Why Jaguars, Blake Bortles Pose Real Threat to Patriots, Tom Brady

New England area columnist points out similarities between Jacksonville QB, Eli Manning.

Jaguars
Blake Bortles #5 of the Jacksonville Jaguars warms up before the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on January 14, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

Before everyone anoints the New England Patriots as the eventual Super Bowl LII champions, a local columnist is warning that the Jacksonville Jaguars pose a very real threat this Sunday. For starters, writes, Tim O’Sullivan of the Concord Monitor: “Between Tom Brady’s injured hand and Jacksonville’s defense, Sunday’s AFC championship feels more dangerous than any game involving the Jags, or Jag-wires, or whatever we’re supposed to call them, should feel.” But then there’s the mystery of Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles, a “punchline” in his first four seasons. O’Sullivan reminds complacent Patriots fans that Giants quarterback Eli Manning was also underestimated before he connected with that infamous pass to David Tyree. O’Sullivan sees another similarity between this year’s Jacksonville team and the 2007 and 2011 Giants squads that upset the Pats in those Super Bowls — a defensive squad with the ability to put Brady in the grass.

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