Did Belichick Want Jacksonville?

Happy New Year! And, for my first blog of '06, did Bill Belichick decide that it would be easier for his Patriots to host the Jacksonville Jaguars instead of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Wild Card Game this Saturday? Because I think he did. Look at how he coached the game. Aside from benching most of his starters -- which was the obvious move considering New England has no bye-week entering the playoffs this year -- Belichick seemed to treat winning as a secondary motive. First, as the team was coming back in the fourth quarter, he allowed back-up quarterback Doug Flutie to attempt a drop-kick extra point. The old fashioned boot was successful (the first in the NFL since 1941) but if a team was going for the win, wouldn't they try to make a more concerted effort to good on the PAT? Then, after Tom Brady's understudy Matt Cassel led the offense to a last second touchdown, the subsequent two-point conversion try -- which would have sent the game to overtime -- did not look to be a play that was designed to score. With two receivers to his right, Cassel rolled right and just sailed the pass out-of-bounds. Did Belichick tell the rookie from USC that in spite of his great efforts on the day, to let that last pass fly? It wouldn't shock me if he did and the reason why is that it would have been the right move. Regardless of what happens in the game, the Pats stand a better chance of beating the Jaguars in the Wild Card Game than they would the Steelers. Like the Pats, Pittsburgh is getting healthy at playoff time. There is a better chance with the inexperienced Jags. Call me crazy, but this may have been one of Belichick's better decisions.