Published December 6, 2010

The New York Jets' David Harris (52) stonewalls the Pats' BenJarvus Green-Ellis (42) at New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010. (AP)

With 53 seconds left in the first half, the Patriots looked like AFC champions.

Up 14-7 on the Jets, the Pats were in control and serving notice that New York hype couldn’t overcome New England history.

Of course, it was Week 2, the Jets owned the second half en route to a 28-14 victory, and the Jets proved the preseason buzz around New York was for real.

Tonight, the Pats look to rewind history and win a divisional game as big as any in recent memory.

Both teams sit at 9-2 on the season and are revving their engines for the playoffs. Thanks to that Week 2 collapse, the Jets are currently sitting in first place in the AFC East.

The winner of the Pats-Jets rematch will assume first place in the AFC. Should that team win out, they will be in line for a No. 1 seed, home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, and a first round bye.

If you’re a Pats fan, you’ll watch with glee as Tom Brady targets rookie tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski early and often. If you’re a Jets fan, you’ll delight in watching the Jets running back tandem of LaDanian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene shred the Pats’ D.

Either way, football fans can’t miss this game.

Kickoff is at 8:30 p.m. What’s your prediction for Monday night?