Things looked different when the duo got into the end zone Sunday.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Rob Gronkowski loves getting into the end zone for no other than to spike the football as hard and violently as a human possibly can.
So it was a little dissatisfying for him when he got into the end zone in the second quarter of Sunday's 34-13 win over the Tennessee Titans and the ball slipped out of his hand when he wound up to slam it the turf.
"The thing just slipped right out," Gronkowski said. "I wasn't going to go grab it. I played it off pretty well."
Gronkowski finished with six receptions for 60 yards. Brandon Lloyd led the team with five receptions for 69 yards, including an incredible sideline catch during the second quarter for a gain of 27 yards. Wes Welker, meanwhile, caught three passes for 14 yards, his lowest total in a Patriots jersey since he suffered a torn ACL in the 2009 finale against Houston.
Aaron Hernandez (six receptions, 59 yards) also called an audible on his touchdown celebration. After getting into the end zone in the first quarter on 23-yard play-action pass, a play during which Tom Brady side-stepped a rush and slid up in the pocket, Hernandez opted to go for a bow instead of his usual "make it rain" celebration.
"It wasn't good enough to make it rain," Hernandez said.