Sports

LANDOVER, Md. - Around Gillette Stadium, there’s another phrase that’s uttered almost as often as “it is what it is,’’ and that’s “at the end of the day.’’ At the end of the day yesterday, as the Patriots made the short flight home, they had a win, the franchise’s first on the Redskins’ home field. The Patriots stand at 10-3 after their 34-27 victory, but for the second straight week it felt a little hollow, as they struggled against a team - and quarterback - that they shouldn’t. And...

LANDOVER, Md. - Twenty-two-year-old tight end Rob Gronkowski has emerged as everybody’s favorite Patriot. Sure, that guy Brady’s OK, but Gronk is the man-child who catches everything, sheds tacklers like he’s dusting dandruff off his shoulders, and gets to the end zone more than any tight end in NFL history. I say it’s because of his neck. You’ve never seen a guy with a neck like this. Must be tough buying shirts. Remember Walt “No Neck’’ Williams? The Patriots have Rob “All Neck’’...

LANDOVER, Md. - Two Irish guys from Boston got into an argument during an NFL game. Somebody alert the obvious police. That only happens in every watering hole from Scituate to West Newbury on Sundays and Mondays from September through January. And, apparently, on a sober Patriots sideline at FedEx Field late in the fourth quarter when the Patriots were clinging to a 34-27 lead. There it was, the Real Irishmen of Patriot Place, playing out for the world to see. Quarterback Tom...

LANDOVER, Md. - Style points hardly matter to the Patriots’ defense. Real ones? Now that’s a different story. Maligned all season and ranked last in the NFL in total yards allowed and passing yards allowed, the Patriots have rifled through weekly roster changes and sent offensive players out to play defense, all in an attempt to keep opponents from scoring. Far from pretty, but through 13 games, at least when it comes to wins and losses, fairly effective. Yesterday’s 34-27 win over the...