Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski help Patriots mow down Bengals

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Tom Brady channeled vintage form in his post-Deflategate return to Gillette Stadium. Rob Gronkowski sure looks like he’s back, too.

Brady completed 29 of 35 passes for 376 yards, capping three long drives with touchdown passes as the New England Patriots recovered from a slow start to pull away from the Cincinnati Bengals 35-17 in their star quarterback’s first home game since his four-game suspension ended.

But it was Gronk who stole the show, as the tight end caught seven passes for a career-high 162 yards and a touchdown – his biggest game since recovering from a hamstring injury that limited him the first month of the season. Gronkowski managed the output despite an illness that shortened his practice time this past week.

Gronkowski also drew a taunting penalty during a series of post-whistle altercations involving notoriously chippy Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who got shoved down by LeGarrette Blount after a late TD as tempers continued to flare.

Who wouldn’t get frustrated when the Patriots are rolling like this?

Gronkowski’s 271 receiving yards in two games since Brady returned last week at Cleveland are the most of his career. And Brady was in control as usual in the short-to-intermediate passing game Sunday, leading touchdown drives of 75, 68 and 53 yards.

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton put on a show in his own right, completing 21 of 31 passes for 254 yards. But the Patriots defense got theirs, too, with Dont’a Hightower’s sack of Dalton yielding a second-quarter safety that seemed to turn the tide after Cincinnati took a 14-10 lead.

With Brady back and Gronkowski seemingly healthy, the Patriots sure look like they could be the most well-rounded team in football.

Follow Tom Pelissero on Twitter @TomPelissero.

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