Guys its not over lets stand strong THIS IS A CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON

[Bill Lee]

We haven't lost Brady, Hightower, or Butler for the year. This isn't good any way you look at it, but it could be worse. Let's keep rolling on and see what happens.

The difference is that Gronk (and Lewis too) have significant injury histories. That means you have to have a better plan if/when they are out due to injury. I get it, our great record in the BB era means we draft late (and the NJFL likes to confiscate picks too) so we have to take more risks to get decent talent, but still, I wish we had a downfield threat for 2nd TE.

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

This team can win without Gronk though. Aren't they like 4-1 or 5-1 without him? Granted, playoff teams are a different beast.

 

[Kontradiction]

This may sound crazy but hear me out...





















































































































...I think they need home field in the playoffs.

 

[XLIX]

I just don't understand the panic. Rob Gronkowski has not been his usual self this year, but we are 9-2 anyway. That's 11 games we have played. He only has 3 100-yard games, and only 4 games with more than 56 yards. He only has 3 touchdowns. We are 5-0 in games where Gronk doesn't have a reception.

Yes it sucks. Yes we are better with him. But he has not been lighting up the league this year, so losing him is not as much of a drop off as it has been in years past.

 

[Ross12]

Wait wasn't the OP just yesterday was full on doom-and-gloom about the Pats chances this season based on the practice report from a Wednesday practice?

You're correct - he said the season was "over" and "we're screwed" when he heard Benji Brady saying his dad was taking pills for something.

 

[Deus Irae]

Somewhere between

and

lies the appropriate response.

 

[BelichicksBlackEye]

im not too concerned about our playoff/superbowl chances....the only thing i am concerned about is Gronks career.

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

I just don't understand the panic. Rob Gronkowski has not been his usual self this year, but we are 9-2 anyway. That's 11 games we have played. He only has 3 100-yard games, and only 4 games with more than 56 yards. He only has 3 touchdowns. We are 5-0 in games where Gronk doesn't have a reception.

Yes it sucks. Yes we are better with him. But he has not been lighting up the league this year, so losing him is not as much of a drop off as it has been in years past.

I think people are worried because we might need him against playoff calibur teams. Beating bad teams without him isn"t as hard.

Or at least I guess.

 

[Brick27]

The difference is that Gronk (and Lewis too) have significant injury histories. That means you have to have a better plan if/when they are out due to injury. I get it, our great record in the BB era means we draft late (and the NJFL likes to confiscate picks too) so we have to take more risks to get decent talent, but still, I wish we had a downfield threat for 2nd TE.

And because of Gronk's extensive injury history, I'd argue Bill and co. have more experience and preparation in place to cope with life without Gronk compared to other key players. It's awful any way you look at it, just looking for a silver lining.

 

[Bradyking12]

The Patriots have gone 5-1 pretty much without Gronk this season. Four of those weeks, Brady was also out. It's not ideal, but I have faith. Why shouldn't I with the GOAT HC and QB of the NEP at the helm?

And for those who say the Pats are "CURSED"...a leading winning percentage and these......

....beg to differ with you.

OMG im dying to see a 5th one on the right

 

[102 Pat]

For many the glass is already empty and the water was turned off. Which also means they won't shower and will stink like sh.t.

This post needs a funny and winner icon, bravo!!!

 

[Joey007]

So 8 weeks from now would be what, January 26th? The Super Bowl is a week and a half after that, for what it's worth.

For all we know, it might not even take eight weeks.

 

[luuked]

I know I had my doubts, especially on here but as Patriot fans, the world is against us and after the time I spent watching this team battle adversity, we are in the driver seat because unlike other years we have more than enough weapons to sustain us (Edelman, Bennett, Amendola, Hogan, Mitchell, Lewis, White, we can win a Super Bowl with that offense, the next few weeks of the season will be tuff but come playoff time we will get the ball rolling, we still beat Ravens/Broncos imo, this situation will give this team that rare spark that always takes us to the promise land, oh and if we make it to the Super Bowl he will be able to play and I dont see any bulldozing godzilla football teams in the AFC so we are fine

At this point you are either the best executed troll account in a while here or maybe bi-polar.. wow those opinion swings..

 

[brdmaverick]

Of course we still have a chance, it's just that our chances went down. We're all just still absorbing the news so of course we're currently in the state of shock and disappointment.

We certainly can still win. Brady and his other weapons are still top tier....Gronk just made the unit superhuman.

Our path got a lot harder and that's why the rest of the contenders are cheering about this news. It won't even be a cake walk getting out of the AFC (teams like KC, DEN, and PIT are no joke). I'll be rooting hard for DEN and PIT to be out of the playoffs completely.

 

[mosslost]

Gronk is second only to Brady. We are with the pack now. HFA is totally necessary... and I could see several teams now with a chance to beat us even at home. They must get the HFA, and like 2012 it might not be enough. I fear this era could be characterized by "we got 1 title" we should have got at least 3 more with all the Gronk injuries.

 

[AvocadoIceCream]

So 8 weeks from now would be what, January 26th? The Super Bowl is a week and a half after that, for what it's worth.

For all we know, it might not even take eight weeks.

It's Gronk tho... no chance he's back

 

[captain insano]

i can't see why the pats don't have as good a chance as any to win a sb. they have pleanty of offensive weapons. its not like there is some super team out there that everybody is afraid to face. as long as bennet can go they will be fine. you can almost guarantee bennet gets a new deal from the team.

 

[Nikolai]

Hell yes! This season is far from over! The glass is still half full for me, for those with a glass half empty feeling,um....have fun?

Right? I don't see the point in being so damned miserable. What are they going to do if the Pats go 8-8 one day after TFB and BB move on?

Actually, they probably won't be here...

I'm not a big baseball guy, but I always hear that this doom and gloom **** is a carry over from when the Red Sox had their World Series drought; it's just how these fans are. They feel that if it's good, it's too good to be true, so when a dose of reality hits they're like "ah ha!" like they found the missing piece to some depressing puzzle.

 

[BradyFTW!]

no gronk and a bad defense...

brady's passer rating dips 20 points without gronk...this aint good no matter how you spin it!

Most games without Gronk came when we didn't have the personnel to handle his loss. Almost all of his games missed came in 2012 and 2013, whole different ballgame now.

 

[Bill Lee]

And because of Gronk's extensive injury history, I'd argue Bill and co. have more experience and preparation in place to cope with life without Gronk compared to other key players. It's awful any way you look at it, just looking for a silver lining.

Hopefully the silver lining will be the emergence of Matt Lengel at Bavaro/Coates/Gronkowski/Bennett levels of play!