The Patriots lost Rob Gronkowski in the second quarter and trailed 20-10 in the fourth — and it didn’t matter. Tom Brady showcased the magic that makes him the greatest of all time, leading his Patriots to their third Super Bowl in the past four seasons with a 24-20 win. The veteran quarterback turned to Brandin Cooks (six catches, 100 yards) and Danny Amendola (seven catches, 84 yards, two touchdowns) to carry his team to an epic comeback victory.
That doesn’t mean the Jaguars should hold their heads. Blake Bortles exceeded expectations, at one point carving up his opponent with 12 straight completions. A dialed-up blitzing scheme ultimately slowed him down, but it was the embattled passer’s mistake-averse play that kept his team alive. In the end, it was an overtaxed secondary and a legendary quarterback on the other sideline who quashed Jacksonville’s hopes for a first-ever Super Bowl appearance.
