Danny does it
Amendola, again, delivers in clutch
FOXBORO — Rob Gronkowski has called him Danny “Playoff” Amendola, and he certainly lived up to the nickname yesterday.
The big-game wide receiver caught seven passes for 84 yards and a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns as the Patriots rallied from a 10-point deficit to defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars, 24-20, at Gillette Stadium to successfully defend their AFC title.
“When you look up ‘good football player’ in the dictionary, (Amendola’s) picture is right beside it,” coach Bill Belichick said. “It doesn’t matter what it is, fielding punts, third downs, big play, red area, onside kick recovery. He’s just a tremendous football player, very instinctive and tough.”
Never do those qualities seem to shine brighter than in the playoffs. In his last three playoff games dating to last year’s Super Bowl, Amendola has 26 catches for 274 yards and three touchdowns, plus the game-tying twopoint conversion to send the Super Bowl into overtime.
“It’s about preparation, circumstance and opportunity,” Amendola said. “You have to be ready and don’t have fear. Just get it done. That’s what we’re all about in this building.”
The opportunities were there in the fourth quarter for someone to get something done, and rarely has a team been more in need of it than the Patriots. Playing without Gronkowski, who left the game in the first half with a concussion, the Patriots needed someone to step up.
Once again, it was Amendola. He came through on what Jaguars safety Barry Church would later say was the biggest play of the game.
Facing a third-and-18 and 2010 deficit from their own 25 with 10:49 to go, Amendola went deep over the middle to haul in a 21yard reception from Tom Brady and keep the drive alive.
“Danny got behind the two safeties and I tried to throw it where he could get it,” Brady said. “He made an unbelievable catch and it was a big play in the game and it ended up being a huge drive for us.”
It was fitting that Amendola ended the series by catching a 9-yard touchdown pass to cut the Jaguars’ lead to 20-17 with 8:44 left. Lined up on the right, Amendola circled into the middle of the field, caught the ball on the 5 and beat linebacker Myles Jack to the end zone.
Amendola didn’t hurt the Jaguars solely with his receiving. He started the winning drive by returning Brad Nortman’s punt 20 yards down to the Jaguars’ 30.
“I knew we were going to have good field position because I was standing on the 40 or so,” Amendola said. “When you get the ball there, you’re just looking for a block to get some open space.”
Five plays later, Amendola got a step on safety Tashaun Gipson, leaped high to grab Brady’s pass and dragged both feet inside the endline to give the Patriots the lead for good with 2:48 left.
“That’s a play I’ve scored on a couple of times this year,” Amendola said. “It’s just a crosser in the back of the end zone. Tommy reads the first look on the left to (receiver Brandin Cooks) and if he doesn’t have it, he looks to me.”