Controversial penalty puts Patriots right back into game
In the opening game of the NFL’s conference championship Sunday, it didn’t take long for a controversy to emerge.
The Jacksonville Jaguars went into Foxborough to face the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, and were playing very much like a team with nothing to lose.
The Jaguars jumped out to a 14-3 lead on the Patriots on the backs of star running back Leonard Fournette and the red hot Blake Bortles.
The Patriots scored first on a field goal, but from there the Jaguars dominated.
The first touchdown came on a well executed play-action touchdown pass from Bortles to tight end Marcedes Lewis.
Sideline Cam captures the 1st TD of the day!
📺: @NFLonCBS #JAXvsNE #NFLPlayoffs https://t.co/QXTXaNn1mZ
— NFL (@NFL) January 21, 2018
Fournette then showed the world why he was the fourth overall pick of the NFL Draft, with a touchdown run where he shrugged off a linebacker like he was nothing.
Oh my. @_Fournette CANNOT be stopped.
That's SIX. #JAXvsNE #NFLPlayoffs https://t.co/wsqZBePqNr
— NFL (@NFL) January 21, 2018
In between those touchdown drives, the Jacksonville defense lived up to its nickname of “Sacksonville.”
This @Jaguars Defense… Wow. #JAXvsNE #NFLPlayoffs https://t.co/sBAHcY5OVr
— NFL (@NFL) January 21, 2018
The defense also lived up to its fearsome reputation with some ferocious hits, including one penalized hit that ultimately sent star tight end Rob Gronkowski into the concussion protocol.
https://twitter.com/BovadaLV/status/955190722206093312
Jacksonville was dominating the champions, but the Patriots were able to cut the lead to 14-10 before the half.
But that touchdown didn’t come without significant controversy.
The aforementioned hit that knocked out Gronkowski was a debatable penalty, with Jacksonville safety Barry Church seeming to make contact with his shoulder pad before the helmet-to-helmet contact.
But more so than that Church hit, a highly controversial pass interference set the Patriots up for a much-needed touchdown.
Folks… this is Defense Pass interference now…. pic.twitter.com/aWd8RQi9yh
— Fitz (@LaurieFitzptrck) January 21, 2018
Jaguars cornerback A.J. Bouye played physical defense on Patriots receiver Brandin Cooks, and drew a pass interference call.
First, the hand-fighting seemed to be mutual. Second, it was debatable if the ball should ever have been considered “catchable.”
In the end, despite numerous outcries on social media, the Patriots find themselves down 14-10 at the half.
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