VS. DIVISION OPPONENTS Miami 132 Tom Landry Dallas 101 Atlanta, Denver, New York Giants 95 Marty Schottenheimer Cleveland, Kansas City, San Diego, Washington 95 Bill Belichick Cleveland, New England 85

For the Jets and Patriots, this week’s game is critical to obtaining an early edge in the AFC East, but can also help build confidence for the rematch to follow on December 27. The clubs will meet again in Week 16 in New York, and the division title may very well be on the line.

“You know ultimately at the end of the day, coming down the stretch you’re going to have to beat those teams in your division,” says NFL Network analyst and former NFL MVP quarterback . “To go in and beat them early, gain that confidence, get a lead on them, becomes so important. At the end of the day, you just have to win your division. Anytime you can gain that confidence or that edge over those teams, especially early in the season, it’s huge.”

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