Foxboro — New England's Mac Jones and Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence, both rookie quarterbacks, first crossed paths in high school.

That much Jones would reveal Wednesday, days before they'll go head-to-head in a game that could help the Patriots clinch a playoff berth.

But here's what Jones omitted: he's taken Lawrence down on a big stage before.

According to The Athletic, Jones targeted Lawrence, the top-ranked high school prospect throughout their pre-college days, during a summer camp for elite recruits. Then a three-star prospect, Jones not only wanted to prove he belonged among the nation's best passers, but he was No. 1. Beating Lawrence was his ticket to such recognition.

Throwing into nets from various distances, both on the move and while stationary, Jones dominated Lawrence in the final round of the camp's passing competition.

Fast forward, and Jones and Lawrence will meet Sunday in the penultimate round of the regular season. The Patriots are on the verge of the postseason, with Jacksonville tracking for another No. 1 overall pick in the draft. In Jones, Lawrence says he sees the same quarterback who beat him out all those summers ago.

"He's been very accurate, great decision maker," Lawrence told local reporters this week. "Taking care of the ball and putting them in a bunch of situations to win a lot of games. So I think that's a big part, obviously, of their success. Quarterback has to play well."

In Lawrence, the Patriots see a younger version of the quarterback who killed them last weekend: Josh Allen.

Lawrence, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound dual-threat passer, has been actively involved in the Jaguars' run game this season. With leading rusher James Robinson knocked out last weekend by a torn Achilles, it's conceivable Jacksonville's staff will incorporate more quarterback runs and/or option calls into their game plan. There's also the matter of Lawrence scrambling, which could cause problems for a Patriots defense that allowed Allen to rumble for 65 yards on 12 carries in Sunday's loss.

When Allen was a rookie in 2018, the Pats' chief defensive focus was keeping him in the pocket, understanding Allen couldn't consistently hurt them as a dropback passer. This season, Lawrence has completed 58.7% of his passes at fewer than six yards per attempt.

"Obviously, a big kid, big arm, really strong arm. Can whip the ball, can make all the throws," Bill Belichick said Wednesday. "Pretty fast, runs well. He does a good job of spreading the ball around. He uses all of his receivers. I'd say he's hit his fair share of deep balls. Looks like a really good prospect."

Lawrence's struggles — which include throwing one touchdown pass since Halloween — highlight the limitations of being a rookie quarterback in the NFL. Ultimately, no rookie is equipped to overcome the power of his circumstances, particularly a midseason coaching change (see: Meyer, Urban) and some of the worst surrounding roster talent in the NFL. Still, Lawrence's raw talent is enough to put the Patriots defense on high alert, understanding one pinpoint throw Sunday could lead to six points.

"Trevor Lawrence does a good job of, if he sees it downfield, he's confident in his arm throwing it, taking shots," Pats captain Devin McCourty said. "And for good reason."

Jones, on the other hand, has moved the offense more often with his pre-snap processing, his quick release and his accuracy, which is unparalleled among rookies and even across the larger league — though he has struggled lately, with Buffalo limiting his preferred targets last weekend and Indianapolis jumping him for two interceptions the week before.

To release the pressure defenses are putting on the box, to halt the Patriots' run game and crowd Jones' preferred targets within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage, the rookie may need to play more like Lawrence. Take downfield shots to threaten defenses, and use his legs to get outside the pocket on rollouts or even scramble, as he did four times versus Buffalo, a rare instance where it may behoove the Pats to take a page out of Jacksonville's playbook.

"They're gonna do a good job of protecting Lawrence and putting him in situations where he can be on the move and run and stuff like that," said Pats linebacker Dont'a Hightower.

Hightower added he doesn't know much more about Lawrence beyond what he saw at Clemson, where the long-haired, big-armed quarterback won a national championship and reached another title game. Jones, of course, does, having competed with Lawrence well before he became a big man on camps.

Sunday will simply mark another chapter in their head-to-head series, when Jones will look to avoid a major upset years after pulling off one of his own.

"He's a great person, I know he's a great leader," Jones said of Lawrence. "Obviously, we're both rookies and we're learning along the way together, but it is fun to watch the crossover tape and see how well he's been doing."