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New England Patriots Must Use Danny Amendola In AFC Championship

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By @ConnorFultonRS

Danny Amendola New England Patriots

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

After being the odd man out in the New England Patriots’ receiving corps for most of the regular season, Danny Amendola has burst back onto the scene. If Amendola can keep up the good work, the Patriots’ passing attack will be that much more formidable, and the team as a whole will benefit. Mark these words: if Amendola eclipses 75 yards receiving against the Indianapolis Colts in Sunday’s AFC Championship, the Patriots will be booking a flight to Super Bowl XLIX.

To say Amendola had a dismal regular season would be putting it lightly. He caught 27 passes for only 200 yards and only one touchdown. Many members of the media and Patriots fan base were frustrated with Amendola’s apparent timid play earlier in the season, and while he did earn a role in the kick return game, Amendola wasn’t exactly a player that you would watch excitedly when he touched the ball.

And then Julian Edelman suffered a concussion against the Miami Dolphins in Week 15, forcing him to miss the remainder of the regular season.

Essentially taking over Edelman’s duties in the passing game, Amendola nabbed eight passes on 11 targets for 63 yards against the New York Jets in Week 16. He also impressed on punt returns, averaging 21 yards per return on three attempts, including a 39-yard scamper. The Jets game reminded Patriots fans that Amendola is a useful player.

Against the Baltimore Ravens this past Sunday, Amendola exploded for 81 yards and a pair of scores — both season-highs — on five catches. Numbers can’t explain the outstanding performance that Amendola put on in the Divisional Round; his leaping, pylon-kissing first touchdown ignited the Patriots to a second-quarter resurgence. His second touchdown, a 51-yard bomb from fellow receiver Edelman, rocked Gillette Stadium and powered the Pats to victory.

Now that Amendola is back in the fold, the Colts will have their hands very full. Indy can’t allocate too many resources toward Rob Gronkowski and Edelman, as Amendola is on a hot streak and will make them pay for underestimating him. Oh, and Brandon LaFell is having a career year and will burn the Colts over the top if they are too preoccupied with the short-yardage passing game that features Edelman and Amendola.

If Amendola is able to rack up four or five catches for decent yardage, it will mean that the Colts will have to respect him. That could take the form of one less player in the box, allowing the ground game to take effect; or, we could see LaFell in single coverage with a single safety over the top. No matter how you slice it, only good things will happen if the Patriots get Amendola involved.

Remember: 75 yards is all the Patriots will need out of Amendola to win the AFC Championship.

Connor Fulton is a Patriots writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @ConnorFultonRS, or find him on Google. 

More from Connor Fulton:

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Colts vs. Patriots

Top 10 Players in 2015 AFC Championship Game

6 Reasons Why Patriots Will Win 2015 AFC Championship

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