FOXBORO, Mass. — Buffalo-area native Rob Gronkowski will be back in his old stomping grounds this weekend as the New England Patriots look to avoid being swept by an AFC East foe for the first time in 15 years.
“Definitely one of the biggest games of the year so far, going on the road versus a division team,” Gronkowski said Thursday of Sunday’s rematch with the Bills. “The atmosphere is going to be loud, and they already beat us, too, here. So it’s going to be a big game.”
Gronkowski played a relatively minor role when the Bills visited Gillette Stadium in Week 4, catching only one pass in a 16-0 Patriots loss. The tight end now is fully recovered from the hamstring injury he suffered during training camp, and he expects to have close to 20 friends and family members in attendance Sunday at New Era Field.
“Whenever you’re going back to your hometown to play the game you love, it’s an honor to go back and play in front of your friends, family, your teachers that you grew up with that taught you,” said Gronkowski, who spent his formative years in Williamsville, N.Y. “Definitely an honor, and it’s always fun.”
A win would give the Patriots a commanding three-game lead atop the AFC East standings, and the game could feature a significant career milestone for Gronkowski, who needs just one touchdown to break Stanley Morgan’s franchise record of 68.
While Gronkowski clearly loves the fact that the record-breaking score would be his 69th, he insisted he isn’t focused on individual statistics.
“That’s the last thing I’m thinking about right now,” he said. “We’ve got a big game here. We’ve got the Buffalo Bills, going into Buffalo. The crowd is going to be super loud. They’re always into it, lot of energy. That’s the last thing I’m thinking about. When it happens, if it happens, there’s another time to talk about it, but as of right now, I’m just focused on the Bills. That’s the last thing I want to talk about.”
Gronkowski leads the NFL with 22.1 yards per reception this season.
Some additional notes from Thursday:
— The Patriots haven’t lost to a divisional opponent twice in one season since 2000. They went just 1-5 against the rest of the AFC East that year, with their only win coming against Buffalo in overtime in Week 16.
— Much has been made this season about the relationship between Gronkowski and fellow tight end Martellus Bennett. Bennett discussed the topic again Thursday when addressing the media in front of his locker.
“We’re not Facebook friends,” Bennett said. “I haven’t friended him on Facebook. But other than that, we’re real-life friends.”
The real-life buds have formed the NFL’s best tight end duo this season, ranking third and fourth in the league in receiving yards at their position. Gronkowski has picked up 375 yards on 17 catches. Bennett has 367 yards on 27 catches.
“It’s been the same since Day 1,” Bennett said. “We’re just trying to push each other to get better. I ask him things, he asks me things, and we’re just trying to acclimate as much knowledge from each other as we can.”
Thumbnail photo via Jason Bridge/USA TODAY Sports Images
