Page 20 - ARUBA TODAY

A20 SPORTS
Monday 22 January 2018
Brady leads Patriots back to Super Bowl, top Jaguars 24-20

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP)
— Give ‘em a hand: Tom
Brady and the New Eng-
land Patriots are heading
back to the Super Bowl.
Brady shook off a hand
injury and threw a 4-yard
touchdown pass to Danny
Amendola with 2:48 re-
maining , rallying the Patri-
ots to a 24-20 comeback
victory over the Jackson-
ville Jaguars in the AFC
championship Sunday.
Brady, wearing a black
bandage on his right hand
after needing stitches to
close a cut that happened
on a play during practice
earlier in the week, showed
no signs of being ham-
pered.
And, with the game — and
the season — possibly on
the line, the Patriots star
came up big again.
“I’ve had a lot worse,”
Brady said. “I didn’t know
that on Wednesday. It was
a crazy injury. Wednesday, New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola (80) catches a touchdown pass in front of Jacksonville Jaguars safety Tashaun
Thursday, Friday was a little Gipson (39) and linebacker Paul Posluszny (51) during the second half of the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan.
scary. Then I started get- 21, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass.
ting some confidence and Associated Press
today we did just enough plays on New England’s victory. And they played drive stalled when Brady And their quarterback de-
to win.” Brady finished 26 winning drive. “It’s a locker most of the game without was sacked by Dante Fowl- livered — with some help
of 38 for 290 yards and two room obviously with a lot tight end Rob Gronkowski, er Jr., and New England from two big penalties.
touchdowns to Amendola of pain,” Jaguars coach who left late in the first half settled for Stephen Gost- On first-and-10 from the Pa-
for the Patriots (15-3), who’ll Doug Marrone said. “I’m and didn’t return. kowski’s 31-yard field goal. triots 40, Brady threw a long
play the winner of Sunday sure they’re hurting inside. Brady’s hand was the most- A wide-open Marcedes pass for Gronkowski, who
night’s game between Min- I’m hurting. The players are scrutinized body part in Lewis gave the Jaguars a was injured when he got
nesota and Philadelphia in hurting.” With New England Boston since his ankle be- 7-3 lead 45 seconds into popped by Barry Church.
Minneapolis on Feb. 4. trailing 20-17, Amendola re- fore the 2008 Super Bowl, the second quarter with a Church was called for un-
It’s the eighth Super Bowl turned a punt 20 yards to and Red Sox pitcher Curt 4-yard touchdown catch necessary roughness, put-
appearance for Brady and put the ball at the Jaguars Schilling’s right ankle ten- from Bortles . ting the ball at Jackson-
coach Bill Belichick, who 30. Brady hit James White don — the bloody sock — Leonard Fournette gave ville’s 45.
have won five times — in- for 15 yards, Amendola for in the 2004 playoffs. Jacksonville a 14-3 lead “It was a tough call,”
cluding last year’s 34-28 8 and then the quarter- Brady hurt his right hand midway through the sec- Church said, “but you’ve
overtime rally against the back ran up the middle for during practice earlier in ond quarter with a 4-yard got to go with what they
Atlanta Falcons. 2 yards and a first down. the week. TD run, hushing the crowd call.” A.J. Bouye was called
“It’s pretty amazing. Just On first-and-goal from the “Of all the plays, my sea- at Gillette Stadium. for pass interference on the
to be on a team that wins 5, White ran for a yard to son wasn’t going to end The Jaguars made some next play. The 32-yard pen-
these kinds of games, it’s set up the go-ahead score on a handoff in practice,” big mistakes just before alty gave the Patriots the
just a great accomplish- from Brady to Amendola. Brady said. “Mentally, it halftime. Bortles completed ball at the Jaguars 13. After
ment,” Brady said. “I’m Jacksonville — looking to probably stressed him out a 12-yard pass to Lewis on a 12-yard catch by Cooks,
just so proud of everyone reach the Super Bowl for a bit,” Amendola said. “It’s third-and-7 from the Patri- White ran it in from the 1 to
on our team, we made so the first time in franchise his- hard to throw a football ots 44, but Jacksonville was make it 14-10.
many great plays. Defense tory — had one more shot, with stitches in your thumb. called for delay of game. Josh Lambo gave Jackson-
played so great when they but Bortles’ throw on fourth- Everybody knows how That wiped out a first down, ville a 17-10 lead 4:37 into
needed to.” and-15 to Dede Westbrook tough he is.” Some Patriots and Bortles was sacked by the third quarter with a 54-
Blake Bortles and the Jag- was knocked away by Ste- fans were worried, but not Adam Butler on the next yard field goal. He added
uars (12-7) led 20-10 early phon Gilmore. Belichick. “He’s a tough play to force a punt. Jack- a 43-yarder 8 seconds into
in the fourth quarter, but “Guys are upset,” Bortles guy, we all know that,” sonville was called for six the fourth quarter to make
couldn’t hold against the said. “It’s not what any- Belichick said. “But we’re penalties that cost the Jag- it a 10-point game.
defending champions. The body expects — contrary not talking about open uars 98 yards, while New But Brady & Co. were just
NFL’s second-ranked de- to popular belief. Those heart surgery here” England was penalized just getting started.
fense kept Brady and the guys fully expected to win Brady warmed up without once. After Jacksonville went
Patriots at bay for most of that game.” a glove on his hand, and With just over two minutes three-and-out following
the game, but lost line- The Patriots ran out the he came out throwing. He left before halftime, New Jack’s fumble recovery of
backer Myles Jack and clock, with Dion Lewis’ 18- completed his first six pass- England’s offense took Lewis, Brady and the Patri-
defensive tackle Marcell yard scamper with 90 sec- es for 57 yards to march the over and the fans chanted ots offense came out with
Dareus on consecutive onds remaining sealing the Patriots down the field. The “Braa-dy! Braa-dy!” a sense of urgency.q