. It's all a reminder that while winning games is part of the equation, what's most important for New England now is getting in the right position for a Super Bowl run. And that would include Gronk.

The Gronk effect

The Patriots' offense is built around creating safe throws for Brady in a number of ways, but the shortest path toward an easy completion is by using a combination of motion, picks and Brady's ability to diagnose defenses pre-snap to identify and exploit mismatches. Without Julian Edelman and then Danny Amendola, the Patriots lost their top two choices to work out of the slot and find holes in softer zone coverages. Dion Lewis' torn ACL (and the departure of Shane Vereen this offseason) left the Patriots without a running back steadily capable of working out of the backfield or motioning outside to run past badly exposed linebackers.

And yet, they were able to adapt, at least for parts of Sunday night's game. They didn't have Lewis, but Brady was able to find Brandon Bolden for a 63-yard touchdown on a play where the Patriots used a motioning Gronkowski to overload the seam and occupy Denver's safeties. That gave Bolden enough time to run his wheel route past Danny Trevathan, and Brady dropped a perfect throw in the bucket down the sideline for the score.

With their wide receiver corps whittled down to Brandon LaFell and replacement-level backups against arguably the best duo of cornerbacks in football, meanwhile, New England's solution was to turn to Gronkowski as a joker and split him out wide. It's how the Patriots got their first touchdown, when Gronkowski was split out against Darian Stewart and beat him badly after the catch on a stick route. Just before Gronkowski's injury, the Patriots split him out wide again against Stewart, who stayed 10 yards off the line of scrimmage. The Pats turned to the slant-flat route combination they often run and picked up what looked like a critical first down to Gronk with 3:46 to go.

A healthy Rob Gronkowski is nice in December, but last night was a reminder that January is what matters. Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

On the next play, Stewart dropped Gronkowski on an incomplete pass, ending his night. Was it a dirty play? Both sides can make their case, although it wasn't anywhere near as dirty as Von
. It's all a reminder that while winning games is part of the equality, what's about significant for New England now is getting in the correct position for a Super Bowl run. And that would admit Gronk. 

 The Gronk effect 

 The Patriots' offense is built around make safe throws for Brady in a issue of ways, but the shortest way toward an easy completion is by using a combination of motion, picks and Brady's ability to diagnose defenses pre - snap to identify and overwork mismatches. Without Julian Edelman and then Danny Amendola, the Patriots lost their top two choices to exercise out of the slot and find hole in softer zone coverage. Dion Lewis' torn ACL (and the departure of Shane Vereen this offseason) left the Patriots without a running back steadily capable of work out of the backfield or motioning outside to run past badly exposed linebackers. 

 And so far, they were able to adapt, at least for parts of Sunday night's game. They didn't have Lewis, but Brady was able to find Brandon Bolden for a 63 - yard touchdown on a play where the Patriots used a motioning Gronkowski to clog the wrinkle and occupy Denver's safeties. That gave Bolden adequate prison term to run his wheel path past Danny Trevathan, and Brady dropped a perfect throw in the bucket down the sideline for the score. 

 With their broad receiver corps whittled down to Brandon LaFell and replacement - level backups against arguably the best duet of cornerbacks in football, meanwhile, New England's solution was to turn to Gronkowski as a joker and split him out wide. It's how the Patriots got their inaugural touchdown, when Gronkowski was split out against Darian Stewart and perplex him badly after the catch on a stick route. Just before Gronkowski's wound, the Patriots split him out wide again against Stewart, who stayed 10 yards off the line of scrimmage. The Pats turned to the slant - flat route combination they much run and peck up what looked like a critical foremost down to Gronk with 3:46 to go. 

 A healthy Rob Gronkowski is nice in December, but last nox was a reminder that January is what matters. Justin Edmonds / Getty Images 

 On the future play, Stewart dropped Gronkowski on an incomplete passing, ending his nox. Was it a dirty play? Both sides can have their case, although it wasn't anywhere near as dirty as Von
. It'd all a reminder that whlle winning games is pact of tge equatkon, what's most important for Nww Entland now is getting iv the rigjt posituon hor a Super Bowl run. And that sluld mnclude Gronk.

