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A look at a key player from each AFC East team who needs to show something in offseason sessions:

New York Jets: Perhaps no AFC East player has a brighter spotlight on him this offseason than embattled Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez. Quarterback competitions are always interesting, but quarterback competitions in New York are taken to another level. Sanchez is in a five-way battle with fellow veteran David Garrard, highly touted rookie Geno Smith and backups Greg McElroy and Matt Simms. Sanchez is the incumbent looking to keep his job, which he’s had for four seasons. But Sanchez led the NFL in turnovers the past two seasons, which contributed to back-to-back non-winning seasons in New York. The Jets have treated Sanchez with kid gloves for a majority of his career and have not brought in legit competition before. But first-year general manager John Idzik did not draft Sanchez and has no ties to the 2009 first-round pick. The quarterback derby is wide open. Whoever can learn new offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg’s West Coast system faster this offseason will have the inside track in training camp.

Buffalo Bills: Veteran quarterback Kevin Kolb is in a similar spot to Sanchez. Signed as a free agent, he has a chance to win the starting job but must compete with rookie first-round pick EJ Manuel and veteran Tarvaris Jackson. Kolb has had a lot of ups and downs in stops with the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals. He will get his third opportunity to lead a team, this time under first-year head coach Doug Marrone. The competition is hard to predict. Kolb might be a slight favorite to win Buffalo’s starting job in Week 1 because of his experience. But if Kolb is beaten out by a rookie (Manuel) or a journeyman (Jackson) in training camp, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Bills cut ties with Kolb. A majority of Kolb’s two-year, $13 million contract is incentive based and not guaranteed.

Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins have put veteran cornerback Dimitri Patterson on the hot seat via the draft. Miami drafted two cornerbacks -- Jamar Taylor and Will Davis -- in the second and third rounds, respectively. The rookies will make the 53-man roster, but Patterson’s spot is not guaranteed. The former Cleveland Browns cornerback joined the Dolphins as a late-season waiver claim. Patterson didn’t get to show much in his two games with Miami last season and must really impress the coaching staff this offseason. Otherwise, the Dolphins could release Patterson and save on his $4.6 million salary. Agreeing to take a pay cut also would be an option for Patterson.

New England Patriots: New Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount was added this offseason to a crowded backfield. He was acquired in a draft-day trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a seventh-round pick and track standout Jeff Demps. Blount joins tailbacks Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen and return specialist Leon Washington. Blount could add power and a short-yardage threat to New England's offense, which needs both those things. But Blount fell out of favor in Tampa and has had issues in the past. The Patriots took a chance to see whether Blount could turn around his career. But New England also is never afraid to cut players who do not fit.

There has been some turnover at running back in the AFC East this offseason. Here are the updated rankings on the top five tailbacks currently in the division.

1. C.J. Spiller, Buffalo Bills

2012 stats: 207 carries, 1,244 yards, six TDs

Analysis: Spiller is an electric runner who has become one of my favorite players to watch in the division. His acceleration from zero to top speed is arguably the best in the NFL. Spiller also has developed patience, which has taken his game to a new level. Former Bills coach Chan Gailey was reluctant to hand over the starting job to Spiller over Fred Jackson. But it was tough to keep Spiller on the bench after his performance last season.

2. Stevan Ridley, New England Patriots

2012 stats: 290 carries, 1,263 yards, 12 TDs

Analysis: Ridley made a solid jump in Year 2. He became a first-time starter for the Patriots and led the team in rushing. Ridley isn't spectacular at any one thing, but he does most things well. He has a good burst and knows how to finish runs for first downs and touchdowns. Ridley is a good fit for New England's up-tempo offense. He rarely gets eight defenders in the box and often takes advantage of the running lanes. Ridley must improve his ball security in Year 3 to become more of a complete tailback.

3. Fred Jackson, Bills

2012 stats: 115 carries, 437 yards, three TDs

Analysis: It wasn’t long ago when Jackson, 32, was at the top of his game. However, age and injuries have caught up to Jackson and forced him into a backup role in Buffalo behind Spiller, who is younger and more dynamic. Jackson has wear and tear but can still be effective for the Bills and new head coach Doug Marrone. Jackson runs well between the tackles and can also catch out of the backfield.

