The legendary quarterback Tom Brady again shone in a special way on the grid and not only because he led the New England Patriots to the game for the AFC final, but because he imposed a league mark by making three shipments. of touchdown.
At age 40, he made it possible for the Patriots favorites, who defend the title of Super Bowl champions, once they had another exhibition of team and individual play against rivals like the Titans of Tennessee. They confirmed that they had come more to the game because of the luck factor than because of the potential they showed in the field.
The day also left the Philadelphia Eagles, these against all odds, with a ticket in the baggage to star in the game by the National Conference (NFC), having as its best player kicker Jake Elliot.
Brady made three touchdowns and the Patriots showed off with a great team game by beating the Titans 35-14.
Victory that allowed them to get the passport to their seventh consecutive game for the AFC title they will come to defend it.
The Patriots (14-3) will receive the winner of the match of the division series that Sunday will play the Pittsburgh Steelers, great favorites, against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The match played at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Massachusetts) was the tenth of the final phase that Brady has played and in which he has achieved at least three passes for a touchdown, thus exceeding the mark reached by the legendary Joe Montana in that section and impose a mark in the history of the NFL.
Brady completed 35 of 53 passes for 337 yards, and connected with running back James White with a five-yard pass, and wide receiver Chris Hogan, with four, both in the second quarter for scoring.
In the last quarter he found tight end Rob Gronkowski with a four-yard pass to put the ball in the area of ​​the diagonals.
The Titans (10-8) lost to quarterback Marcus Mariota, who completed 22 of 37 passes for 254 yards, with two touchdowns, did not allow interceptions, but was knocked down eight times out of 52 opportunities by defense. Patriots and had a 98.3 passer rating, compared to Brady’s 102.5.
The Patriots set a new team record in the playoffs with the eight shots they got against Mariota.
Kicker Elliot scored three field goals, including a 21-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that sealed the Eagles’ 15-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons and advanced to the NFC championship game.
Philadelphia (14-3), champion of the NFC East Division, stopped the Atlanta march (11-7), sixth place in the finals, which went to the playoffs with one of the two wild cards of that conference and He gave them as the team that could have come back to the Super Bowl, which played in the last edition and lost to the Patriots in Houston.
This was the first victory in the Eagles’ final phase game since the 2008 season.
With the victory, they won the right to host the Minnesota Vikings or the New Orleans Saints in the NFC title game on Sunday night.
Elliot scored field goals of 53 yards in the second quarter, 37 in the third, and 21 in the fourth quarter.
However, the key to victory is the Philadelphia defense, which allowed 10 points for errors from their offense and managed to subdue Field Marshal Matt Ryan and company at decisive moments, particularly with the pressure from their linemen.
The Falcons, who sought to reach the Super Bowl in consecutive seasons, return home to be disqualified.
Atlanta, who squandered a 28-3 lead in the second half of last year’s Super Bowl, will not be able to atone for that loss, while the Patriots have already secured their ticket to continue in the fight to revalidate the title of best team in the NFL. .
Daniel Zamora
