"Not long after the Patriots charged out of the giant inflated helmet and onto the field for Saturday night's AFC divisional round showdown with Denver, they huddled together by the sideline.

Players jumped up and down and stood as one to hear a quick sermon delivered by a teammate who quietly has emerged as their emotional leader.

Jerod Mayo stepped into the middle of the huddle and gave a rousing, inspirational message. If you knew the linebacker when he first walked through the Gillette Stadium doors as a quiet, respectful first round-pick in 2008, the image was daunting."