SPORTS

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski a playoff contributor again

Rich Garven
richard.garven@telegram.com
Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is tackled by Titans safety Kevin Byard after catching a pass during the first half of Saturday's playoff game. [The Associated Press]

FOXBORO — The Patriots have remarkably reached the playoffs in each of Rob Gronkowski’s first eight seasons in New England.

However, the five-time All-Pro tight end hasn’t always been a postseason participant due to injury.

Gronkowski missed the AFC Championship in 2012 after re-injuring his left forearm in a divisional round win over the Houston Texans and was on injured reserve for the playoffs in 2013 and 2016, when the Patriots won Super Bowl LII, after undergoing back surgery both years.

So, Gronkowski was obviously elated to be playing and, of course, contributing as the Patriots defeated the Tennessee Titans, 35-14, here Saturday night in the divisional round to advance to the AFC Championship for a league-record seventh straight season.

“It feels great to be back out there in the hometown, home game in front of our home fans,” Gronkowski said afterward with his trademark wide grin. “It’s super great to be back and it was a great team win.”

The Patriots will host the Jacksonville Jaguars at 3:05 p.m. Sunday with the winner advancing to Super Bowl LI.

Gronkowski played 74 of 81 offensive snaps (91.4 percent) in frigid conditions against the Titans, catching six of nine targeted passes for 81 yards and a touchdown. He made two of the Patriots’ seven longest plays with receptions of 27 and 14 yards.

Perhaps most impressive was the ability of the 6-foot-6, 265-pound Gronkowski to keep or cap drives.

His sixth and final catch went for 4 yards and six points, pushing the score to 34-7 with 10:22 left to play. His other receptions all resulted in first downs.

That continued a season-long trend as 82.6 percent of his receptions (57 of 69) resulted in a touchdown or a first down. That figure ranked third in the league among those with at least 20 receptions.

“I mean it’s not surprising,” offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said. “Rob’s a tough guy to cover. He’s got a big catch radius, and the majority of the things Rob does are at least at the intermediate level if not further down the field. So, he’s a big target, has been very productive for us in a lot of different situations. … That’s what we’re looking for.”

It was also a big night for Gronkowski in the record-setting department.

Gronkowski’s TD catch was his 10th in the playoffs, which moved him into a tie for third all-time among all players behind Jerry Rice (22) and John Stallworth and extended his team record. He ranks fifth all-time among tight ends with 58 catches and second with 835 receiving yards, 13 shy of surpassing Dallas Clark.

“What’s most important is getting that win and that’s what we did,” said Gronkowski, who was voted a team captain for the second straight season. “We took care of our job. Like I just said about Tom’s (Brady) record, everything is great to be part of it.

“That’s great to hear and everything but that’s not really the main goal. Maybe down the road you can look back and look at that stuff, but as of right now what our main goal is just keep on grinding, get the win and that’s what we did.”

Brady tossed three touchdowns against the Titans. It was his league-record 10th postseason game with three-plus TDs, one more than boyhood idol Joe Montana.

Brady and Gronkowski made it look effortless on their scoring strike with the quarterback lofting the ball into the right corner and the tight end going up high to snare it over safety Kevin Byard, who was giving away seven inches and 53 pounds in the mismatch.

“Two great players making a great play,” coach Bill Belichick said. “Great throw, similar to the one that Rob made a couple weeks ago against Buffalo where only Rob can get it and maybe only Rob could have caught it, but Tom put it where Rob could get it and Rob got it. So, like I said, two great players making a great play.”

And, for Gronkowski, what’s really great is to be participating in the playoffs after sitting out last season’s Super Bowl run.

—Contact Rich Garven at rgarven@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @RichGarvenTG.