By Mike Kahn
CBS SportsLine Executive Editor
Oct. 18, 1998

Leading the AFC East by a half game, the New England Patriots have the biggest fish in the sea at the end of their line for Monday Night.

Now we'll see if they can figure out how to reel in the Big Tuna one more time.

In

Related Links Lurie: Not your typical homecoming Sunday Evening Quarterback Week 7: Injury report Top performers Forum: Will the Jets upset New England?

his second season as coach of the New York Jets after bolting the Patriots, Bill Parcells, the Tuna who fled New England after the Super Bowl loss in 1997, has lost a little bit of his luster in New York. He nurtured his already fertile coaching legacy by taking the Jets -- in 1996 the worst team in the NFL -- to within one game of making the playoffs in 1997. But the Jets have been a big bust so far this season.

SIMMERING ON A 2-3 RECORD heading into this game, the Jets are in danger of falling to fourth place in the division behind the Patriots, Dolphins and even the resurgent Bills, who have bounced back unexpectedly behind Doug Flutie.

There are plenty of theories about the slide, most of which exploded last week in a 30-10 loss at St. Louis to the less-than-intimidating Rams.

Just

Bill Parcells hopes the Jets don't fold against New England. (Allsport)

about everybody is pointing to the unsettled quarterback situation, with Parcells unable to decide between Glenn Foley and Vinny Testaverde. Testaverde has put up better numbers in less action, but neither has proven to be a winner. And with the big off-season signing of running back Curtis Martin (also stolen from New England), the 368 yards rushing look solid. But he has only scored one touchdown.

Those inconsistencies at both ends of the offense only point to one thing, a shaky offensive line. It will be up to Parcells to get them going, if only because the Patriots defense is one of the best in the AFC. As the teams split the two games last year, both were extremely emotional. Not only was it different for Parcells to play against the Patriots, a team he left only because he didn't feel owner Bob Kraft gave him enough control, but it was the first time Patriots coach Pete Carroll had a chance to coach against the Jets.

In case you forgot, Carroll's only other season as a coach was with the Jets in 1994, and he was promptly terminated.

Now he's back, and a far better man because of the experience.

WITH MUTUAL RESPECT CONTINUING TO grow between himself and quarterback Drew Bledsoe, the whispers have ceased for the time being. An exceptional defensive coordinator and assistant in general throughout his career, the rap on Carroll had been that he lacks toughness, organization and the big picture/snap judgment mentality to be a big-game winner.

His first order of business was getting Bledsoe on a winning track and this exceedingly talented but erratic quarterback seems to be smoothing out a bit. His 96.9 efficiency rating is excellent -- with eight touchdowns and just three interceptions. There also is the question of top receiver Terry Glenn, referred to by Parcells as she because he questioned his toughness to play with injuries.

So the theme of the meetings between these two teams remains payback.

Parcells always wants to stick it to Kraft, and there is plenty of certainty Martin is of the same mindset heading into his first game against the Pats.

And all of the Patriots have had it with Parcells.

More important, if the Patriots win, this sticks the Jets at 2-4, three games behind them, two games in back of Miami and even another behind Buffalo. This is a great opportunity for them to stymie the Big Tuna. Yes, there will be nine games left after this week, but that's not the point.

On the surface, you would think an offense with Martin, Testaverde, Keyshawn Johnson and Wayne Chrebet would be explosive enough to beat anybody. They are. Much to the lament of Parcells, they also need help from the rest of the team. Perhaps the concept that this is a must-win game will be enough for Parcells to arouse this crew.

There's only one problem.

This group of Patriots is too good at home for them to handle.