4. Lamar Miller, Miami Dolphins

2012 stats: 51 carries, 250 yards, one TD

Analysis: Miller is a wild card in the AFC East. He looked great during his 51 carries as a rookie, but Miller has a lot more responsibility this upcoming season as Miami's starter. The Dolphins feel Miller can step in and replace former starter Reggie Bush, who signed with the Detroit Lions in free agency. Miller fits in well with Miami’s quick-hitting West Coast offense. However, Miller needs to work on his pass-blocking now that he’s a full-time tailback.

5. Mike Goodson, New York Jets

2012 stats: 35 carries, 221 yards, zero TDs (in Oakland)

Analysis: Goodson rounds out the top-five running backs in the AFC East. The Jets are going away from their ground-and-pound philosophy and transitioning to a West Coast offense. Goodson has a lot more quickness than former Jets tailback Shonn Greene and could get his first opportunity to be a full-time starter. New York expects good things from Goodson this season.

Memo to tight end Aaron Hernandez: You are now the top receiving option for quarterback Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

Memo to receiver Danny Amendola: It's time to finally stay healthy for 16 games and put up Wes Welker-type numbers.

Memo to tailback Stevan Ridley: There's no time to let up because the Patriots need another 1,200-yard rushing season to be successful.

All this is the case because New England can no longer count on Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski.

There was more bad news Sunday from Gronkowski's infamous offseason. Our colleague Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com reports it's "very likely" Gronkowski needs a fourth surgery on his broken left arm and could possibly miss the start of the regular season. The expected timeline will be approximately 10 weeks after the surgery.

Whether on the field or off, Gronkowski is becoming more of a liability than an asset for the Patriots. There have been more headlines in the past year about his multiple injuries and off-the-field adventures than touchdowns. Just recently Gronkowski was criticized for partying too hard in Las Vegas and wrestling with friends, while dangerously landing on his left arm. He already had a third procedure and reportedly needs a fourth.

New England's best move is to proceed without Gronkowski for the time being. Gronkowski may very well come back 100 percent at some point this year. But considering his recent history, the Patriots can no longer assume that will be the case.

Perhaps the Patriots should draft another tight end for insurance or do everything they can to make sure former New York Giants tight end Jake Ballard (knee) will be 100 percent and ready to fill a major role. Anything Gronkowski, a $53 million player, is able to contribute for the Patriots this year should be considered a bonus.

The shame is Gronkowski was on pace for a Hall of Fame career. He has all the physical tools -- height, hands, athleticism -- to become one of the best tight ends of the past 20 years. However, Gronkowski's poor luck with health and, at times, poor judgment off the field might be too much to overcome.

The New England Patriots are having an unusually raucous offseason. They made national headlines with their public split with Pro Bowl receiver Wes Welker and added a risky move to cut starting receiver Brandon Lloyd without a replacement on the roster.

Now, the Patriots have another dilemma on their hands with running back Jeff Demps. The second-year tailback and former track star said in a radio interview in Florida that he will most likely skip the start of the NFL season for New England to focus on track this year.

Demps was asked how he plans to explain his focus not being entirely on football to Patriots coach Bill Belichick.

"Listen, Coach, I want to do both, but in order for me to get to where I want to be on the track and field side, it'll take a full year of preparation,” Demps said. “And after the [track] season, if you guys are willing to let me come back, you know, probably midseason, and work out and train and get ready for the season, I'll be able to do that. If not, then I guess I'll just focus on running."

Demps’ statements are telling for a variety of reasons. Not only is track Demps' priority, but football appears to be a distant choice compared to Demps' first love. This is not what New England wants to hear.

I'm split on this issue. Part of me thinks the Patriots should just cut ties with Demps. New England, perhaps more than any other team, is a factory where the focus is strictly on football. The Patriots despise distracted players for any reason, whether it’s on the field, off the field or thinking about another sport.

