Summary: The New England Patriots
The New England Patriots lost superstar tight end Rob Gronkowski to a season ending back injury in their Week 12 matchup with the New York Jets. Without question, Gronkowski’s presence on the field makes New England’s offense a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators. But if any NFL team can adjust to being without their No. 1 target, it’s the Patriots.
New England can adjust to Gronk’s absence with plenty of bunch formations, which can setup miss matches with linebackers. However, the pivotal piece for the Patriots going forward is tight end Martellus Bennett, who New England traded for in March. Even if Bennett doesn’t put up comparable stats to Gronkowski, he gives the Patriots an advantage on nearly every possession.
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