NFL: Comeback drama!

The New England Patriots are back in the Super Bowl! The defending champion wins an unexpectedly thrilling AFC Championship game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at home with 24:20 – and needs a fourth-quarter comeback from Tom Brady. Jacksonville’s offense was missing plan B in the second half.

Jacksonville got off to an impressive start, just like in the Pittsburgh Divisional round: The Jaguars marched the field with a good mix of play action, inside runs and downfield shots of Blake Bortles (23/36,293 YDS, TD) and New England had a quick start with the play action passes on the one hand, and with the short dumpoffs of Bortles on the other hand.

This quickly resulted in two touchdowns: Bortles first found Marcedes Lewis via play action to the touchdown, at the end of the next long drive Leonard Fournette marched from four yards through the middle to the end zone at First and Goal – the Jags lead at that time was 14:3. But even before the half-time break, New England returned: an inexcusable delay-of-game stretch against Jacksonville immediately after a timeout, followed by two flags against the defense – including at least a debatable pass interference – and James White marched out of a yard via No-Huddle into the final zone.

However, this touchdown drive came at a high price: The other penalty during the drive just before halftime came after a hit against Rob Gronkowski, who then missed the entire second half due to a head injury. In general, the second half became more defensive: New England was more aggressive in the pass rush, which caused Bortles problems. On the other hand, Tom Brady (26/38,290 YDS, 2 TD), whose hand injury suffered during the week of training apparently did not restrict him, had to struggle with several drops of his receivers.

This allowed the Jaguars to continue to control the clock due to several short patriots drives on the one hand, while on the other hand the Jags were able to extend their lead via field goal to 20:10 at the beginning of the final quarter. But that wasn’t the end of this game for a long time yet: At first the Jaguars had a big play, when Myles Jack forced a fumble against Dion Lewis after a trick play, but Jacksonville’s offense didn’t find a plan B. But now there was a lot more to play. On the other side, New England quickly marched down the field: A big play at 3rd&18 to Amendola and finally the touchdown to the slot receiver.

Everything was now open again, and New England had turned the flow of the game completely in its favour. The Jaguars had to punt fast again, Amendola carried the Punt 20 yards back – and a few plays later Amendola caught another spectacular acrobatic touchdown pass in the end zone for the Patriots lead. After the next Jag punt, a Dion Lewis run ended the game. New England is back in the Super Bowl.

New England Patriots – Jacksonville Jaguars 24:20 (3:0,7:14,0:3,14:3) BOXSCORE

10:30 before the end the patriots were still 10:20 behind – and after an 8-yard bag New England was on their own 25-yard line at 3rd&18. A punt here would have put Jacksonville in potentially very good field position and allowed the Jags to take more time off the clock. Instead: An absolutely critical 21 yard pass from Amendola and four plays later Amendola caught the 9-yard touchdown pass.

Myles Jack and Telvin Smith – the two Jaguars linebackers – each had very good games – but the patriots’ greatest successes in passing against the linebackers and the slot covering came nevertheless. Not only Amendola, but also Lewis and White had a lot of critical catches here, Jacksonville was not able to stop frequently enough against the route combinations and the option routes of the Pats here in New England with all the high individual quality.

Absolutely spectacular second half of Amendola. The point return was an important scene, even more elementary, but his game was in the middle of the field. One Clutch-Catch after the other, be it at 3rd&18 middle of the final quarter or of course at the game winning touchdown. Amendola (7 REC, 84 YDS, 2 TD) snatched this game particularly in the fourth quarter and was, along with Tom Brady, the decisive man for the Patriots’ comeback victory.

In addition to the pass rush, the patriots’ linebacker corps has been and still is the big constant problem child in New England this season. This was no different in the Championship Game: Many gaps especially in the first half against Play Action, multiple weak points in the run-gaps. The patriots will have to step up here in the Super Bowl.