By Simon Evans
MIAMI (Reuters) - Quarterback Tom Brady faces the team he says he "hates" on Sunday when the New England Patriots visit the New York Jets in one of the NFL's great rivalries.
There is a 50-year tradition to the clashes between the two teams who first met back in 1960 in the old AFL when they were known as the Boston Patriots and the New York Titans.
Now, the bitter adversaries are guaranteed to meet twice a year in the AFC East.
Familiarity has bred contempt for Brady, who in the midst of the hype over the Jets' pre-season reality TV show told a Boston radio station he refused to watch the program because he "hates the Jets."
Brady attempted to put that comment into context this week, saying the lack of affection is widespread in Boston.
"I will say I have respect for the Jets because I think they play extremely hard and they are very well-coached," he said. "It's just the way the rivalry is. I don't think there are a lot of Boston people who like New York people.
"The Red Sox-Yankees rivalry goes back a long ways. Over the years, there have been very competitive football games played between the two of us."
The Jets are smarting from their 10-9 home defeat to Baltimore last week while the Patriots come into the game on the back of a convincing 38-24 win over visiting Cincinnati.
The teams enter the game deadlocked at 50-50-1 in all-time meetings, including two postseason games, and split the annual series last season.
While the Miami Dolphins, who are at the Minnesota Vikings this week, hope to have some say in the outcome of the AFC East, this match-up will give a strong indication of who is the favorite.
The Jets will need to improve their offense based on their woeful display against the Ravens.
Elsewhere, the Manning Brothers meet up as Peyton's Indianapolis Colts take on Eli's New York Giants. The Colts are aiming to bounce back from their opening-day defeat at the Houston Texans.
The Texans travel north to take on the Washington Redskins, who enjoyed a promising start with new quarterback Donovan McNabb in their season-opening win over the Dallas Cowboys.
Philadelphia Eagles' Michael Vick is set for his first start at quarterback since New Years Eve, 2006, completing his long return from his 18-month jail term when he takes over from the injured Kevin Kolb at Detroit.
The defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints are at the San Francisco 49ers on Monday.
(Editing by Steve Ginsburg)
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