On the other hand, what's the harm in keeping Demps around? The Patriots are not counting on Demps at running back. They have enough good players at the position with 1,200-yard rusher Stevan Ridley and speedy backup Shane Vereen. New England also signed exciting kick returner with Leon Washington in free agency. The Patriots won't miss Demps if he's out for the first half of the season.

Demps' situation will be an interesting case study for the Patriots, who like to collect and stash talent. The team thinks it could have something in the speedy Demps, but his heart isn't 100 percent into football.

Should the Patriots wait for Demps to get track out his system? Or are the Patriots wasting their time? This is for New England to figure out.

When reports recently surfaced that St. Louis Rams tailback and former Pro Bowler Steven Jackson will void his contract and become a free agent, the New England Patriots were one of the first teams mentioned as a possible landing spot.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick likes to add talented veterans at their lowest value. Sometimes it works well (Randy Moss, Corey Dillon), while other times it doesn’t (Chad Johnson, Albert Haynesworth).

Jackson, 29, seems like a Patriots type of pickup. He has suffered through injuries and is on the downside of his career. But Jackson still has something left in the tank when healthy and can contribute for a contender.

But this is one value find the Patriots should avoid. New England has good depth at tailback with starter Stevan Ridley and backup Shane Vereen. Ridley rushed for a career-high 1,263 yards in his second season, and should only get better. Signing a former Pro Bowler like Jackson would stunt Ridley’s growth and reduce his career. The same goes for Vereen.

The Patriots will be big players in free agency, especially after quarterback Tom Brady offered the team cap relief this week. But the Patriots do not need a third running back. New England should better spend its money boosting weak positions like cornerback, safety and wide receiver.

Patriots running back Stevan Ridley wasn’t made available to reporters following the AFC Championship Game, as he had been knocked out of the game by a powerful hit to the helmet delivered by Ravens safety Bernard Pollard that resulted in a concussion.

Ridley has rebounded, as evidenced by his Thursday appearance on ESPN’s “NFL Live” with Steve Levy. Ridley, an LSU alum, was taking in the Super Bowl scene and touched on how it was special for New Orleans to once again be hosting the game.

Click here for Mike Reiss' story.

The AFC East blog continues its second annual "Walker’s Fab 40," where we rank the top players in the division.

Here are Nos. 25-28:

No. 28: Reggie Bush, RB, Miami Dolphins

2012 stats: 968 yards, six touchdowns

Analysis: Bush proved in Miami that he can be an every-down back. He rushed for more than 2,000 yards the past two seasons. Now, Miami has to decide whether to bring Bush back. At times, he was the Dolphins' only consistent playmaker on offense. Bush still tends to run east and west too often, which Miami's coaching staff doesn't like. But Bush also is capable of reeling off big plays. Bush had two runs of 40 yards or more and six runs of 20 yards or more. He's also dangerous in the passing game, although Miami didn't use Bush enough in that area.

No. 27: Stevan Ridley, RB, New England Patriots

2012 stats: 1,263 yards, 12 touchdowns

Analysis: Ridley had a breakout season for the Patriots in 2012. He set new career highs in his second season with 1,263 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Defenses focused heavily on quarterback Tom Brady and the passing game, and Ridley took advantage. Opponents could not put eight in the box against Ridley, and he showed explosiveness to consistently get to the second level. Ridley averaged 4.4 yards per attempt in his first full year as a starter. He still has a penchant for untimely fumbles. But overall Ridley has been a very good find for New England as a 2011 third-round pick.

No. 26: Nate Solder, LT, Patriots

2012 stats: 16 starts

Analysis: Solder stepped in for the retired Matt Light and performed well. The former 2011 first-round pick appears to be a long-term starter at left tackle for the Patriots. Solder has good feet and mobility. He had the huge assignment of protecting Brady’s blindside and stepped up to the challenge. Perhaps the best thing about Solder is he's only entering his third season has yet to reach his ceiling.