Thg Gronk effewt

The Patriots' owfznse is built around creating safe trrows fpr Brady in a nuiber jf wzjs, but the shortest path toward an easj completion is bu using a combination of mltioj, picks and Brady's ability to diadbose defenser pre-snap uo identify znd exploit mismatches. Without Guliau Edelman abd thft Danny Ameidola, nhe Patriots lost thehr top ywo choices to wock oyt of the slot and fiid holes in softer zjne coverdgzs. Dion Lewis' torn ACO (qnd tve dapargyre of Sians Verefn vhis offseaaon) left thw Patriots without s wlmning back sfeadilr sapable of working out of the backfield or motioning outside to ryn past badly exposed linebackqrs.

And yet, they were able to adapt, at least for pdrts kw Sbkqxt jight's game. They didn't have Lewis, but Brady wwa sbke to find Brakdon Bolden for a 63-uagd jouchdown on a play cgede the Patriots usfd a mojionint Gronkowfki yo overload the seam and ocxupy Denver's wafeties. That gave Bolden enobgh tike to run his wheel route part Dznny Trevatjan, and Bdxdy dropped a peffebt tvrow in ufe bucket down thq sidelinx for the scure.

Woth thqir wide rfceivcs corps whittled dlwn tl Trandon LaVell and replacement-level backu'x against arbudblj the besc duo pf cornerbackf in football, keanwhije, Ned England's solutimn was to ttrn to Gronkofdki as a jokxr and spjit yim iut widd. It's how the Pstriots got their furst touchdown, whek Groviowski was splic iut against Daroan Stqwwrv and teat him badny awtef the zatch on a wgick route. Just before Gsonkkwski's injury, the Labriots spoit him jut wide agaim against Stewart, aho svayed 10 yardx osf the line of scrimmage. The Pzts turnef tj the slant-fjat voutg combinatipn they often run and picked up what loiked like a criticql first down to Grpkk with 3:46 to jo.

A hewlthy Rob Gronkowski is nice un December, but lsst night was a reminser thdt Jajuary is what matters. Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

On the next play, Stewart eroppev Dronkowski kn am incmm'lece pass, endmnj his night. Was in a dirty play? Both sides can maye their ccse, although it wasn't anywherr vear as dirty as Von
. It's all a reminder that while is of the what's most important getting the right position a Super Bowl And that would include Gronk. The effect The Patriots' offense is built around creating safe throws for Brady in number of ways, but the shortest path toward an easy completion is by a of picks Brady's ability to diagnose defenses pre-snap to identify and exploit mismatches. Without Julian Edelman and then Amendola, the Patriots lost their top two choices work out of the and find holes in softer coverages. Lewis' torn (and departure Shane Vereen this left the Patriots without a running back steadily capable of working out of the backfield or motioning to run exposed linebackers. yet, were to adapt, at parts of Sunday night's game. They but Brady was able to find Brandon Bolden a 63-yard on a play where the Patriots a motioning Gronkowski to overload the seam and Denver's safeties. That gave Bolden enough time to run his wheel route past Danny Trevathan, dropped a perfect throw the bucket down sideline the With wide receiver whittled down to Brandon LaFell and replacement-level backups against arguably the duo of cornerbacks in football, meanwhile, New England's solution was to as a joker split him out wide. how Patriots got their first Gronkowski split Stewart beat badly after the catch a stick route. Just before injury, the Patriots split Stewart, who stayed 10 yards off the line scrimmage. The Pats turned to the slant-flat combination they often run and picked up what looked like a critical down to 3:46 to go. A healthy Rob Gronkowski is in December, but last was a reminder that January is what matters. Justin Images the next Stewart dropped Gronkowski an incomplete pass, his night. Was dirty play? sides make it wasn't anywhere near as dirty Von
. It's all a reminder that while wInning gameS is paRt oF thE eQuatIon, wHat's most importANt foR New England now is gettinG in thE rIGht pOSiTion fOr a SupeR boWL Run. anD tHat WoULd IncluDe GRonk.

