In a way, this game is about the quarterbacks. Two quarterbacks, from opposite ends of the productivity spectrum, diametrically opposed in just about every way facing off in the AFC Championship Game. The last time the were one game away from a , they faced the in Foxborough, Ma sachusetts, and was 4 years old. Now, 21 years later, he'll be under center at Gillette Stadium trying to match wits with . Luckily for Bortles, this isn't just a referendum on the quarterbacks; the Jaguars feature one of the 's best defenses -- a young, brash, physical group that isn't easily intimidated. And outside of Brady, and maybe , the Patriots are a mishmash players that range in abilities from replacement-level to good. Bill Belichick's ability to consistently get more out of his roster than any other coach in the league goes a long way in explaining why the Patriots are making their seventh consecutive AFC title game appearance. Now the question becomes whether this Jaguars outfit, which combined for only 11 wins in Bortles' first three seasons, can take down the Pats ... in Foxborough ... against Brady and Belichick, who are arguably sharper Kolton Miller Jersey now than ever. How to Watch Who:Jaguars vs. Patriots Where:Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Ma sachusetts When:Sunday, Jan. 21, 3:05 p.m. ET TV:CBS Stream: Which Blake Bortles will show up in Foxborough? Heading into the 2017 season, there was little reason to expect Blake Bortles to be anything more than the not-even-close-to-replacement-level quarterback he had shown himself to be during his first three NFL seasons. In a word, the former third overall pick had been . As a rookie in 2014, Bortles in total value among all quarterbacks, according to Football Outsiders' metrics. He improved to 25th in total value in 2015, when he threw 35 touchdowns along with 18 interceptions and five lost fumbles. And if last season was among his most disappointing -- Bortles had 23 touchdowns, 16 interceptions and six fumbles and there were constant calls to bench him for -- this season has been a feel-good redemption story. In December, rookie running back went so far as to call Bortles a "top-five quarterback," while defensive end took it a few steps further. "These last couple of games he's playing amazing," Campbell said at the time. "He looks like Brady these last couple games. I know Tom Brady does it all the time, but these last couple games, Blake was out there leading the team, playing confident and having fun." The reality is closer to this: Bortles has gone from being a liability to something better than that. In statistical terms: After ranking among Richard Seymour Jersey the NFL's worst quarterbacks during his first three seasons, Bortles was average in 2017. According to Football Outsiders, he was precisely replacement-level, ranking 15th in total value and 16th in value per play, just ahead of and . This is a huge development, one that has benefited not only the rest of the offense, but put le s pre sure on the defense to pitch something close to a shutout every time they take the field. (Though, to hear this defense tell it, they welcome that sort of pre sure.) In previous years, we were talking about Bortles' terrible mechanics and elongated throwing motion -- behold this popular tweet from October 2016: Quick comparison of throwing motions, Derek v Blake Safe Gipsy (@GipsySafety) And here was Bortles in the Jaguars' convincing Week 14 victory over the : Dimes. finds z-#Sacksonville (@Jaguars) This wasn't some meaningle s completion Gene Upshaw Jersey with the game already decided; Bortles connected with on that 29-yard reception on third-and-3 with seven minutes to go in the game, only four plays after the Seahawks scored a touchdown to cut the lead to 27-17. Four plays later, the Jaguars would kick a field goal and hold on for the 30-24 victory. This wasn't an isolated incident, either. Here's Bortles last Sunday, in Pittsburgh, after the had cut a 21-point deficit to seven with just over four minutes to go in the game. Jaguars extend the lead 42-28 z-#Sacksonville (@Jaguars) It's an amazing play call -- defenses rarely account for fullbacks coming out of the backfield as lead blockers because there are so many bodies between the line of scrimmage and the secondary -- and the execution is even better. First by fullback , and then by Bortles, who throws a perfectly weighted pa s. This is a quarterback playing with confidence. And there's good reason for that confidence. It starts with a revitalized running game, which ranked 28th a season ago. The Jaguars drafted Leonard Fournette fourth overall last spring and the running game has Malcolm Koonce Jersey improved to 12th. Fournette torched the Steelers for 181 yards and two touchdowns in their Week 5 meeting and on Sunday picked up where he left off. He rumbled for 109 yards and three more scores, and even when Pittsburgh knew Fournette was coming it was helple s to do anything about it -- not once during the game was Fournette stopped without first gaining positive yardage. The Patriots' defense might not have the athleticism of the Steelers' but they will be better disciplined in their responsibilities. Which means they will focus on stopping Fournette and forcing Bortles to beat them through the air. But here's the thing: The Pats have to first stop Fournette. Because if the running game has any succe s, it opens things up for the play-action pa s. In previous years, the terms "play-action pa s" and "Blake Bortles" didn't instill fear in the hearts of opponents -- and chances are it still doesn't. But maybe it should. During the regular season, Bortles ranked eighth in the NFL in pa ser rating (106.8) when throwing out of play-action, according to Pro Football Focus. That's better than , Tom Brady and . Even in the wild-card matchup against the , which resulted in only 13 total points and featured a underwhelming effort by Bortles, the succe s he did have came -- you gue sed it -- in play-action situations. 3 biggest pa s plays for the vs BUF... Seems to be a bit of a trend! Use play action to open up the middle of the field!! Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) Bortles doesn't have a legitimate go-to receiver but that might be le s a bug than a feature in an offense that starts with the running game and leans heavily on play-action. As it turns out, the Patriots have been terrible against all manner of receivers (whether it's the No. 1, No. 2 or Clelin Ferrell Jersey other wideouts, New England at defending them). And they're worse against the run (30th overall) than the pa s. Can the NFL's best defense stop Tom Brady? Second-year cornerback might be our favorite player. Partly because he opponents, and partly because he doesn't suffer fools well.Here he is in early December, days before the Jaguars were set to beat up on the Seahawks, and Ramsey was asked if this would be a sta