Phillieshome.com | Philadelphia Phillies News, phillies Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div>"I'm not the biggest guy in the world. I don't have that many tools. If you saw me walking down the street, you wouldn't think I'm a Baseball player." </div>DUSTIN PEDROIA, Boston second baseman and the AL MVP. JAGS TO RICHES? WINTER MAGIC The Jaguars are 4-6, and most fans and prognosticators have written them off. That's understandable, but the Jaguars were in an even bigger hole 12 years ago before reeling off five wins in a row - and six victories in their last seven regular-season games - to make the playoffs. You probably remember what happened next as the Jaguars made the AFC championship game. Here's a look at the last six weeks of the Jaguars' regular season in 1996 and 2008. The road to a winning record is a little tougher this time. The record of the Jaguars' final six opponents was 26-34 in 1996, but this year it's 30-30. A 9-7 record might not be enough to make the AFC playoffs this year, but here's a look what the Jaguars did in 1996 and the road they face this season: Week Week Week Week Week Week Year 12 13 14 15 16 17 1996 at Steelers at Ravens Bengals at Oilers Seahawks Falcons (7-3) (3-7) (4-6) (6-4) (5-5) (1-9) Result L, 28-3 W, 28-25 W, 30-27 W, 23-17 W, 20-13 W, 19-17 (OT) Record 4-6 2008 Vikings at Texans at Bears Packers Colts at Ravens (5-5) (3-7) (5-5) (5-5) (6-4) (6-4) Record 4-6 SURPRISE CHAMPIONS It's Week 12 in the NFL, and there's still no clear favorite. Titans, Giants, Steelers - take your pick. It's another example of how it's become more difficult to predict the champions in the major sports. In the 1990s and early 2000s, the heavily favored teams lived up to the hype most of the time. The Chicago Bulls, Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees and New England Patriots dominated. Some might argue that the Patriots were big underdogs during their first Super Bowl win against the St. Louis Rams or that the Bulls didn't have the look of a champion until they beat the Lakers to start their title run. That's true. But these teams became winners and then sustained dynasties for many years. The reigning champions in the major sports have been surprises - the New York Giants, Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia Phillies . All come from major markets, but all were underrated coming into the regular season and the playoffs. Conventional wisdom had all three of these champions losing to teams with better talent, more chemistry or more playoff experience. The Giants, Celtics and Phillies had another quality in common. Momentum - or Uncle Mo, as we call it in the office - was very important as these teams peaked at just the right time. The Giants grabbed one of the last playoff spots, then upset one team after another before shocking the unbeaten Patriots. The Celtics appeared unseasoned in surviving a first-round series against the Hawks, and then they found their confidence while the prognosticators doubted them. The Phillies surprised the Dodgers, then beat the upstart Rays, because the other favorites - the Red Sox and Angels - couldn't live up to the hype. There's never been a worse time to be the favorite. 2 CENTS JoePa plans to be back in 2009. The only ones who really should be worried are the rest of the Big Ten and Florida State fans. The rest of us shouldn't have a problem with Joe Paterno returning to a job that he has done most of his life - particularly when he's still very good at it. At 81 years old, Paterno has motivated, inspired and delegated the team to an 11-1 record and a trip to the Rose Bowl. Ohio State and Michigan fans might not be happy to see a resurgent Penn State. FSU fans hoping coach Bobby Bowden, 79, would pass Paterno in all-time wins might be annoyed as well. (Paterno led Bowden by two wins going into Saturday.) But Nittany Lions fans were very happy at pep rally to hear Paterno say that he would return and "run out of that tunnel next year," according to the Associated Press. My only complaint in the Paterno-Bowden wins chase is that they haven't been open about it. Here, you have two coaches who have been competitors most of their lives. Of course, they both want to end up No. 1. They can respect each other - even be coaching friends - while still wanting to be on top in the record books. There's nothing wrong with that. Compiled by DAVID JOHNSON/The Times-Union

"I'm not the biggest guy in the world. I don't have that many tools. If you saw me walking down the street, you wouldn't think I'm a Baseball player."

