Did the Patriots Super Bowl dream disappear with Rob Gronkowski?
Enjoy this feeling of elation, New England Patriots fans. Your team has mounted yet another comeback to secure a crucial win over the Cleveland Browns in a wacky, snowy Week 14. But enjoy this feeling while it last, because a MRI scan tomorrow could bring you crashing back to earth.
As we told you earlier, Rob Gronkowski has reportedly torn his ACL after a hit in the 3rd quarter that Brandon Meriweather would be proud of (see it here in Vine form). As you're probably aware, that would be a season ending injury. You'll also be aware that that isn't good.
In fact, this news is so bad, it might not just end Gronk's season, but it could end the realistic chances of New England winning the Super Bowl this year.
Yes it's that serious. Without Gronkowski at the beginning of the year, the Patriots went 5-1. Which sounds good on paper. But the key difference is that the defense was sensational. Aqib Talib was taking key playmakers out of the game, and Vince Wilfork, Tommy Kelly and Jerod Mayo were stuffing the run and were bringing key experience to a burgeoning young defense. But with those three all gone for the season, and Talib clearly not looking 100% after injury, that reliable defense isn't there for you anymore.
And during that spell, the defense was the only thing saving the Patriots. They weren't clicking, they couldn't do anything on 3rd down, they were dropping passes left, right and centre, and without Shane Vereen they were relying on Brandon Bolden as their 3rd down back. Which did not work.
The return of Gronk changed everything. Though he struggled with his new armcast early, he still put up Gronk like stats, with 560 yards and 4 TDs. Not only that, but he gave Tom Brady a security blanket, a guy aside from Julian Edelman he could trust, and he gave Defensive Coordinators a huge problem to plan for. The offense was suddenly making up for the defensive frailties caused by injuries.
With him now gone again, probably for the rest of the season, what have you got? Vereen has been explosive out of the backfield, but he's the only guy who can provide Gronkowski like production. Edelman has been great stepping up all season, but he can be an injury concern, as are rest of your WRs - Aaron Dobson, Kenbrell Thompkins, Danny Amendola and Austin Collie. Your running backs have been fairly productive, but have had a case on fumblitis all season. And, as much as I hate to say it, Tom hasn't been at his best, throwing behind guys, overthrowing guys, and his protection has been awful, adding to his insecurities in the pocket.
The offense was unproductive and stuttering throughout the first 6 weeks, and while the previous 6 games will have given them the confidence needed to pull themselves out of some ridiculous holes this year, without Gronk, can they really continue to go into a shoot out with the likes of Peyton Manning in the offseason, or be productive against the good defenses of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals? Probably not.
So, realistically, the Gronk sized hole in the offense will probably be too bigger hole to fill for the Pats.
Or maybe, maybe, it might not matter. The Patriots have had to overcome the offseason surgeries on Gronkowski, they've had to overcome their 100 catch, 1000 yard receiver leaving to their biggest rival. They've had to overcome a star player being charged with murder. They've had to comeback in so many games. They're 7-3 in games that have been won by 7 or less, 10-3 overall. At one stage or another this season, they've lost a key player in every position group, aside from QB. They've had to overcome their city being attacked by bombers. Hell, they've even had to overcome Tebowmania...
And, after all that. They're 10-3. They're in the #2 seed. Maybe this year has been so crazy, with so many disruptions to overcome, this might just be their year...
I'm on Twitter, let me know your thoughts @BrendanAnnely
As we told you earlier, Rob Gronkowski has reportedly torn his ACL after a hit in the 3rd quarter that Brandon Meriweather would be proud of (see it here in Vine form). As you're probably aware, that would be a season ending injury. You'll also be aware that that isn't good.
 |
| Photo from espn.com |
Yes it's that serious. Without Gronkowski at the beginning of the year, the Patriots went 5-1. Which sounds good on paper. But the key difference is that the defense was sensational. Aqib Talib was taking key playmakers out of the game, and Vince Wilfork, Tommy Kelly and Jerod Mayo were stuffing the run and were bringing key experience to a burgeoning young defense. But with those three all gone for the season, and Talib clearly not looking 100% after injury, that reliable defense isn't there for you anymore.
And during that spell, the defense was the only thing saving the Patriots. They weren't clicking, they couldn't do anything on 3rd down, they were dropping passes left, right and centre, and without Shane Vereen they were relying on Brandon Bolden as their 3rd down back. Which did not work.
The return of Gronk changed everything. Though he struggled with his new armcast early, he still put up Gronk like stats, with 560 yards and 4 TDs. Not only that, but he gave Tom Brady a security blanket, a guy aside from Julian Edelman he could trust, and he gave Defensive Coordinators a huge problem to plan for. The offense was suddenly making up for the defensive frailties caused by injuries.
 |
| Photo from patriots.com |
The offense was unproductive and stuttering throughout the first 6 weeks, and while the previous 6 games will have given them the confidence needed to pull themselves out of some ridiculous holes this year, without Gronk, can they really continue to go into a shoot out with the likes of Peyton Manning in the offseason, or be productive against the good defenses of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals? Probably not.
So, realistically, the Gronk sized hole in the offense will probably be too bigger hole to fill for the Pats.
Or maybe, maybe, it might not matter. The Patriots have had to overcome the offseason surgeries on Gronkowski, they've had to overcome their 100 catch, 1000 yard receiver leaving to their biggest rival. They've had to overcome a star player being charged with murder. They've had to comeback in so many games. They're 7-3 in games that have been won by 7 or less, 10-3 overall. At one stage or another this season, they've lost a key player in every position group, aside from QB. They've had to overcome their city being attacked by bombers. Hell, they've even had to overcome Tebowmania...
And, after all that. They're 10-3. They're in the #2 seed. Maybe this year has been so crazy, with so many disruptions to overcome, this might just be their year...
I'm on Twitter, let me know your thoughts @BrendanAnnely
