Put simply: There is no tight end in the National Football League like Gronkowski, and New England knows it, which is precisely why offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels works feverishly to get him the ball as much as possible. The wide receiver broke his left foot in the Patriots’ Week 10 victory over the New York Giants and underwent surgery shortly after.
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Edelman caught 10 passes for 100 yards in the win, and made several key third-down receptions to extend drives. He connected with the usual suspects, tossing to Edelman, Gronkowski and Amendola. Bryan Stork went down early with a knee injury, but returned to the game.
“It’s pretty cool”, Brady said. So that’s what we’re going to try to be.
“It’s been hard, watching your teammates out there fighting for wins week after week while you are (rehabbing)”.
New England’s 6-foot-6, 265-pound behemoth of a tight end was listed as questionable hours before he took the field.
Conversely, New England’s Bill Belichick has lost just one playoff divisional round test at home as the Patriots’ head hoodie: To the Jets in 2010-11 and (not a misprint) quarterback Mark Sanchez.
The Chiefs were trying to get to the AFC championship game for the first time since the 1993 season, but there were simply too many mistakes – the type Kansas City rarely made during its franchise-record streak.
The Chiefs forced 29 turnovers in the regular season compared to 13 all of previous year, which included six interceptions. If the Broncos beat the Steelers on Sunday, Denver hosts the title game. “Every week that’s our plan, that’s our goal: Dominate every snap”. Both of his touchdowns came on throws toward the sideline, in which the Patriots capitalized on mismatches.
To tie the previous record-holders, Gronkowski also scored the Patriots’ first touchdown of the day, an 8-yard pass from quarterback Tom Brady. The Pats rushed for 38, but that included a Tom Brady touchdown.
“It gives us a great example of where we need to be”, Reid said. “That’s what this is all about”. However, he told reporters he feels good enough where he expects to be out there next week against their next opponent in the AFC Championship game and that’s good news for his teammates, who were glad to have him back. They face a significantly stronger test in the divisional round.
Reid called Maclin and Houston game-time decisions. He also praised the efforts of Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware, who have helped make up for Jamaal Charles’ absence.
Maclin was described as having a mild high ankle sprain.
“Ultimately, it comes down to those two guys”, Smith said. “So, this is a good experience for us”.
The mood in New England’s locker room appears straightforward: It’s great to get a win, but there’s still plenty of work to be done.
Julian Edelman’s return ramps up New England’s offense. Chandler Jones, who fell on Smith, was credited with the sack. Jones was admitted to the hospital for treatment, and his home smelled of burnt marijuana when officers arrived, according to police reports. Amendola was back to receive a punt, but Fleming was covering and got under the ball at around the 4-yard line.
“We wanted to get a play off right there”.
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This will be the first postseason meeting between the clubs.