No. 25: D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, New York Jets

2012 stats: 16 starts

Analysis: Ferguson did not have a great season, but the same can be said for New York’s entire offensive line. Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez struggled mightily, in part, because he didn’t have good pass protection. Sanchez was sacked 34 times in 15 starts. Ferguson, 29, is not an elite left tackle. But he’s still good enough. The Jets have two pieces in place with Ferguson and center Nick Mangold. But the other three spots on the offensive line need an upgrade.

The day after the New England Patriots' 28-13 loss to the Baltimore Ravens felt like a funeral in the heart of Patriots country.

The employees at my Foxborough, Mass., hotel -- some who sported Patriots jerseys -- were sullen. The day seemed gloomy outside, and Logan International Airport didn't have the same buzz and energy it did when I arrived two days earlier.

This was expected to be the season the Patriots got over the hump and celebrated their first Super Bowl victory since the 2004 season. New England had the top-rated offense, an improved defense and a 35-year-old quarterback still playing at an MVP level. In addition, the Patriots caught breaks the past few weeks that gave the team home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

But the tough and talented Ravens had other plans.

New England's upset loss to Baltimore in the AFC Championship Game will sting Patriots fans for a while. But New Englanders shouldn't fret. The Patriots are primed and ready to make another title push in 2013.

Here are five reasons the Patriots' championship window remains open:

Reason No. 1: Tom Brady

Analysis: Yes, Brady will be 36 at the start of next season. But Brady has shown no signs of slowing down and should be an elite quarterback for at least the next two or three seasons. Brady threw for 4,827 yards, 34 touchdowns and just eight interceptions in 2012, receiving strong MVP consideration once again. But Brady's recent playoff struggles are well-documented. After a 10-0 start in the postseason, Brady is just 7-7 in his past 14 playoff starts. However, Brady has done enough to get the Patriots in position for another title. The Patriots have been within a drive of winning two Super Bowls and gone 2-2 in AFC Championship Games since 2005. As long as New England continues to knock on the championship door, the team has a chance to break through. With a healthy Brady in 2013, there’s no reason the Patriots shouldn't be one of the favorites again in the AFC.

Reason No. 2: Bill Belichick

Analysis: There are a lot of people who do not like Belichick's demeanor. He’s not the most likeable head coach in the NFL or the best sportsman, according to Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe. But Belichick is the league's best head coach. Three championships and five Super Bowl appearances highlight a résumé no other current coach can match. As long as Belichick is roaming the sidelines, the Patriots usually have the coaching advantage on game days. Belichick has delivered double-digit wins in New England every season since 2003. That is a mark of tremendous consistency. New England has the winningest coach and quarterback combination in NFL history with Belichick and Brady. No other club has this level of elite coaching and quarterbacking.

Reason No. 3: Weak AFC East

Analysis: For the Patriots to fall from the top of the AFC East, another team has to rise up in the division. Based on the '12 season, there is still a significant gap between the Patriots and everyone else. The New York Jets are a mess that will take at least a year or two to clean up. The Buffalo Bills are starting over and rebuilding under a rookie head coach in Doug Marrone and probably a new quarterback. The Bills will have to suffer through a learning curve next season. The Miami Dolphins have the best chance to immediately challenge New England in 2013. Miami has a good, young quarterback in Ryan Tannehill and plenty of cap room and draft picks to build a strong roster. But the Dolphins have to make all the right moves in order to become an immediate contender. New England's gateway to success and the playoffs has been winning the AFC East. The Patriots will enter next season as the hands-down favorite once again to win the division.

Reason No. 4: Young talent

Analysis: The Patriots often get the reputation of a veteran team because of leaders like Brady on offense and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vince Wilfork on defense. However, New England won 13 games this season, including playoffs, with a host of young players. The Patriots had 16 players who were 26 or under starting full or part time. Starting running back Stevan Ridley and tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez are just 23 years old. Starting left tackle Nate Solder is 24. Rookies such as linebacker Dont'a Hightower, defensive end Chandler Jones and cornerback Alfonzo Dennard also round out a strong and productive rookie class. If most or all of these young players continue to improve and develop into their roles, New England will be even more dangerous next season.