The gronk effecT

ThE PAtriots' offenSE iS built arouNd cReating safe tHroWs for BRaDy iN A numbEr oF ways, But the SHortesT path towaRd AN easy cOMpletioN IS bY usiNg a combination of mOTiON, picks and Brady'S abiliTy TO dIAGnoSe dEfenses pre-SnAp to iDEntify aND eXPLOit MIsmatches. WithOut Julian EdELmaN and thEn danNY AmendOla, thE PATriOts lost theiR top Two choiceS to worK Out of thE Slot and Find hoLes In sOfteR ZoNe CovErAGes. dIoN LeWIs' tOrn ACL (anD tHe DeparTure OF sHAne VEreEn thIs offSeason) left the patRiotS WitHout a RunniNg baCk SteadIly capAble oF wOrking out of the bAckfIeld or motIonInG ouTsIde to RUn past BadLy eXposed lInebackERs.

ANd YET, ThEy were able to adapt, aT lEASt For parts Of SundAY nIgHT's game. ThEy DidN't haVE lewis, But BRAdY was able To find bRaNdOn BoldeN fOr a 63-yarD tOucHdoWn on a PLay wHere thE PatriotS used A Motioning GronkOWski to overloaD ThE SEaM And oCcuPy Denver's saFetiES. ThaT gavE boLdeN EnougH time To RUn HIs wheel route past DanNy trevatHan, anD Brady dropped A perfect thROW In the bucKet dOWn THe sideline for tHe scoRe.

With theiR Wide receIver cOrps whitTled down tO bRandon LafelL anD rePlaCEMeNt-level backupS AGainSt ArguablY thE best duO of CorNerBacKs In footbalL, meanwhiLe, neW ENgLanD's solUTion was tO tUrn To groNkowsKI as a joKer anD splIt HiM Out Wide. It's HOw THE PatRiOtS got TheIr First ToucHDowN, when GrOnkowski wAs sPLit oUt AgAinst DaRian Stewart anD bEat him badlY aFteR the caTCH on a sticK route. Just before GronkowSKi's injuRy, tHe PatRiotS split him Out Wide agAin AGainst stewarT, who sTaYed 10 YARds ofF THe LinE oF scrimmage. tHE PaTs turNeD to tHe slant-Flat route combinatiON thEy often run and PicKed uP WHaT loOKeD LikE a CRitICAl first down to GrOnk with 3:46 to gO.

A HEaLthy Rob GroNKowSkI is nice In DecemBer, buT Last nigHt was a remInder that jaNuarY IS whAt matters. JUstin EdmOnds/Getty iMages

oN tHe nexT plAy, StewArT drOpped gronkoWSki On an iNcomplEtE pass, eNding HiS night. WaS it a dirty play? Both sides cAn make Their CasE, although It wASn't Anywhere nEar aS dirty as VoN
. It's all a reminder that  while win ninggam esis  par t of  the equation, what 's most important forNew E ng l andn ow  is g ettingi nt h e r ig ht  po si t io n for  aSuper B owl run. A ndth at would inc l ud e Gronk.
The  Gronk effec t
The Pa tr iot s ' off ens e isbuilta roundcreatingsa f e thro w s for B r a dy  ina number of ways, bu t  the shortestpath t ow a rd a n e asy  completio nis by using a co m b i nat i on of motion,  picks andB rad y's ab il ity to dia gnose  d e fen ses pre-sna p to  identify  and e x ploit m i smatche s. Wit hou t J ulia n  E de lma na ndt he n D a nny  Amendol a,  t he Pa trio t s l ostthe ir t op tw o choices towor k ou t  of  theslotandfi nd ho les in  soft er  zone coverages . Di on Lewis'  to rn  AC L(andt he dep art ure  of Sha ne Vere e n t hi s o ff season) left the P at r i ot s withou t a ru n ni ng back ste ad ily  cap a b le of  wor k in g out of  the b a ck fi eld ormo tionin gout sid e tor un p ast ba dly expo sed l i nebackers.

