The New England Patriots had a week away from the playoff spotlight, so they might have slid to the back of some folks’ minds.

But the oddsmakers didn’t forget. They made the Patriots 131â2-point favorites for their first playoff game, at home Saturday night against Jacksonville. The Jaguars earned a trip to Foxborough by beating Pittsburgh, 31-29, last week after losing an 18-point fourth-quarter lead.

For a month now, the Jaguars have been considered a team equipped to give the Patriots a game, built for northern climes in January because they can rush the ball. Last Saturday night, the most important run came from quarterback David Garrard, who went 32 yards on fourth-and-2 to set up Josh Scobee’s winning field goal.

But otherwise, running was a problem for the Jaguars.

Garrard was their leading rusher. Fred Taylor averaged only 3 yards a carry, and Maurice Jones-Drew did most of his damage with a 96-yard kickoff return and a 43-yard run with a short pass for a touchdown. Overall, Jacksonville had just 239 yards from scrimmage against a Pittsburgh defense at less than full strength.

That won’t work against the Patriots, who set an NFL record this season with 589 points – almost 37 a game. In other words, to beat New England, you have to outscore it, something Jacksonville isn’t equipped to do.

And listen to Jack Del Rio gush.

“I think it’s probably the greatest collection of talent in coaching that’s ever been assembled. I think they’ve got really an all-star cast. I think you’ve got some certain Hall of Fame players,” the Jacksonville coach said this week. “You’ve got a whole slew of all-stars and Pro Bowl-type guys and the coaching staff is very strong. We’ve got a lot of respect for what they’ve been able to accomplish, not only this year, but over the last five or six years.”

Sounds like he doesn’t expect to win.

He’s probably right.

PATRIOTS, 33-17

New York Giants (plus 71â2) at Dallas

The Giants may have the best shot of all the road underdogs.

They have an eight-game road winning streak that started after an opening night loss at Texas Stadium. And they have momentum from a three-point loss to New England and an impressive playoff victory in Tampa.

New York also is peaking at a time when Dallas is sluggish and its most dangerous offensive weapon, Terrell Owens, is a question mark with a high ankle sprain.

A tentative pick …

COWBOYS, 29-27

San Diego (plus 9) at Indianapolis

Throw out the wacky game in the San Diego rain in which Peyton Manning threw six interceptions and Adam Vinatieri missed an easy field goal that could have won the game for the Colts.

Instead, look back to the game these two played in the RCA Dome in 2005, when the Chargers ended the Colts’ 13-0 run. They won 26-17 because they succeeded in pressuring Manning with Shawne Merriman, Shaun Phillips, Igor Olshansky and others.

Will Indy be rusty?

Not enough to lose.

COLTS, 26-17

Seattle (plus 8) at Green Bay

One of the overlooked aspects of winter weather is that it neutralizes defensive speed as well as offensive speed.

That could be to the detriment of the Seahawks, who used the defensive speed to their advantage against the Redskins last week.

PACKERS, 21-16