Couldn’t Gronkowski’s performance be similar to Welker’s lack of production in the first two games? This happened all the time last year–Gronkowski would have a 150+-yard game followed by a game where he only had 3 catches. Hernandez would light up one game and be nonexistent the next. I don’t know as much about football as you do, admittedly, but it seems to me that this is just how the Patriots offense plays out sometimes and it’s a by-product of having so many performers on offense.

Well as Tom Brady has said, his favorite receiver is the open one. Moving the ball was not a problem until crunch time for the Pats. Now Gronk didn’t have a big day like he did last year against the Ravens, but if they were trying to take him away it wouldn’t be that hard to do so. Lloyd and Welker both had huge days, so take it for what it is. My concerns are more big picture stuff like the failure to execute when the game hung in the balance, rather than the stats of individual players who were not involved enough for some of our liking. Don’t worry, Gronk will light plenty of teams up this year.