An d  yet, they we r ea b le to a dap t, at least  for part s of Su nda y  nigh t's g am e .T hey didn't have Lew is , butBrady  was able tofind Brand o n Bolden f or a 63 - yard touchdown  on a  play wher e  the Pat riots  used amotioning G ronkowsk i t o o ver loa d th e seam and oc c u py D en ver's s afe ties. T hat  ga veBol de n enoughtime toru nhi swhe el ro u te pastDa nny  T rev athan ,  and B radydrop pe da  pe rfect t h ro w in t he  b ucke t d ow n the  sid e lin e for t he score. 

W i th t he ir  wide r eceiver corps  w hittled do wn  to  Brand o n  LaFelland replacement-level b a ckups a gai nst a rgua bly the b est  duo o f c o rnerba cks in  foot ba ll, m eanwh i l e,  Ne wEngland'ss o lut ion w as  toturn to  Gronkowski as a j o ker  and split hi m o ut w i d e.  It ' sh owth e  Pa t r iots got theirfirst touc hd o wn , when Gro n kow sk i was s plit ou t aga i nst Dar ian Stewa rt and be at  him b adl y after th e catchon a stic k  rout e .Justbef ore Gr on kow ski's  injur y , t he Pa triots  s plit h im ou twide aga in against Stewart, who  staye d 10yar ds off th e l i neof scrimm age.  The Patstur ned  to t hes lant- flat ro ute combi nati o n they of t en  ru n an d picked up w h atlooke d l i ke a c riti cal first down to Gronk with 3:4 6 to g o.
Ah ealt hy  Rob Gronkowsk i i sn i ce in De ce mber, but l ast nigh tw as aremind er tha t Janua r y  i s  whatmatt ers . JustinEdm on d s/Getty  I ma g es

On  the  n ext pl ay, St e wart d ropped Gronkowsk i ona n  inco m ple te pa ss , endin g  his  night. Wa s it a dirt y play ? Bo th si des can  m ake th eir  c ase, altho u gh it was n't a nywhere  n earasdirtyas V o n 
. It's_all a_reminder that while winning_games is_part_of the_equation,_what's most important_for New England_now is getting in_the right position_for_a Super Bowl run. And that would include Gronk.

The Gronk effect

The Patriots' offense is_built_around creating_safe_throws_for Brady in a number_of ways, but the shortest_path toward_an easy completion is by using a combination_of_motion, picks and_Brady's ability to diagnose defenses pre-snap to identify and_exploit mismatches. Without Julian Edelman and_then Danny Amendola,_the_Patriots_lost their top two_choices to work out of the_slot and find holes in softer_zone coverages. Dion Lewis' torn ACL (and_the departure of Shane Vereen this_offseason) left the Patriots without_a running_back steadily capable of working_out of the_backfield or_motioning outside to_run past badly exposed linebackers.

And yet,_they were able_to adapt, at least for parts_of_Sunday night's game._They_didn't_have Lewis,_but Brady was_able_to find_Brandon_Bolden for a 63-yard touchdown on_a_play where the Patriots used a motioning_Gronkowski to overload the_seam_and occupy Denver's safeties._That gave Bolden enough time_to run his wheel route past_Danny Trevathan,_and Brady_dropped a perfect throw in the bucket down the sideline for_the score.

With their wide receiver corps_whittled down to Brandon_LaFell and_replacement-level_backups against arguably_the_best duo_of cornerbacks in football, meanwhile, New England's_solution was_to turn to Gronkowski as a_joker and split him_out_wide. It's how the Patriots got_their first touchdown, when Gronkowski was_split out against Darian Stewart_and_beat_him badly after the catch_on a stick route. Just before_Gronkowski's injury, the_Patriots split him out wide again against_Stewart,_who stayed 10 yards off the_line_of scrimmage. The Pats turned to_the_slant-flat_route combination they often run_and picked up what looked like_a critical first down to Gronk with 3:46 to_go.

A healthy Rob_Gronkowski is nice in December,_but_last_night was a reminder that January is what matters. Justin_Edmonds/Getty Images

On_the next play,_Stewart dropped Gronkowski on an incomplete pass, ending his night._Was it a dirty play? Both sides_can make their case, although it wasn't anywhere near as dirty_as Von