Was anyone else totally shocked on 4th and long bomb to Gronk?

I haven't seen anyone mention this yet but perhaps in the game thread.

I was speechless. I have seen Brady do a lot of improbable things, like the TD pass to Thompkins over the Saints, but to do this in an AFC Championship game?

And the 4th down TD to Gronk was almost as crazy.

I went from complete anger at seeing James White interfered with on that series with no call, to mute astonishment that Gronk and Brady hooked up.

It was pretty sweet. I wish they would let it rip like that a bit more often.

Certainly a high risk play at an absolutely critical juncture. Great throw and great catch.

If you look back over the course of the season I bet Brady was only something like 2/20 on passes thrown that far in the air. (again complete guess)

Was kinda expecting a draw to James White .

Gronk was unbelievable. That game just proved he's probably the best offensive weapon in the league. Both 4th down catches were two of the more clutch plays I've seen from a Patriots player. Shame it came in a losing effort.

i thought the 4th and goal throw to gronk would of been intercepted.
just looked like brady said **** it...i'll just throw it up and hope someone catches it.

That whole final drive is a testament to how good both Brady and Gronk are.. With that much pressure , in hostile territory to be able to pull that from the ole bag of tricks is a great measurement of how big bradys and gronks cajones are.

Once more proving that Denver still has no answer for Gronk.

Olsen will have a big game against them.

I loved it. Throw it to the best player in the league and let him make a play

I remember lots of swears of happiness....

Kdo5 said:

Gronk was unbelievable. That game just proved he's probably the best offensive weapon in the league. Both 4th down catches were two of the more clutch plays I've seen from a Patriots player. Shame it came in a losing effort.

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Definitely... Heroic effort by Gronk. Multiple huge game saving plays. He showed extreme toughness and amazing hands, and it seemed like he was still playing through some pain too. Just a hell of a player.

They shouldve just called a play for gronk on the 2pt also, regardless of what the coverage was. Live and die with your best players.

The route looked to me like a vintage Gronk "**** everything I am going in" seam route that hasn't been called that often anymore due to obvious injury concerns.

It reminded me of that perfect throw and catch last year against the Dolphins at home.

FourierSeries said:

Once more proving that Denver still has no answer for Gronk.

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Gronk's career vs them

7 games

48 rec
660 yards
7 TD


That's a pace of

109 rec
1508 yards
16 TD

over 16 games.

That's just an insane amount production for a TE.

I wasn't shocked at all. Nothing that guy does surprises me anymore. As soon as he came down with that, I was just annoyed it was an 8 point game and I knew a TD and a conversion was gonna be difficult.

It's too bad none of our WRs stepped up to help him out. Edelman is a must stay, but it's time to move on from amendola and lafell at a price of 9 million a year.

We can find Brady better WRs for that price to team up with gronk and Edelman

Not really.

That throw was decided the second Brady saw the coverage. They brought the safety on that side down 8 yards from the LOS to guard from Gronk going across the middle. So with Harris lined up across from Gronk, Brady knew with the route Gronk was running the safety had no chance and Harris was never going to try to get a jam on Gronk and was always going to give him some cushion because if Gronk gets off his jam its a walk in TD.

Ross12 said:

Definitely... Heroic effort by Gronk. Multiple huge game saving plays. He showed extreme toughness and amazing hands, and it seemed like he was still playing through some pain too. Just a hell of a player.

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Yeah, I said this is another thread, but the last drive would've went down as one of the great moments in Patriots postseason history had we pulled that off. First, the improbable bomb and 4th and 10, followed by the sheer determination touchdown catch on 4th and goal. Season on the line, and the two hook up for two epic connections to stave off elimination. It's really too bad.

Once i saw it leave his hands i said "****" but then jumped in joy...sports are cruel

It was probably the most excited I've been all year, reminded me of Edelmans pass last year.

Felt like they were finally saying, "If we're gonna go down, we're gonna do it with our best two players."

Gronk was so good on Sunday, dehydration and all. That might have been peak Gronk.