ORCHARD PARK, N.Y — For a little guy, Wes Welker left some huge shoes to fill in New England.
For six seasons, he was Tom Brady’s “go-to” guy. When the Patriots needed a first down, a clutch catch, somebody to move the chains, Welker was often Option Number One.
In five of the six years he was a Patriot, Welker caught at least 111 passes. He set a team record for receptions with 123 in 2009 and had 122 in 2011.
Then, Thursday night in Denver, in his first game with the Broncos, he had nine catches, two of them for touchdowns.
Talk about tough acts to follow.
It would be easier to sing after Sinatra, or for an understudy to step in for James Earl Jones in a Broadway play.
That was the situation Danny Amendola found himself in Sunday afternoon against the Bills.
He was playing Welker’s position of slot receiver, but he was the center of attention.
Everyone in New England was watching him, wondering if he really could replace the wildly popular — and highly productive — Welker.
So it was troubling when, late in the first half, after catching three passes for 40 yards, Amendola limped off the field in obvious discomfort with what appeared to be a strained groin muscle.
Talk about a worst-case scenario.
Amendola came to New England with a reputation of being injury prone.
He played in only one game for the Rams in 2011 because of a dislocated elbow and sat out five games for St. Louis last season because of shoulder and ankle injuries.
No one ever questioned Amendola’s productivity. His durability, however, was another matter entirely — particularly when compared with Welker, who would take a licking and keep on playing, missing just three games in his six seasons with the Pats.
So it was significant that, after getting treatment at halftime, Amendola came out in the second half and made some Welker-like plays that helped the Patriots avoid what would have been an embarrassing loss.
In the end, the game came down not to Stephen Gostkowski’s foot but to Amendola’s hands.
With just 1:20 remaining, the Patriots were trailing, 21-20, and facing a 3rd-and-8 situation at the Buffalo 39 — still out of realistic range for a field goal.
That’s when Amendola darted over the middle and made a surehanded grab of a rifled pass from Tom Brady for a first down at the 29.
It was his fourth catch of the desperation drive, and when Shane Vereen followed it with a 15-yard run to the Bills’ 14 on the next play, the Patriots were able to pull out the win on a 35-yard field goal by Gostkowski.
“Danny stepped up,” Belichick said. “He made some big catches in some tough situations.”
Brady spoke similarly of Amendola.
“He really toughed it out, which was pretty impressive,” the quarterback said. “I thought he was going to be out the rest of the game. He gave everything he’s got.”
Amendola showed something Sunday to Patriots fans.
He stayed in the game, and then did as much as any Pats player to win the game.
Targeted 14 times by Brady, he finished with game-high totals of 10 catches for 104 yards.
Afterward, in the crowded visitors locker room, Amendola pointed out that this isn’t the first time he’s followed in Welker’s footsteps.
“I was a senior in high school, and going to Texas Tech, when Wes Welker was there and catching 15 balls a game,” he said. “He’s one of the most productive players ever.”
As a senior at Texas Tech in 2003, Welker caught 97 passes for 1,099 yards. When Amendola was a senior, in 2007, he caught 109 for 1,245 for the Red Raiders.
That’s not to say he’s going to surpass the phenomenal numbers Welker put up in New England. That borders on the impossible. But, if he can avoid injury, Amendola should compile some pretty healthy stats.
“I don’t think about that stuff,” Amendola said when asked about the inevitable comparisons with Welker, and the pressure of trying to replace him — both on the field and in the hearts of Patriots fans.
“I just think about my job. I’m really excited to be here. I love playing with these guys.”
In the first half, he said, “I really didn’t have my legs under me.”
And, when he limped off the field, it seemed as if he might not be running at all in the second half.
“We have some good trainers here,” was Amendola’s tight-lipped explanation for how he was able to keep playing.
“It’s a long game, a physical game,” he said. “You’ve just got to keep fighting.”
After the game, Amendola was feeling no pain.
“Right now,” he said, “I feel good about winning.”
