FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- When the New England Patriots' defense stops an opponent on third down, there is often a surge of energy on the field among players before they race to the sideline as the punt team comes on.
But things might be different in Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The reason: A third-down stop doesn't necessarily mean the drive is over.
"Yeah, Bill [Belichick] said that in a meeting the other day, that they are a team who is not scared to go for it on fourth down," noted safety Devin McCourty, one of the team's captains.