DUSTIN PEDROIA, Boston second baseman and the AL MVP.

JAGS TO RICHES?

WINTER MAGIC

The Jaguars are 4-6, and most fans and prognosticators have written them off. That's understandable, but the Jaguars were in an even bigger hole 12 years ago before reeling off five wins in a row - and six victories in their last seven regular-season games - to make the playoffs. You probably remember what happened next as the Jaguars made the AFC championship game.

Here's a look at the last six weeks of the Jaguars' regular season in 1996 and 2008. The road to a winning record is a little tougher this time. The record of the Jaguars' final six opponents was 26-34 in 1996, but this year it's 30-30.

A 9-7 record might not be enough to make the AFC playoffs this year, but here's a look what the Jaguars did in 1996 and the road they face this season:

Week Week Week Week Week Week

Year 12 13 14 15 16 17

1996 at Steelers at Ravens Bengals at Oilers Seahawks Falcons

(7-3) (3-7) (4-6) (6-4) (5-5) (1-9)

Result L, 28-3 W, 28-25 W, 30-27 W, 23-17 W, 20-13 W, 19-17

(OT)

Record

4-6

2008 Vikings at Texans at Bears Packers Colts at Ravens

(5-5) (3-7) (5-5) (5-5) (6-4) (6-4)

Record

4-6

SURPRISE CHAMPIONS

It's Week 12 in the NFL, and there's still no clear favorite. Titans, Giants, Steelers - take your pick. It's another example of how it's become more difficult to predict the champions in the major sports.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, the heavily favored teams lived up to the hype most of the time. The Chicago Bulls, Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees and New England Patriots dominated.

Some might argue that the Patriots were big underdogs during their first Super Bowl win against the St. Louis Rams or that the Bulls didn't have the look of a champion until they beat the Lakers to start their title run.

That's true. But these teams became winners and then sustained dynasties for many years.

The reigning champions in the major sports have been surprises - the New York Giants, Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia Phillies .

All come from major markets, but all were underrated coming into the regular season and the playoffs. Conventional wisdom had all three of these champions losing to teams with better talent, more chemistry or more playoff experience.

The Giants, Celtics and Phillies had another quality in common. Momentum - or Uncle Mo, as we call it in the office - was very important as these teams peaked at just the right time.

The Giants grabbed one of the last playoff spots, then upset one team after another before shocking the unbeaten Patriots.

The Celtics appeared unseasoned in surviving a first-round series against the Hawks, and then they found their confidence while the prognosticators doubted them.

The Phillies surprised the Dodgers, then beat the upstart Rays, because the other favorites - the Red Sox and Angels - couldn't live up to the hype.

There's never been a worse time to be the favorite.

2 CENTS

JoePa plans to be back in 2009. The only ones who really should be worried are the rest of the Big Ten and Florida State fans.

The rest of us shouldn't have a problem with Joe Paterno returning to a job that he has done most of his life - particularly when he's still very good at it.

At 81 years old, Paterno has motivated, inspired and delegated the team to an 11-1 record and a trip to the Rose Bowl.

Ohio State and Michigan fans might not be happy to see a resurgent Penn State.

FSU fans hoping coach Bobby Bowden, 79, would pass Paterno in all-time wins might be annoyed as well. (Paterno led Bowden by two wins going into Saturday.)

But Nittany Lions fans were very happy at pep rally to hear Paterno say that he would return and "run out of that tunnel next year," according to the Associated Press.

My only complaint in the Paterno-Bowden wins chase is that they haven't been open about it. Here, you have two coaches who have been competitors most of their lives.

Of course, they both want to end up No. 1. They can respect each other - even be coaching friends - while still wanting to be on top in the record books.

There's nothing wrong with that.

Compiled by DAVID JOHNSON/The Times-Union