Robert Alvarez
January 24, 2018 at 8:36 pm ET
The New England Patriots entered their seventh consecutive AFC Championship game against the upstart Jacksonville Jaguars seeking to advance to their third Super Bowl in four years.
The Jaguars, who won just three games the year before, were riding high with optimism heading into Gillette Stadium after their upset road win in Pittsburgh a week earlier.
In the first quarter, it was the defenses that stepped up early, as the only scoring game from a Stephen Gostkowski field goal to give the Patriots a 3-0 lead.
In the second quarter, and for the second week in a row, the visitors found the end zone first against the Patriots, as Blake Bortles found longtime tight end Marcedes Lewis for a 7-3 lead.
The Jaguars weren’t done, as the Patriots offense struggled to find a rhythm against a tough defense, Bortles and his offense weren’t afraid as the underdogs and opened up a stunning 14-3 lead following a Leonard Fournette four yard run up the middle at the seven minute mark in the second.
Needing an answer before halftime, Tom Brady continued his mastery of the two minute drill this season as James White tallied another postseason touchdown to cut the deficit to four heading into the half.
To open up the second half, the Patriots defense stiffened, but Jaguars kicker Josh Lambo continued his career year and nailed a 54 yard field goal to push the lead back up to 17-10.
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After three quarters the Jaguars maintained their lead at 17-10.
Early in the fourth quarter, Lambo tacked on another lengthy field goal from 43 yards to open up a 10 point lead in Foxboro.
The Patriots found themselves needing to make plays soon and often, and quarterback Tom Brady looked to the direction of wide receiver Danny Amendola to get them back into this game.
He didn’t disappoint, even on a crucial third and 18.
After the big third down conversion, another AFC Championship game flea flicker made an appearance, Brady to Phillip Dorsett.
The big pass setup an Amendola touchdown, and the Patriots were back within four.
The Patriots defense would make some clutch stops of the Jaguars offense, providing Tom Brady with enough time to complete yet another playoff game comeback, with Danny Amendola again providing the big touchdowns. 24-20 Patriots.
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The Jaguars took over for the final drive, and on a fourth and long, cornerback Stephon Gillmore thwarted any chance of a response with a big pass breakup to turn the ball over on downs. The Patriots, who trailed by 10 early in the fourth quarter, would hold on for the 24-20 victory and win their second consecutive AFC title.
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