Patriots back in AFC title game, Titans trip into offseason

FOXBOROUGH (AP) — The New England Patriots have handled every bit of adversity that has been thrown at them this season — from a string of injuries to the recent off-field firestorm created by reports of purported discord within the core of the franchise.

Now, they’ll have a chance to play for yet another AFC championship.

The Patriots’ 35-14 victory over the Titans in Saturday’s divisional round was yet another reminder of the defending Super Bowl champion’s unique ability to not only compartmentalize, but play some of their best football in the face of it.

Tom Brady chuckled when he was asked after the game about his name being mentioned in a swirl of media reports last week about alleged bickering between himself, coach Bill Belichick and team owner Robert Kraft.

“Noooo,” he responded sarcastically, when a reporter asked about Brady’s name being mentioned in a negative light.

But Brady said it “just goes with the territory.

“I just try to be consistent, show up and do the best I can do every week for the team and regardless of whether I’m the worst quarterback in the league or the best quarterback in the league or somewhere in-between,” he said.

It was Brady’s 10th career postseason game with at least three TD tosses, moving him past Joe Montana for the most in NFL history. It also brought out some of the best football in his teammates.

James White caught a touchdown pass and ran for another, and Danny Amendola had 11 catches for 112 yards — his first career 100-yard receiving game.

“All the hard work we put in is for these moments,” White said. “We have to make the most of these opportunities.”

Marcus Mariota tossed an early touchdown pass to give the Titans an early 7-0 lead. But Tennessee faltered down the stretch as the Patriots defense swarmed the third-year quarterback and sacked him a Patriots playoff-record eight times.

Titans coach Mike Mularkey revealed after the game that Mariota suffered a strained quadriceps muscle in the first quarter. But Mariota said it was no excuse.

“Everybody plays with something,” he said.

He said he walked off the field feeling “embarrassed” a week after leading his team back from 18 points down against Kansas City. But he said watching the efficiency of Brady and the Patriots was a learning experience he will take with him moving forward.

“You don’t play to come and lose in the divisional playoff. You play to win the whole thing,” Mariota said. “Obviously, this is the blueprint. New England’s been in the playoffs consistently. We can learn a lot from them.”

JAGUARS 45, STEELERS 42 — The Jacksonville Jaguars haven’t faced the New England Patriots in a game that matters in more than two years. That’s OK. They know a pretty good place to go to get a heads up on their opponent in the AFC title game.

“We need the notes the Steelers have on the Patriots because they were doing a lot of advanced scouting,” safety Barry Church said Sunday after the Jaguars stunned Pittsburgh 45-42 to earn a trip to Foxborough next weekend to face the defending Super Bowl champions. “We need all the notes they got on the Patriots. Other than that, it’s time to roll to New England baby.”

With their brute force rookie running back, their enigmatic quarterback and more than a little bit of swagger in tow.

“You can do all the talking you want on Twitter, to the media, all of that,” Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey said. “But when you get on the field you’re going to have to produce, you’re going to have to show us what you’re about. We’re confident because we know the work we put in. We’re going to go out there confident.”

It showed.

Ticked off by several Steelers openly talking about a rematch with the Patriots with a spot in the Super Bowl on the line, the Jaguars took it out on Pittsburgh one touchdown at a time. They earned the franchise’s third trip to the conference championship game in the process.