BSJ Game Report: Patriots 24, Jaguars 20 — Amendola, Brady & defense star again taken at Gillette Stadium (2017 AFC Championship)

(Adam Richins for BSJ)

2017 AFC Championship

BSJ Game Report: Patriots 24, Jaguars 20 — Amendola, Brady & defense star again

By Greg A. Bedard

Jan 21, 2018 • 10:04 pm

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FOXBOROUGH — Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ victory over the Jaguars in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:


HEADLINES


They did it again: After posting just 10 points and having one drive of more than 38 yards in the first three quarters against a very game Jaguars defense, the Patriots did what we've seen them do countless times (Pittsburgh this year, the last two Super Bowls ... we could go on and on): they got it done offensively when their backs were against the wall.  The Patriots had scoring drives of 85 and 30 yards in the final quarter to edge the Jaguars.


No Gronk, no problem: Rob Gronkowski was knocked out of the game with a headshot from Jaguars safety Tashaun Gipson near the end of the first half, and did not return to the game. We've seen the Patriots win plenty of games without Julian Edelman or Gronkowski, but not many without both of them — certainly not games of this magnitude. But Tom Brady and the rest of the Patriots' offense — especially Danny Amendola (seven catches, 84 yards, two touchdowns) and Brandin Cooks (six catches, 100 yards) helped pick up some of the slack.


Defense buckles down: The Jaguars' offense had their way with the Patriots in the first half as they converted 67 percent of third downs, rolled up 209 total yards and mounted two long scoring drives to 14-3 lead in the second quarter. Blake Bortles looked like Joe Montana as he completed 13 of 15 passes for 155 yards and posted a passer rating of 131.9. You have to tip your hat to Jaguars offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who scripted a tremendous first half and threw just enough wrinkles (RB Corey Grant matched his season total of three catches, for 59 yards). His plan put the Patriots' defense on their heels, and the game was being dictated to them. The Patriots got more aggressive in the second half with their coverage and pressure packages, and Jacksonville was able to mount just one drive longer than 39 yards and punted four times in the second half.


TURNING POINT


The Jaguars had just kicked a field goal early in the fourth quarter to extend their lead to 20-10 when Dion Lewis fumbled when Myles Jack stripped him after a double pass from Brady to Amendola to Lewis. The Jaguars had the ball at their own 33-yard line and were threatening to put the game away. Fournette was held to 2 yards on first down by Malcom Brown, Patrick Chung had tight coverage on Marcedes Lewis on second down, and then Devin McCourty tackled Allen Hurns 1 yard short of a first down to force a punt.



The Patriots turned that stop into an 85-yard scoring drive — including an equally crucial conversion on third-and-18 from Brady to Amendola — and the game was on at that point,



SECOND GUESS


All from the Jaguars' side:




  • Obviously, the Patriots had a lot of issues with the speed of reserve running back Corey Grant in the first half, as his 59 yards on three catches accounted for 28 percent of their output. In the second half, Grant didn't touch the ball.

  • The Patriots certainly had a plan to limit Bortles' feet because he likes to pick up some yards on scrambles and designed runs, and Marquis Flowers continued to do a great job with that assignment. But it felt like Bortles left some easy yards on the field and chose to throw instead, and there were no designed runs for the quarterback. That might have loosened up the Patriots' defense a little in the fourth quarter. "Yeah, the defensive ends did a good job all day playing the zone-read, making me hand it off and then kind of closing in trying to get in on the play," Bortles said. "I thought that they did a good job of taking that part of our run game away."

  • The Jaguars had the ball at their 25-yard line with 55 seconds remaining before halftime and two timeouts, and just kneeled on the ball. "I think more the second half kickoff," coach Doug Marrone about what he was thinking there. "They came down and we had to make some adjustments going into halftime. Wanted to make sure we got that done knowing we were going in getting the ball back."


THREE UP


Danny Amendola: All Weather Dola, Danny "Playoff" Amendola, Dola Bills Y'all ... whatever the nickname, the guy has earned it with another clutch postseason performance. Led the team with seven catches on nine targets, 84 yards and two huge touchdowns, and he had a higher passer rating than Brady. His performance loomed even larger with Gronkowski's injury.








Tom Brady


Trey Flowers

THREE DOWN


Patriots coordinators in the first half: Give a tip of the hat to Hackett and defensive coordinator Todd Wash because they had numbers of both Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia in the first half as the Jaguars did exactly what they wanted to do on both sides of the ball and completely dictated play. Of course, McDaniels and Patricia rebounded in the second half, which is what ultimately counts.


Malcolm Butler: Wasn't terrible or anything, but if this was his last game at Gillette Stadium, we have much fonder memories.


Dion Lewis: Really only for the fumble which could have loomed large if the defense didn't immediately get a stop. His speed and moves were not as big a factor against this fast defense, as he had 66 yards on 16 touches.


INJURIES


Rob Gronkowski (head) left in the second quarter and did not return.
Patrick Chung (left leg) was limping at times but toughed it out.
Trey Flowers (shoulder) seemed to be bothered the entire game but stayed on the field.


TOP PLAYS





























THREE TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER


Dynasty, extended: You think you'd never see another group like the 2001-04 Patriots, who just seemed to take everything in stride and get the job done when the game was on the line. Yet 10 years later, with an entirely new group other than the coach and quarterback, the Patriots are doing the exact same thing. They may not be the most talented team in the world, but these guys are just the ulimate competitors and now have a chance to match that first group with three titles in four years.


Patriots will face Mariota, Bortles and Foles to win a Super Bowl ... and I don't care: You get what you earn, and the Patriots have earned whatever road they've had to this point and they don't need to apologize for anything should they win another title. Nobody's going to care whom the Patriots played 50 years from now, so why should we talk about it now? If other teams wanted to stop the Patriots, maybe they shouldn't have choked (Steelers) or been reckless with their bodies (Carson Wentz, Aaron Rodgers).


Give the offensive line a ton of credit: Brady got hit a few times in the first half but on paper, this should have been a mismatch with the vaunted Jaguars defensive line and the offensive line of the Patriots. Instead, you didn't hear a whole lot about Calais Campbell, Yannick Ngakoue and Malik Jackson. Give some credit to the Big Uglies and Dante Scarnecchia.

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