FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- No Rob Gronkowski. Twelve stitches in Tom Brady's right thumb. A 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
The New England Patriots, trailing on their home turf in the AFC Championship Game, desperately needed a spark. Along came Danny Amendola, who turned the final quarter into a personal pitch and catch with Brady.
Amendola made five of his seven receptions in the fourth quarter, including two touchdowns to lift the Patriots to a 24-20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday night.
The diminutive wide receiver did everything except serve hors d'oeuvres in owner Robert Kraft's suite.