Early in the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship in Foxboro, Massachusetts, the New England Patriots were trailing the Jacksonville Jaguars, 20-10.
The Pats were without their All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski, who was concussed senseless in the second quarter. The Jags were holding their own, and looked poised to pull off an upset for the ages.
But if you’ve ever witnessed Tom Brady in action, you knew that it was only a matter of time before he got his Bruno Mars on and said,
“Tonight, I just want to take you higher
Throw your hands up in the sky
Let’s set this party off right
Bruno Mars – 24K Magic [Official Video]
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Players, put yo’ pinky rings up to the moon
Girls, what y’all trying to do?
24 karat Brady magic in the air
Head to toe soul player
Uh, look out!”
And guess who’s back in the Super Bowl again? That’s right, unless you live in New England, it’s Brady, Bill Belichick and the wiggas you love to hate.
The Shadow League on Twitter
Every non Patriots fan right now seeing them going to another Super Bowl. #JAXvsNE https://t.co/XJDKSBYrHB
Brady worked his incredible comeback magic for the 54th time in his incomparable NFL career playing with black tape on his throwing hand to protect a cut that required him to get more than 10 stitches earlier this week.
New England’s offense looked pedestrian for most of the game thanks to the Jaguars’ phenomenal defense, but in the fourth quarter, Brady basically scoffed at everyone that thought Jacksonville would actually win, on some Roy Jones, Jr., “Ya’ll musta forgot!” type steez. He proceeded to simply do what he does. Because over the years, if there’s one thing that’s certain in the topsy turvy world of the NFL, it’s that on the road to riches and diamond rings, Tom Brady does real things!
He brought his patented late-game funk when he connected with with Phillip Dorsett for 31 yards on a flea flicker, leading the pats on an 85-yard drive that cut the Jaguars’ lead to 20-17.
NFL on Twitter
The play that helped setup the @Patriots TD… FLEA FLICKER! #JAXvsNE #NFLPlayoffs https://t.co/LwAmTBjdvf
Three plays later after the flea flicker, Danny Amendola snagged a nine-yard touchdown from Brady, and it was on like hot cheddar popcorn.
When the Patriots defense forced the Jaguars to punt, Brady got the ball back, and once again, channeled his inner Big Daddy Kane to get the job done. New England trailed 20-17 but Amendola set them up lovely with a punt return that enabled Brady to set up shop at the Jaguars’ 30-yard line.
With 4:58 left on the clock, Brady proceeded to connect on all of his three passes 3 for 3 for 27 yards, then tore the heart out of the Jaguars and Patriot haters across the globe with an illmatic five-yard touchdown strike to Amendola once again.
NFL on Twitter
WHAT A CATCH BY @DannyAmendola!! It’s a @Patriots TOUCHDOWN! #JAXvsNE #NFLPlayoffs https://t.co/ByRD4pwMBa
Brady, as he’s prone to do, saved his best for last, throwing for 138 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter of the 24-20 victory as the Patriots head to an NFL-record 10th Super Bowl appearance.
And he added to his ever-growing legend as the game’s all-time QB GOAT by doing it with 10 stitches in his throwing hand!!!
He finished the game 26 of 38 for 290 yards and two touchdowns, and the undisputed crown as the baddest man to ever sling a football.
