Healthy Gronkowski ready for playoffs
FOXBORO — Statistically speaking, it was another quiet day at the football office for Rob Gronkowski. The tight end exited Sunday’s contest at Gillette Stadium with just two catches for 24 yards in the Patriots’ 38-3 laugher over the hapless New York Jets.
At least Gronk didn’t put up a goose egg like he did against Buffalo last Sunday. Still, his output in recent weeks doesn’t exactly ooze confidence with the AFC Di- visional Round next up for New England.
Going back to the Week 15 loss at Pittsburgh, Gronkowski over the past three contests has managed just four catches on 10 targets for 45 yards and zero touchdowns.
With Gronkowski, it always seems to circle back to his health. He had no complaints on that front as he fielded questions by his locker after the Patriots clinched a first-round bye for the ninth straight year.
“I felt good out there and came out of the game feeling good. Just doing what I had to do,” he said. “That was a huge win but it felt good to contribute. It was definitely an up day for the entire team.”
It would have been nice to see Tom Brady target Gronkowski more on Sunday if only to provide a degree of reassurance that everything is peachy keen with the big fella. A big day against New York would have quieted any talk about his lack of production against the Steelers and Bills. With the regular season now in the books and Gronkowski ending it with just 47 catches in 13 games, it’s open season as far as wondering if Gronk’s days as the main cog in the offensive machine are behind him.
Eyebrows in the press box were raised when Gronkowski wasn’t out there for the first three snaps of Sunday’s first drive of the game. The Patriots started off with three straight running plays – all to Sony Michel – before Gronk checked in. Officially, backup Dwayne Allen was listed as the Patriots’ starting tight end for Week 17.
Has Gronkowski morphed into an extra offensive lineman? That certainly appeared to be the case against the Bills. His blocking was once again a major reason why the Patriots’ ground game on Sunday finished with 131 yards on 30 carries. Still, you’re not paying Gronk to help open up running creases for Michel and Rex Burkhead. You want to see him catch the ball and drag a defender or two as he fights for additional yardage.
At this stage, does Gronkowski still strike fear into the hearts of the opposition? On the first play of the second quarter, Gronkowski had the underneath route but the ball went over the top to Julian Edelman for an 18-yard gain. It was your classic pick-yourpoison scenario where the Jets had a decision to make. Stop Gronk, who was crossing over the middle, or take away Edelman.
If Gronkowski is able to draw an extra defender so that it benefits Edelman, Chris Hogan or Philip Dorsett, that would be akin to found money. You just don’t want to see Gronk relegated to decoy status to the point where he resembles a statue.
When Gronkowski took a short pass from Brady and turned it into a 14-yard gain at the 5:57 mark of the first quarter, cheers rang down from the Gillette Faithful. These are well-educated fans who know Gronkowski was coming off a game where he didn’t haul in a single pass. On that same play, Gronk moved to seventh all-time in receiving yards for a tight end.
The Jets aided Gronkowski on the aforementioned 14-yard catch-andrun by giving him a free release from the line of scrimmage.
“It’s a lot easier than when you have a linebacker in your face and he’s trying the jam you,” said Gronkowski. “Getting a free release helps you get open within the pattern.”
A questionable offensive pass interference call on Allen in the third quarter robbed Gronkowski of a big gain, one that featured him gain 18 yards after making the catch. His second and final grab came later in the third and saw Gronk take New York safety Jamal Adams for a ride en route to picking up 10 yards.
Gronkowski hasn’t hidden how difficult of a year it’s been for him. When he spoke at the podium last Thursday, he seemed like a beaten man as he talked about the different challenges he’s faced this season.
On Sunday, Gronkowski seemed far more upbeat. Maybe that stems from not having to play next weekend.
“Now we can rest up and clean up the bumps and bruises,” said Gronkowski. “It’s going to be exciting as we move forward.”
What would be even more exciting is to see the return of the pass-catching version of Rob Gronkowski as the Patriots prepare to shift into playoff mode.