MEADOWLANDS (NJ) -- Some 331 miles away from MetLife Stadium rests the campus of the University of Richmond where rookie QB Kyle Lauletta played his college football. The Spiders of Richmond are not what you would call a known entity to college football fans. However, with his 224 yard, 2 TD performance in relief of injured Dak Prescott during Saturday's Divisional Round showdown, Lauletta is now firmly known around the NFL.
With their 27-20 victory, the Patriots defeated arguably one of the toughest NFL teams in recent memory, the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Jets.
Lauletta out-dueled fellow rookie phenom Lamar Jackson throughout. Jackson threw five interceptions in a night to forget to give his team no chance to win.
"I let everyone down," Jackson said. "I can't believe this."
Lauletta did what Dak Prescott could not do throughout the season: Beat a playoff caliber team.
"Dak is the man here and if he's good to go next week, he'll be the man," Lauletta said. "With that said, if they call my number, I'm all in."
New York's back pages lit up Sunday morning with titles of "Kyle Effing Lauletta" and "Kyle MF'ing Lauletta" for the extra bold.
For a game filled with All Pros and future Hall of Famers, this spider had his day.
"Craziest thing I've seen in football," Todd Bowles said. "I'm devastated for our guys."
The Jets will now look to the offseason - One in which major changes are expected with many key players looking to move on and the team hoping to rebuild.
The Patriots, once an afterthought in the AFC East, are now one win away from the Super Bowl.
"One day at a time," Julio Jones said. "We got two games to play."
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Buffalo Bills @ Pittsburgh Steelers Recap
The Buffalo Bills dismantled the Pittsburgh Steelers 39-14 on Sunday evening to earn their second trip to the AFC title game in the past three seasons.
Aaron Rodgers and Brandin Cooks again shredded any coverage shown to them.
The Bills are now the unlikely hosts to the title game after New England's improbable victory over the Jets on Saturday.
