Bills Central

Despite revealing statistic Rob Gronkowski picks Patriots over Bills for AFC title

NFL analyst Rob Gronkowski picks the Patriots to beat the Bills and win the AFC, even though New England has only two wins over teams with a winning record.
Richie Whitt|
Rob Gronkowski
Rob Gronkowski | Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

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We shouldn't be surprised that Rob Gronkowski's favorite team is the New England Patriots and not the Buffalo Bills. But the Pats are also his favorite to win the AFC?

Gronk, who grew up near Buffalo in Amherst, went to five Pro Bowls and won five Super Bowls with the Patriots during the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era. Even though these days he's part of FOX's NFL Sunday studio show, he sure sounds like he's still a member of the Pats.

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Last month, he raised eyebrows when he went on FOX and pronounced the Bills' Super Bowl window closed. Said Gronk then, "The Bills missed their opportunity when the Patriots stunk for those last couple of years. Now once again New England has taken control of the division. Bye-bye, Buffalo Bills."

In advance of Sunday's Bills-Patriots showdown at Gillette Stadium, Gronk is anything but backing down. In fact, he's taking his belief in his old team in the next level.

On this week's Up & Adams podcast, Gronk was asked about the AFC Playoffs picture.

"It's so up in the air," Gronk said. "But I'm gonna stick to my guns. Everyone's been down on the Patriots and doubting them. But the Patriots are the real deal. They are the team to beat in the AFC. They've shown it over the last 10 games. They're a complete team all over the place. Solid special teams. Solid offense. Drake Maye is a superstar getting better every single week. And the defense plays physical."

MORE: 3 keys to Bills getting revenge on Patriots in Week 15 AFC East showdown

The Bills have won five consecutive AFC East titles. The Pats have two wins this season over teams with a winning record: Buffalo and the 7-6 Carolina Panthers. Stay tuned, Gronk.

Rob Gronkowski
Rob Gronkowski | Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

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Richie Whitt
RICHIE WHITT

Richie Whitt has been a sports media fixture in Dallas-Fort Worth since graduating from UT-Arlington in 1986. His career is highlighted by successful stints in print (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), TV (NBC5) and radio (105.3 The Fan). During his almost 40-year tenure, he's blabbed and blogged on events ranging from Super Bowls to NBA Finals to World Series to Stanley Cups to Olympics to Wimbledons to World Cups. Whitt has been covering the NFL since 1989, and in 1993 authored The 'Boys Are Back, a book chronicling the Dallas Cowboys' run to Super Bowl XXVII.

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