ALLEN PARK -- Matt Patricia is expected to be the next coach of the Detroit Lions. Not that he wants to talk about it.

The New England defensive coordinator didn't want to do it last week, when the Patriots were getting ready to face the Tennessee Titans in the playoffs. And he definitely didn't want to do it Monday either, as the Patriots get ready to face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in the AFC championship game.

"I'm really just in the same place as I was last week," Patricia said on teleconference with reporters. "I went through the process that the NFL allows us to go through, and during the bye week I was able to have the opportunity to talk to a couple teams, which I did. And then I quickly turned my focus to a very good Tennessee team.

"Now I'm onto a very dangerous Jacksonville team."

NFL rules prohibit teams from entering into formal agreements with coaches who remain alive in the playoffs, but all indications are Patricia will be named Detroit's next head coach whenever the Patriots are done playing. That could be as soon as Jan. 22, if they lose on Sunday against Jacksonville. Otherwise Detroit will have to wait until at least Feb. 5.

The Lions interviewed six candidates after firing Jim Caldwell on Black Monday, but none since speaking with Patricia on Jan. 5. That suggests they're in a holding pattern, but their only other candidate who remains untouchable is Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. And they're are not waiting on Pat Shurmur.

The only wrinkle was whether Patricia wanted the Lions back. There were multiple reports last week that said he preferred the Giants job. But those rumors were scuttled this week with an ESPN report that says he's expected to land in Detroit.

The Lions have already told other candidates they did not get the gig, according to MMQB.

Of course, with a date with the Jaguars on tap, Patricia wasn't prepared to talk about any of it Monday afternoon.

"There's things that the league sets out, guidelines, and I followed those when I could," Patricia said. "Fortunately the good part about it for me is those are set up so that I can really focus on my job that I need to do. And that's getting ready for Jacksonville."