It was a hard fought AFC Championship Game between the New England Patriots and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The home team ultimately prevailed and won 24-20 but it needed some standout performances in all three phases of the game to get the job done – and this is exactly what happened. Without the benefit of a film review, let's take a look at some of those standouts, both positively and negatively.
The Jaguars have one of the most impressive defenses in the NFL, a unit that has talent on every level. It was therefore encouraging to see parts of New England's offensive line rise up to the challenge and deliver an outstanding performance: Both left-side players – tackle Nate Solder and guard Joe Thuney – were able to keep as much pressure off quarterback Tom Brady as is possible against Jacksonville.