The New England Patriots added a number of exciting skill-position players to their roster this past offseason. None of them played a major role in Sunday’s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Instead, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady relied on three of his most trusted weapons — running back LeGarrette Blount, wide receiver Julian Edelman and tight end Rob Gronkowski — and all three delivered in New England’s 27-16 victory at Heinz Field.
Blount and Edelman both enjoyed their most productive games of the season, and Gronkowski kept up the torrid pace he’s maintained since Brady returned from his Deflategate suspension three weeks ago.
“Just going out there and playing ball,” Gronkowski, who caught four passes for 93 yards and a touchdown in the win, said in a postgame interview with NBC.
“Whenever we get our opportunities, hitting them and not missing them. It all starts in practice, going out in practice and making sure we’re on the same page. And when game time comes, you don’t always get a lot of chances, (so) whenever you do, you have to make the most of the opportunities.”
While Gronkowski’s production came in short bursts — 73 of his receiving yards came on two catches — Edelman and Blount were consistent contributors throughout the afternoon.
Edelman, who caught just nine passes over Brady’s first two games back, equaled that total Sunday on 10 targets. He did have one drop and also lost a fumble on a punt return, but all told, the nine-catch, 60-yard showing was arguably his best of the season and easily his best since Week 2.
“They were certainly aware of (Gronkowski) and (tight end) Martellus Bennett,” Brady told reporters after the game. “Julian Edelman got a lot of opportunities (Sunday). He hasn’t gotten a ton the last few weeks, but he had a lot of opportunities with the ball.”
Blount, meanwhile, bulldozed his way through his former team to the tune of a 24 carries for a season-high 127 yards and two touchdowns. The veteran back has rushed for at least one score in all but one of the Patriots’ seven games this season.
“It’s great when we get the run game going,” Brady told reporters. “It just helps out overall with everything. Just in the balance of the offense, running the ball, passing the ball, it’s huge. And to see him come in, run the ball super hard downhill, it’s just awesome.”
The trio’s big game came on a day in which the Patriots’ newcomers largely were silent. Wide receiver Chris Hogan caught two passes for 25 yards — and fumbled on New England’s first offensive play — and Bennett, the team’s leading receiver entering Sunday, was targeted just twice, catching one ball for five yards.
Thumbnail photo via Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports Images
