The Pittsburgh Steelers still cannot figure out how to cover Rob Gronkowski.
The American Football Conference East still cannot figure out how to catch up with the New England Patriots and now any team that wants to do it in the playoffs will likely have to do it in Foxborough.
Good luck with all that.
Photo: AFP
The defending Super Bowl champions remain a tough out regardless of circumstance.
The proof on Sunday came to life in a 27-24 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in which the Patriots rallied from an eight-point deficit to score twice in the final four minutes and lock up their record ninth straight division title.
Six days removed from an ugly loss in Miami, the Patriots (11-3) ended Pittsburgh’s eight-game winning streak with a late goal-line stand and a dive into the NFL rule book by referee Tony Corrente that overturned Pittsburgh’s apparent game-winning touchdown.
And no, New England head coach Bill Belichick insists, as the years pass and the Patriots remain above the fray, luck has nothing to do with it.
“Just keep competing,” Belichick said. “Just keep competing for 60 minutes. That’s what you do. Just keep competing.”
Nobody does it better than the Patriots. Having Gronkowski helps.
The superstar tight end continued his career-long domination of the Steelers.
He went into the game averaging 99 yards receiving against Pittsburgh and was even better in front of the largest crowd to watch an NFL game at Heinz Field, finishing with nine receptions for 168 yards, including three on New England’s game-winning drive.
“I love getting in that zone,” Gronkowski said. “It feels good. I wish I could be like that 24-7, every week and every day.”
Pittsburgh safety Sean Davis spent New England’s final possession lined up across from Gronkowski and nearly sealed the victory, but let a potential game-clinching interception smack off his fingertips.
Given a second chance, Brady just kept lobbing the ball to Gronkowski. Each time, Gronkowski came down with it.
“I battled, man, that whole game with them,” Davis said. “We came up short that last drive. That’s pretty much it.”
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care