AFC Playoffs: Patriots Adjust; Jax Goes Bust
For all his transcendental breakthroughs in physics, Albert Einstein's second most quoted observation -- behind e=mc² -- might be something he allegedly said:
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
No matter who first put forth those words of wisdom, it's sound advice.
If anyone's got that quote tattooed on his patootie and embroidered into his boxers, it's gotta be Bill Belichick.
With his faithful lieutenant Tom Brady doing Belichick's bidding between the lines, dude's now led the New England Patriots to eight dramatic playoff comebacks in his 17 years there.
The Pats' damn near predictable 24-20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars was just the latest example of Belichick's talent for making second-half changes that wound up being the right moves at the right time.
Of course, it didn't hurt that New England got a gift TD just before the first half ended.
If ever there was a penalty that just kept inflicting pain, it was the full-blast brain fart that voided this first-down catch on a 3rd-&-7:
Really, how does that happen after a time out?
Instead of a field goal or what woulda been a fateful touchdown, the Jags ceded possession to Brady & Co, and what was actually the fateful touchdown happened on the other side of the scoreboard.
It came after TE Rob Gronkowski got head-banged by S Barry Church. That coulda been a paraphrase of the Mighty Ducks line ...
Unsurprisingly, it's already become a talking point, with some calling it a cheap shot and others ...
The hit on Gronk is the only way Church could have done his job without just obliterating Gronks knee. If he would have just hit him low most ppl would calm him dirty. So there is nothing he can do to make everyone happy and do his job. Unless you think he should let him catch
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) January 21, 2018
However, the 15 yards attached to it, followed by a 32-yard pass interference call that some Jags called into question after the game.
Then again, who said penalty calls had to be even? Maybe the Patriots were just more judicious in their plays. Or more clandestine.
Like this ? Please only one word fixed. See the PI? Did u we see refs celebrating with jags on tds? pic.twitter.com/WZWPbrw9gn
— christopher carter (@cridez) January 22, 2018
Or something.
The overall result was a minimum 10-point swing, and Belichick ordered changes in the locker room to take advantage of it. Among them:
- Danny Amendola became the receiver of choice when the Pats went to crossing routes that negated the Jax pass rush:
- The defense wised up to Blake Bortles' play-action passes, shutting down the sideline routes; and
- The defense began to blitz more, forcing Bortles into reads he wasn't able to make in time.
How did Jags coach Doug Marrone respond? By going vanilla, which remains SOP for most NFL teams.
Only in their final desperate drive did Marrone open up. Ironically, Bortles uncorked a pass on the run that coulda resulted in a game-winning TD. Instead, Stephon Gilmore made the sorta play that puts teams in Super Bowls:
Playing not to lose doesn't work against New England.
And it didn't in this one. Again.