Watching that game for the first 3 quarters all signs were pointing to a Jacksonville Super Bowl berth.
- Pats only had 10 pointes to Jags 20
- Time of possession was heavily in Jacksonville’s favor
- Brady took some major lumps
- Gronk was knocked out of the game
- Bortles was looking more poised than ever
- And Belichick seemed to be outclassed which is so rare
But some major things shifted in the final quarter. I think the Patriots have a hex on every team in the league because the opposing players and staff always seem to lose focus and make idiotic decisions.
But there are 3 main reasons why the game ended how it did:
- Penalties on Jaguars defense
- 3rd and 18 play
- Pathetic play call in the 2nd half
Really there is also a 4th reason and it’s what hinted to a shift in momentum. The logic that with 55 secs, 2 timeouts, a dominant 1st half, regardless of possession to start the 3rd quarter, you decide to kneel and run out the clock. Playing it safe will never win a Super Bowl, let alone beat the Patriots. If the 1st half was shaky and you was just hanging in there, that makes sense. But Jacksonville was dominating.
Besides the one touchdown they gave up due to a bogus P.I. call, the defense had the Pats clamped. And the offense was clicking with Bortles playing smooth as butter. It made no sense to settle at the end of the half when you were playing so well.
Jacksonville’s 6 penalties to New England’s 1 penalty. That was a huge deciding factor. A delay of game killed their chance to add on to the lead at 14-3.
A phantom P.I. on Cooks that lead to a Pats TD right before half.
Ramsey's P.I. on Cooks which changed field position in the late fourth. They shot themselves in the foot.
If the Jags believed that scoring 20 points was enough to beat the defending champs, than there’s serious common sense issues on that team. It felt like watching someone run into a wall over and over and over again with how much they tried running up the middle with Fournette. And even though they’re front 4 was great and brought pressure, would it have been too much to send an extra blitzer just to shake it up a little.
It was obvious. They were playing not to lose, instead of playing to win. Which began with them kneeling to end the 1st half.
The 3rd & 18 play is what truly made this game feel just like last years Super Bowl. There’s simply no excuse to allow the Patriots, who were not converting on 3rd down most of the game, to convert at that distance.
Especially in the 4th quarter. They rushed only four, which didn’t cause any pressure and gave Brady a clean pocket.
These super intelligent football minds in the NFL lose all logic of football when they go up against New England. Belichick is absolutely the greatest coach in history but man how these football geniuses always seem to be the cause of their own demise.
It was a great game. One that will be remembered.
Jacksonville blew too many opportunities.
New England made less mistakes and clawed out the win.
I’ll call it now. 6th ring for Brady!!