Patriots Maul Bears Behind Gronk’s Huge Day

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Matt LaPan, GoLocal Worcester Sports Reporter

On a picture-perfect fall day at Gillette Stadium, the New England Patriots welcomed the Chicago Bears with a matchup with the Denver Broncos on the horizon. The Bears were coming off a devastating loss to the Miami Dolphins and figured to be motivated. This, however would not be true as the Patriots blew-out the Bears 51-23 behind career days from Rob Gronkowski, Brandon LaFell and Tim Wright.

The Patriots defense had questions entering the game as Chandler Jones was missing due to injury, but it did not matter on their first drive as the Patriots forced an early punt.

The Patriots offense showed it was ready as well, turning the punt into a 5-play, 55- yard drive that was capped with a Rob Gronkowski touchdown. The drive was started on a great contested catch by Brandon LaFell and featured Jonas Gray as the main running back. The touchdown to Gronkowski was a perfect pass from Tom Brady to give New England the 7-0 lead.

The Bears second drive showed that they wanted to run the ball, but the Patriots defense was able to bow their back and shut down the bears. The drive was highlighted by a Brandon Browner pass deflection on a 3rd-&-6 pass to Martellus Bennett.

The Patriots got the ball back on a punt, and proceeded to embark on their longest drive of the season. the 17-play, 68-yard drive took 7:05 of game clock. The Patriots, however, were kept out of the end zone despite having 1st-&-goal on the two yard line. The Bears defense was able to shut down the rushing attack at the goal line, even when the Patriots tried to run their offense on before 4th down. In the end, Stephen Gostkowski hit a 23-yard field goal to make the score 10-0 Patriots.

The Patriots defense continued to dominate -- as Darrelle Revis made a great pass deflection on Brandon Marshall and Brandon Browner made a loud tackle to end the drive.

Brady and the Pats offense kept their momentum going, finding the end zone yet again. The Patriots leaned on Rob Gronkowski and Brandon LaFell on the drive. It was highlighted on a 3rd-&-18 where Tom Brady found Rob Gronkowski for a 21-yard completion. Two plays later, Brady found Tim Wright for another touchdown, making it 17-0 Patriots.

The Bears offense was finally able to get moving, relying heavily on Matt forte in the passing game. Forte and Jay Cutler helped put together a 5-play, 77- yard drive that ended in a Forte 25-yard touchdown reception. Forte made a nice double move to burn by Jamie Collins on the play, making the score 17-7, Patriots.

The Patriots offense would not relent. The went on another long, balanced drive of 10 plays and 80 yards. The drive was once again capped with a Rob Gronkowski touchdown, his 2nd of the half. Gronkowski and Jones Gray highlighted the drive. It was a diving Gronkowski that stole the show, however. Gronkowski got another great pass from Brady but made a catch falling out of the end zone with a defender draped on him. It was the 2nd touchdown reception of the half for Gronkowski and gave Brady and Gronkowski the team record for most touchdown passes for a quarterback/receiver duo and made the score 24-7.

The, the Patriots started to turn the pressure up. The Bears went 3-&-out before Julian Edelman had a terrific 42-yard punt return to set up a Brandon LaFell touchdown on the next play to make the game 31-7. On the very next play from scrimmage, Dont'a Hightower and Zach Moore got to Jay Cutler and forced a fumble. That was scooped-up by Rob Ninkovich, who scampered 15 yards for a touchdown and giving the Patriots a 38-7 lead.

The half was capped with a Darrelle Revis interception of Jay Cutler as time expired.

The Patriots went into the half with the 38-7 lead, and the Bears showed clear anger and disappointment going into the locker room. Tom Brady threw four touchdowns, two to Gronkowski, and one to both Wright and LaFell.

The 2nd half started much like the 1st half ended -- with Brady finding Gronkowski for a touchdown. This time Brady hit Gronkowski on a short pattern, but Gronkowski ran over a defender, then out-ran the rest en route to a 46-yard touchdown to set his career-high for receptions in a game with nine and match his career-high for touchdowns in a game with three.

Gronkowski was forced to the locker room to be treated for dehydration following the play, leaving with nine catches for 149 yards and three touchdowns.

The Bears defense was finally able to keep the Patriots off the scoreboard in the 3rd quarter, ending a streak of six drives to start the game that ended in a score.

The Bears took that momentum and mounted another scoring drive, this one going 80 yards on seven plays. The drive was highlighted on a terrific 34-yard catch from Martellus Bennett, who ran over a few Patriots defender before being brought down. The drive was capped on a 20-yard touchdown to Bennett on a terrific falling catch with Brandon Browner draped on Bennett. The Bears then found Dante Resario for the two-point conversion to make the score 45-15.

The Patriots added a field goal before the Bears drove for another touchdown and two-point conversion, making the game 48-23 before Tom Brady gave way to backup Jimmy Garoppolo late in the 4th quarter. Brady finished his day 30-35 with 354 yards and five touchdowns.

Garoppolo led the Patriots to a field goal by Stephen Gostkowski, making the score 51-23 Patriots. The Patriots help the Bears out of the end zone to end the game at 51-23.

The Patriots were obviously led by a potent offensive attack, especially Tom Brady. Brady finished 30/35 for 354 yards and five touchdowns. Brady has not thrown an interception since throwing two in the Patriots' last loss in Kansas City. His favorite target on the day was Rob Gronkowski. Despite only playing two-plus quarters, Gronkowski pulled in a career-high nine receptions for 149 yards and three touchdowns. Gronkowski was not the only player to have a career day, however. Brandon LaFell and Tim Wright set career highs with 11 and seven receptions respectively. Both grabbed a touchdown as well. LaFell finished with 11 catches for 124 yards and a touchdown.

With the three touchdowns from Brady to Gronkowski, the duo set a new franchise-record with 48 touchdowns between the duo -- passing Drew Bledsoe and Ben Coates.

The Patriots offense also got a very strong day from rookie Jonas Gray. Gray shouldered the load for the running attack -- carrying a career-high 17 times for a career-high 86 yards.

The Patriots defense was led by their cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner. Revis and Browner shut down Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, holding both to minuscule receiving totals before a few "garbage time" catches.

The Patriots linebackers were also very active as Jamie Collins had 11 total tackles and Dont'a Hightower had 10. Newly acquired Akeem Ayers finished with five tackles and a sack.The Patriots defense held the Bears to just 36% on 3rd down conversions (4/11) and created three sacks without Chandler Jones.

The Patriots passed this test, but have an even bigger test on the horizon as Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos travel to Gillette Stadium next Sunday for a gigantic AFC tilt.