Steelers have no answer for Gronkowski in meeting of AFC powerhouses

The New England Patriots' Week 15 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers was a crystal clear reminder that Rob Gronkowski is the player who elevates this multifaceted group - one which includes an MVP-caliber quarterback, a deadly deep receiving threat, and an exhausting three-pronged rushing attack - to another tier entirely.

Upon returning from a suspension served the week prior - his absence leaving the Patriots looking like a completely different team, en route to an upset loss in Miami - the NFL's best tight end dominated the game against the Steelers.

Gronkowski rendered the Steelers' depleted linebackers corps - missing All-Pro candidate Ryan Shazier due to injury - largely useless Sunday, gliding past them with effortless pace and precision. Teams have used a single linebacker against Gronkowski before, notably in Super Bowl XLIX, but it has seldom worked.

During a key third-quarter drive, the Steelers lined 6-foot-1, 202-pound safety Sean Davis against Gronkowski in man coverage and the Patriots superstar beat him off the line of scrimmage. The Steelers tried to send safety Mike Mitchell and cornerback Artie Burns to assist Davis with the ball in the air but Gronkowski caught it in traffic with relative ease.

It may be cliche, but when the stakes are at their highest, Brady and Gronkowski are at their collective best. The tight end recorded 69 yards on the Patriots' game-winning touchdown drive, essentially bullying Davis and his cohorts, setting up an 8-yard scoring run from Dion Lewis. One would be remiss to omit Duron Harmon's game-sealing interception, but Gronkowski put the Patriots in a position to win on the road against their most formidable rival. The Steelers may have arguably the NFL's best running back in Le'Veon Bell and wide receiver in Antonio Brown, who left the game with a leg injury, but they don't have an answer for Gronkowski.

All of this to say, Patriots tight end Dwayne Allen summarized it best.