NFL

Patriots’ Gronkowski puts Jets in tight spot

Tight ends historically find success against the Jets. They just do. And last night was no exception. The Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski just did.

Gronkowski tortured the Jets, hauling in eight receptions from Tom Brady for 113 yards and two touchdowns. And the second year, 265-pounder from Arizona saw a third touchdown nullified in the third quarter when he stepped out of the back of the end zone and then came back while Brady was scrambling, looking, scrambling some more, having a sandwich and then throwing.

BOX SCORE

PHOTOS: PATRIOTS CRUSH JETS

UPDATES FROM OUR JETS BLOG

By the time the Patriots completed their 37-16 romp at MetLife Stadium, the Jets had a laundry list of items to worry about: interceptions, fumbled punts, sacks allowed, bad timeouts, Gronkowski, Deion Branch taunting Fireman Ed.

But a lot of the fretting was about Gronkowski. Of course, it didn’t help the Jets that they used 6-1 Eric Smith against the 6-5 Gronkowski a lot of the time.

What was the biggest headache Gronkowski presented?

“Well I guess about 6-7,” Rex Ryan said.

“He’s one of Tom’s go to guys and he has a lot of confidence in him so he’ll just throw it up,” said Smith.

Gronkowski struck early, then often. He hauled in a 21-yard pass for a first down on the Pats’ initial drive that ended with a field goal. He caught an 18-yarder right before the half after Mark Sanchez provided the Pats and Brady extra time.

Along the way on that drive, a 23-yard reception was upheld under review as the ball came loose when the tight end’s arm and elbow smashed into the ground. In the third quarter, after Gronkowski’s apparent 14-yarder was erased and the Pats took a field goal, Gronkowski ended the Pats’ next series with a 5-yard scoring catch. He had a fairly nice season last night.

“They’ve got a lot of chemistry right now and Tom Brady trusts him,” said safety Jim Leonhard. “It’s one of those situations where he’s always open, no matter what the coverage is. He always feels like he’s open and if he has time to sit back in the pocket, he’s just tough to stop.”