Just look at how it went in the SB last year with Gronk still playing, but limited!

If a defense can focus more on one aspect of the Pats offense and only have to worry about containing 2 big threats through the air.

What if the Patriots lose Lloyd, Welker or Hernandez to injury next week late, but still get the win and get past the underdog Ravens?

No Gronk, No Welker.

No Gronk, No Lloyd.

No Gronk, No Hernandez (ouch)

Gronk creates the biggest match-up problem on the Patriots. Him being out is already a big loss for Brady if he has to go up against San Fran and those linebackers, he would love to have Gronk to throw it up high and have him go catch up at the apex.

What if this happens and the Patriots are faced with going up against the 49'ers defense! A Niner defense that already beat up the Patriots once, and only let them back in the game by going to prevent D and letting Brady pick them apart underneath. A team will not play like that in the Super Bowl.

San Fran has the guys on D to pressure Brady in the pocket like the Giants. This potential scenario would put it up against the Pats and make it that much harder for them to win.

What I really want to get at is that, Gronk should have never been hurt in the first place this year.

1. Take the case of 2009: Welker hurt in a week 17 game. The Pats ended up playing the Ravens in a WC game @ home and lost.

2. Take last year, as Gronk was hurt and very limited in the SB. This time, the injury happened in a playoff game... so it was just bad timing, kind of how Freeney was injured for the Colts in the 2009 AFCCG vs the Jets in the final moments of the game.

The Patriots had a lead vs the Giants, but lost it late and could have used him @ full strength as the short Welker missed a critical catch on a 3rd down when the Patriots were still ahead 17-15 @ the time. They had to punt. Eli then lead the Giants to a enormously clutch TD drive to win the game. Brady could have used Gronk on that 3rd down, thrown it high and the big TE could have easily caught it.

3. Gronk was hurt during the 2012 season in a meaningless PAT attempt very late in a huge blowout.

link to story:
http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2...s-patriot-way/

The broken arm sustained by tight end Rob Gronkowski has the potential to alter New England’s fortunes this season, and it occurred after Gronkowski lined up as a “wing” on the right side of the line on the Patriots’ point-after-touchdown protect team.


The injury appeared to happen as Gronkowski tried to block an inside rush by the Colts’ Sergio Brown.

Was it wise to have one of the league’s most valuable players (Gronkowski) lined up for a play at what was essentially a meaningless point in the game? Let’s take a look at a couple of plays that immediately preceded it.


1) Tom Brady was still playing when the Patriots scored the touchdown that made the score, 58-24. The Patriots wound up equalling their franchise record for points in a game. Brady’s pitch to running back Shane Vereen was barely contested by the Colts. Did Indianapolis ease up on purpose? Trailing by 28 points, perhaps the Colts recognized that the game had evolved into little more than a scrimmage.


2) The Patriots were not in the process of running out the clock One of the key plays on the touchdown drive occurred on a third-and-7 from the Colts’ 25. Brady, operating out of the shotgun formation, connected with Wes Welker on a slant that gave them a first down at the Indianapolis 12.


Coach Bill Belichick is known to keep his foot on the gas late in games even when the Patriots are far ahead.

Gronk made his return to the team in their playoff game last night vs the Texans, but immediately reinjured himself while attempting to make a catch. Obviously, he was not fully healed.

What if??? Let's hope not, as we can all potentially make some good money on the Pats as as underdog or only slight favorite in a SB vs the Niners.