After Big Touchdown Catch, Amendola Just Happy With Patriots' Win
BOSTON (CBS) -- Danny Amendola came to New England with some big expectations, but after a strong performance in his Patriots debut he hasn't delivered much else.
But the receiver may have gained the confidence and mojo he needs in Thursday night's win over the Jets.
Amendola caught just one of the three passes that Tom Brady sent his way, but it may have been the biggest catch of the game. With the Patriots facing a third-and-19 and up by just one point, Brady scrambled, trying to buy some time for his receivers. At that point Amendola broke back in towards the middle of the field, turning Antonio Allen around in the process. He turned around just in time to see Brady's pass, make a great catch while spinning in the air, and tumble into the end zone for his first touchdown since last December. It's a play that will be on all the highlight reels for the next week, and gave the Patriots a much-needed cushion in their 27-25 win.
"It was a big time play that he made there," said quarterback Tom Brady, who threw three touchdowns in the victory. "That was a great kind of ad lib. He ran a little return route and then when he saw me scramble, broke it up field like we talk about all the time and made a great catch."
When asked what his corner could have done differently against Amendola, Jets head coach Rex Ryan was at a loss.
"I have no idea – just the greatest route in the history of the game," said Ryan, who angrily removed his headset and kicked the air on the Jets sideline after the play.
But Amendola wasn't gushing about the catch after the game. For him, all the excitement came from seeing the final score.
"We came out on top and that's what I'm most excited about," Amendola told reporters. "I've caught a lot of balls in a game and lost. I've caught a lot of balls in a game and won. I've caught zero balls in a game and won and zero balls in a game and lost. No matter what, to come out on top is most important. That's when everybody is happiest and that's when we grow as a team. We're all excited. Good win for us."
Amendola may have seen his role with the team grow a bit on Thursday night. While he usually only finds himself on the field when the Patriots go with three wide receiver sets, he took over return duties on kickoffs, averaging 26 yards on his four returns.
"For me it was just trying to get involved in the game and just try to do as much as I can to create a spark and get involved in the offense," he said of returning kicks, something he hadn't done since he was with the St. Louis Rams in 2012. "It was fun."
Amendola also drew a key pass interference penalty just before halftime, which led to three extra points for the Patriots before they went into the locker room.
"Nobody works harder than Danny," said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. "He's working every day: offense, scout team, special teams. He always works hard. He's a really competitive kid; tough. No question about it."
The touchdown grab was just Amendola's fourth catch of the season, so there is no telling what he'll do the rest of the way. But he's finding new ways to make an impact on the game with his special teams contributions, and as long as the team keeps putting up wins, he'll be happy.
"It was a good night for our whole team. We came out with a win," he echoed. "I almost had a heart attack at the end, but the defense came up huge with the stop and the blocked field goal. So, it was a good overall win for us."
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