Brady, usual suspects deliver once more
FOXBORO — When the playoffs start, and the lights go on, the best players are able to dial it up a notch. And then some.
The Patriots have quite a few players who are biggame
PATRIOTS BEAT Karen Guregian
performers. Obviously, Tom Brady is the leader in that department, but he has quite a few teammates who are able to do the same, especially on offense.
We saw it during last season’s improbable Super Bowl comeback against the Atlanta Falcons. And, we saw it again last night during the 35-14 divisional round romp over the Tennessee Titans as Brady’s chief play-makers rose to the occasion.
It should serve as a warning to the remaining teams just how dangerous the offense can be, now that Brady has most of his weapons back, with the exception of Rex Burkhead.
It’s not just a two-man band with Rob Gronkowski and Dion Lewis. Brady has more in his arsenal, and they’ll be just as dangerous next week in the AFC Championship Game.
Remember how important Danny Amendola was during last year’s postseason? Remember all the big plays the wide receiver made against the Falcons? All Mr. Clutch did last night was catch 11 passes for 112 yards to lead the team.
As it is, he’s been doing his part to help fill the shoes of Julian Edelman, and this was his best game of the season.
The 11 receptions represented the most he’s had while a Patriot. Five of those catches came on third down, and all five moved the chains. Talk about dialing it up a notch.
“He’s just Danny ‘Playoff’ Amendola,” said Gronkowski. “Every time the playoffs come, big games, he’s always there. Always stepping up his game.”
Brady also took note of Amendola’s efforts.
“I thought he played incredible. He made a lot of great catches,” said Brady. “Those third downs were huge (last night).”
The best came on a thirddown play in the fourth quarter with Brady scrambling for his life. The Pats were on the Tennessee 28 facing third-and-10; Brady ran to his right, threw to the other side of the field and somehow found Amendola.
“We locked eyes early and then I could tell he was thinking about it,” Amendola said of the connection, which set up the Pats’ final touchdown. “I kept running. I knew I had a couple yards and he looked back again and let it go.”
Then there was Super Bowl hero James White. Or, James “Playoff ” White.
The running back returned after missing the final regular-season game with an ankle injury. He scored the first two touchdowns. He caught a 5-yard flip from Brady for one score, and ran in another from 6 yards out. That gave him five touchdowns in the last five playoff quarters.
“Playoffs are a one-game season so I just try to make the most of the opportunity,” said White.
Did he ever.
Brady, who was 35-for53 for 337 yards and three touchdowns, was happy to have White return along with Chris Hogan, who was back after missing seven of the last eight games with a shoulder injury. Hogan also caught a touchdown pass.
“When you have some of your best players on the field all the time, it’s a great benefit to us, like it would be to any team,” said Brady. “But the guys who were in there before did a great job, too. Whoever’s on the team and on the roster is going to be counted on at some point. It shows the kind of depth we have . . . but it was great to see James make plays like he always does.”
Of course, Lewis was Lewis. He just keeps getting better every week. He had 141 all-purpose yards, rushing for 62 yards and compiling 79 yards through the air on nine grabs.
And naturally, we can’t forget about Gronk. The all-world tight end had six catches for 81 yards and a touchdown.
Gronkowski was expected to dominate the Titans, but he really didn’t need to do all that much. Everyone else had it covered. Brandin Cooks added three catches for 32 yards for good measure.