The most anticipated game of Week 4 in the NFL features the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski returning to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots for the first time.
After suffering a rib injury against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3, Gronkowski's status was initially up in the air. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, the star tight end will be good to go.
X-rays on Bucs’ TE Rob Gronkowski’s ribs today were negative, per sources. Gronkowski looks likely to play Sunday night’s return game to New England.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 28, 2021
The Buccaneers will be looking to bounce back after losing to the Rams but nobody will be focusing on Week 3 with this matchup looming. Brady and Gronkowski returning to New England to take on Bill Belichick is a script that doesn't need any zest added to it.
Belichick and the Patriots have sputtered out of the gates this year and sit at 1-2 with losses coming to the Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints. Rookie quarterback Mac Jones has looked okay at some junctures and has struggled in other segments throughout the first three weeks. Now, he'll face a lot of pressure against a Buccaneers defense that loves to harass the opposing quarterback.
Jones vs. Brady isn't the matchup that will have the spotlight. And it isn't Gronkowski against the Patriots linebackers and secondary. It's Brady and Gronkowski against Belichick, their former head coach, that is getting all the hype as many wonder how Belichick crafts up a blueprint to slow down the Buccaneers' high-flying offense.
With Gronkowski good to go, it makes the task for New England that much more difficult.
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