Patriots-Texans prediction roundup: Promise of Gronk up in the air
Barry Chin/Globe Staff
COMMENTARY
Odds are that Rob Gronkowski doesn’t play Sunday against the Houston Texans, but hell if we know.
The New England Patriots tight end, who has been out since Nov. 29 with a bruised knee suffered in his team’s loss to the Denver Broncos, returned to practice on Thursday, wearing what observers classified as a bulky brace. Head coach Bill Belichick greeted Gronkowski on the practice field as if the NFL had just announced Jon Bon Jovi would replace Coldplay as the Super Bowl halftime act. Gronkowski and Belichick shared a “loud high-five.’’
Smoke screen, or tangible possibility Gronkowski is ready to go after missing last weekend’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles?
Gronkowski was officially listed as “limited’’ on Thursday’s practice report, and we can only hope that such a pronouncement was cleared with the tight end’s family camp. The team’s bizarre “joint’’ statement concerning Gronkowski’s health status was unprecedented from the Quantico Patriots, and it didn’t seem Belichick was too keen on the idea, snapping at a reporter who inquired about the oddity of it all during a press conference last week.
Patriots president Jonathan Kraft addressed the issue during his weekly pregame appearance on 98.5 The Sports Hub last Sunday. “Everybody on the team is really important,’’ Kraft said, “but there are a couple of players where the magnitude of interest rises to a whole different level. When you have that type of extreme, we felt putting out a statement that ended mindless speculation (was the right call).’’
Must have missed the press release ending mindless speculation about what sort of mystery illness plagued linebacker Jamie Collins.
Sure, there’s probably a different echelon of interest in Gronkowski and quarterback Tom Brady than there is the rest of the team (sorry, Julian), but the mere fact that the team worked with Gronkowski’s family on quieting the masses shows just how powerful the Gronk brand has become, not to mention the tight end’s lack of faith in the team’s medical personnel after what has been a bumpy road of fighting back from injuries, to say the least.
History tells us he won’t play in Houston. His team’s pivotal game this Sunday night suggests that he just might.
Who they’re picking
Our roundup of picks for Sunday’s Patriots-Texans game:
ESPN.com: Eleven out of 13 pick the Patriots.
Greg Cote, Miami Herald: Patriots 24, Texans 20. “Patriots, who can clinch a playoff spot here, have lost two in a row. Do you imagine them losing three in a row for first time since 2002? Neither can I. A surprisingly interesting prime-time matchup, though, now that Houston has climbed into playoff contention, and with Texans coach Bill O’Brien a Bill Belichick protégé. Rob Gronkowski’s iffy status further casts the outcome in doubt. Again, though: Tom Brady losing three in a row? Nope.’’
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Patriots 23, Texans 21. “The Patriots have lost two consecutive games. They are now the third seed. That’s hard to believe. The Texans are 6-6, but tied for the division lead. The Patriots have a bunch of injuries, but they will overcome them here. Tom Brady gets back on track.’’
CBS Sports staff: Picks are split amongst eight (Houston +3.5). Straight up, seven out of eight pick the Patriots.
Foxsports.com staff: Four out of seven pick the Pats.
FiveThirtyEight: New England with a 68 percent chance of winning.
Elliot Harrison, NFL.com: Patriots 29, Texans 21. “It’s the Romeo Crennel revenge game. Wait, it’s the Vince Wilfork Bowl. Call it the Keshawn Martin grudge match.
Bill O’Brien will pay. He will pay. (Martin this week: two catches, 17 yards and one drop.) With Danny Amendola a bit healthier and James White a wee bit more comfortable in the offense, New England should win this game. The Texans’ defense has been balling of late, having held opposing quarterbacks to 5 yards per attempt during the four-game stretch leading up to this past Sunday, when Tyrod Taylor hit a couple of vertical shots on them. Houston’s pass rush must be in Tom Brady’s face all day — finishing with only one sack isn’t going to cut it. Make Brady more uncomfortable than he already is having to throw to those spare parts.’’
Jimmy Kempski, Philly Voice: Patriots. “A week ago, the Patriots felt that they could handle the lowly Eagles without cheating. That proved to be a tactical error. “We’re at our best when we cheat,’’ said Bill Belichick in his post-game interview. “We did not try to cheat against the Eagles, so this loss is on me. You can be sure we’ll be up to something shady next week against the Texans.’’
USA Today staff: All Pats.
Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk: Patriots 27, Texans 20. “Whether Bill Belichick was outcoached or simply outcoached himself against the Eagles, Belichick won’t let it happen again — especially against a former Belichick assistant and in prime time.’’
Michael David Smith, Pro Football Talk: Patriots 23, Texans 17. “The injuries to Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman have made Tom Brady look human, but on Sunday Bill Belichick should have a good game plan to stop Brian Hoyer, and the Patriots should win a close one.’’
Neil Greenberg, Washington Post: Pick: Patriots. New England with a 73.1 percent chance of winning. “Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady will stay cool in the pocket against J.J. Watt and the Texans’ pass rush. This season, Brady’s passer rating drops from 105.1 to 97.6 under pressure — equivalent to going from Carson Palmer to Aaron Rodgers.’’
Globe staff: Four out of five pick the Patriots (New England -3).
It says here: Patriots 30, Texans 17. Patriot fans can root for the Texans to knock the Colts out of the playoffs beginning next week.
Contact Eric Wilbur at: [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @GlobeEricWilbur and Facebook www.facebook.com/GlobeEricWilbur
Biggest free agent busts in Red Sox history
[bdc-gallery id=”139708″]
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com