Patriots Advance to third Super Bowl in four years

With 14:19 remaining in the game, a trip to the Super Bowl on the line and trailing 20-10 Tom Brady and the Patriots never panicked, after-all they had been in position many times before. It was at that moment in the game that things began to look up for the New England Patriots as they began what seemed to be their latest come-from-behind victory. That was until Dion Lewis fumbled the ball following a 20-yard reception.

Jacksonville ball with 13:37 left.

The Patriots aren’t newbies when it comes to finding ways to make a late comeback. Tom Brady himself has 42 fourth quarter comebacks and 53 game-winning drives. But when it seemed as if Jacksonville was minutes away from their first ever Super Bowl berth, Brady never folded. Brady could be seen walking up and down the sideline yelling at members of the Patriots offense. What was said is unknown but one thing we do know, it worked.

The Patriots defense was able to hold the Jaguars to a 3-and-out on the following possession and Brady – widely considered one the greatest football players of all time – went to work. Brady and the Patriots offense orchestrated an 8-play 85-yard drive that resulted in a 9-yard touchdown pass from Brady to Danny Amendola.

But the Patriots weren’t done yet. Still trailing 20-17 the Patriots defense was able to hold Jacksonville to 21 yards on 8 plays on the Jaguars next two drives and forced them to punt from their own end-zone. In what proved to be a game-changing play, Amendola fielded the Jaguars punt at the 50 yard-line and maneuvered his way 20 yards downfield, setting up Brady and the Patriots in opponent’s territory.

Up to this point the Patriots needed several big time plays to go their way to give them a chance of making a comeback. Brady completed a 21-yard pass on third-and-18 during a drive that resulted in a touchdown that cut the Jaguar’s lead to three. A 31-yard completion from Brady to Phillip Dorsett coming off of a flea flicker set up the Patriots deep in Jaguars territory. The Patriot’s defense was able to force three three-and-outs in the second half. And a stifling run defense forced Jacksonville to punt from their own end-zone late in the game which set up the Patriots at the Jaguars 30-yard line. All of that led up to this point. Brady took the snap and rifled a pass high into the back of the end-zone and to a place where only his receiver could get to it.

What happened next is rivaled only by Julian Edelman’s catch late in last year’s Super Bowl. A leaping Amendola was able to corral Brady’s pass and in textbook fashion, stretched out his legs to ensure he was able to get two feet inbounds. Touchdown Patriots. The catch was spectacular and impressed everyone who watched it, even Tom Brady. “It was great. [Danny Amendola] has made so many big catches. I saw he got the one foot in and I just saw it up on the big screen one time. He’s got great hands and just a great sense of where he’s at on the field. … This was huge” Brady said.

Even Patriot’s coach Bill Belichick expressed praise for the wide receiver. “When you look up ‘good football player’ in the dictionary [Amendola’s] picture is right there beside it” he said.

Now leading 24-20 the Patriots sent their defense onto the field with a chance to seal the game. The Patriot’s defense has been the center of much scrutiny over the course of the season. Once ranked last in the NFL, the Patriots defense was able to flip the switch in the second half of the season and finished fifth in opponents points per game. But Matt Patricia’s defense faced one of their toughest challenges this season when the Jaguars took over at the 25 yard-line with 2:48 remaining.

The Patriot’s ‘bend but don’t break’ style of defense proved successful when New England newcomer Stephon Gilmore made a diving pass deflection on fourth-and-14. Patriot’s ball. Ballgame.

Of his team’s comeback victory Belichick said, “They battled. They kept competing. In the end we made enough plays in all three phases of the game. A lot of guys stepped up … I couldn’t be prouder of the way our guys played, competed, fought and in the end executed.”

Brady, who was the center of national attention regarding his hand injury sustained in practice on Wednesday, showed that outside noise – and 10 stitches – weren’t enough to slow down the MVP candidate. The 40 year-old QB finished with 290 yards – 138 of which came in the fourth quarter – along with 2 fourth quarter touchdown passes, despite losing Rob Gronkowski to a concussion late in the first half.

Brady finally shed some light onto his much talked about hand injury, describing as a “pretty good cut.” But the five-time Super Bowl champion didn’t let the injury affect him, “I just wrapped it up, tried to cover it up and go out there and play and be effective.”

When asked if Brady’s injury changed the team’s game plan Belichick had a different response, “Not that I’m aware of, Bob” he said.

The lesson learned from this game is to never count of the Patriots until the final whistle is blown and that’s something Brady knows. “We always have confidence, we really do. Whether it’s the beginning of the game or toward the end. It’s never really over till it’s over with this team.”