Note: This 2010 season outcome is hypothetical from the author based on the player movement in Gronkowski’s podcast story. There are thousands of alternate universes in the NFL realm and Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski opened the portal to one in recent storytelling.The four-time Super Bowl champion shared an alternate scenario from the 2010 NFL Draft on his “Dudes On Dudes” podcast with former Patriots teammate Julian Edelman. Gronkowski shared that he nearly went to the Baltimore Ravens and in search of a tight end, the Patriots would have traded for Chicago Bears star Greg Olsen.
Baltimore would’ve had two chances to take Gronkowski, but in this new hypothetical scenario, we’ll stick with the Ravens taking Gronkowski in the first round with the No. 25 overall pick, which means Josh McDaniels and the Denver Broncos never trade up for quarterback Tim Tebow. That puts the Patriots with Olsen and Alge Crumpler at tight end for the Patriots while the Ravens no longer take Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta.
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So, how would that 2010 season, where the Patriots in actual history went 14-2 with Gronkowski as the AFC’s No. 1 seed, pan out with our current group? Let’s draw it up in a hypothetical.
Hop into the time machine!
The Patriots still win the AFC East to beat out Rex Ryan’s excellent New York Jets defense. The Ravens take a step up with Gronkowski emerging as Joe Flacco’s best pass-catcher in combination with another talented defense. That change earns Baltimore the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
In the NFC, no Olsen hurts the Chicago offense with all the pressure on running back Matt Forte. The Green Bay Packers instead win the NFC North and drop Chicago to a wild-card spot. Here’s how the playoff bracket shapes up.
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AFC Playoff Picture:
1. Baltimore Ravens
2. New England Patriots
3. Indianapolis Colts
4. Kansas City Chiefs
5. Pittsburgh Steelers
6. New York Jets
NFC Playoff Picture:
1. Atlanta Falcons
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Philadelphia Eagles
4. Seattle Seahawks
5. New Orleans Saints
6. Chicago Bears
Wild-Card Round:
Colts beat Jets
Steelers beat Chiefs
Seahawks beats Saints
Eagles beat Bears
Divisional Round:
Ravens beat Steelers
Patriots beat Colts
Falcons beat Seahawks
Packers beat Eagles
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Conference Championship Round:
Ravens beat Patriots
Falcons beat Packers
Let’s check back in. The Ravens thrive with Gronkowski and win a division classic against the Steelers. The following week, New England fails to cover the rookie as Baltimore wins the AFC title game at home to go to the Super Bowl.
(As for New England, the Patriots regroup in 2011. They win a rematch against the Ravens and advance to Super Bowl XLVI. With a healthy Olsen rather than an injured Gronkowski (as it actually went down in February 2012), they get revenge with a victory over the New York Giants).
But back to the 2010 season. How does it end? Battle of the birds in Super Bowl XLV!
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SUPER BOWL XLV
Ravens-27
Falcons-20
Gronkowski scores the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. Ed Reed intercepts Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan in the closing seconds. Baltimore gets another championship.
As for what the next decade held for the Patriots and Gronkowski on their own paths?
That’s too much to predict in one sitting.
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