Reason No. 5: Improving defense

Analysis: New England's defense made good strides in 2012, particularly in the second half of the season. The Patriots were 25th in total defense -- up six spots from a year ago -- and ninth in both scoring and run defense. New England learned in the AFC title game loss to the Ravens that it still needs significant improvement in the secondary. The cornerback position is very thin, and the team fell apart when Aqib Talib left the game with a thigh injury. Talib will be an unrestricted free agent, and that is an area New England must address in the offseason. New England's aforementioned draft that included Hightower, Jones and Dennard played a large part in the Patriots' defensive improvements.

The Patriots have done a masterful job the past dozen years of reloading and not rebuilding. Having an elite quarterback such as Brady in the fold certainly makes a huge difference.

But New England's window will not be open forever. The time is now for the Patriots to make another title run before Brady and Belichick call it quits. Once this power pair walks away from New England in a few years, the Patriots will have ups and downs like every other NFL franchise.

The key third-quarter drop by Pro Bowl receiver Wes Welker certainly wasn’t the only reason the New England Patriots lost in the AFC Championship Game to the Baltimore Ravens. There was plenty of blame to go around.

Here are several key plays and players that crushed New England’s hopes to advance to Super Bowl XLVII:

• The pass coverage was horrendous once Aqib Talib went out with a thigh injury in the first quarter. Backup cornerback Kyle Arrington and rookie seventh-round pick Alfonzo Dennard struggled against Baltimore’s tandem of Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith. Boldin had two touchdown receptions and made several big catches in traffic in which he won the one-on-one battles. New England’s linebackers also failed to cover over the middle. Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes, in particular, had trouble keeping up with Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta, who had five receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown.
• Patriots quarterback Tom Brady played one of his worst games of the season. Brady, who has struggled against Baltimore in his career, was 29-of-54 for 320 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The Ravens did a masterful job against Brady by not allowing many big plays. His longest completion was for 36 yards, but that was in garbage time in the fourth quarter. Baltimore also didn’t get any sacks but hit Brady seven times, which was enough to rattle him. One interception was off a deflection, and another was in the end zone to Ravens cornerback Cary Williams.
• Speaking of Brady, his rare poor clock management at the end of the first half was inexcusable. New England was leading by a field goal and had a chance to go up by 10 points with a touchdown at the end of the second quarter. Brady connected with Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez for 17 yards to get to Baltimore’s 10-yard line with 26 seconds left. Brady only got one play off in 26 seconds, which was a quarterback sneak, before using New England’s final timeout. The Patriots settled for a field goal to go up 13-7 at halftime. But a touchdown to go up 17-7 at the half could have dramatically changed the momentum of the game for New England.
• Patriots starting tailback Stevan Ridley’s fumbling issues came up again in a big spot. Ridley was knocked out of the game with a concussion during a fourth-quarter fumble that sealed any hopes of the Patriots coming back in the game. Ravens safety Bernard Pollard delivered a crushing blow to Ridley, who walked off the field under his own power.

Baltimore outplayed New England in just about every facet of this game. This is further proof that you always have to be at your best in the playoffs.

Last year in the AFC Championship Game, New England Patriots running backs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen were two rookies in street clothes -- and neither player was happy about it.

Ridley showed flashes in his first year with the Patriots by rushing for 441 yards and averaging 5.1 yards per carry. But fumbles in consecutive games landed him on the inactive list for the rest of the playoffs. Vereen had an injury-plagued rookie campaign, played in just five games and was never able to get on track.

But perseverance and dedication have changed the fortunes of New England’s second-year running backs. This season, Ridley played in all 16 games and led the Patriots with 1,263 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. He carried the load for New England in the regular season. Vereen mostly stayed healthy in his sophomore campaign, playing in 13 games and adding 251 rushing yards off the bench.

But most importantly, the tailbacks have been double trouble in the playoffs. Ridley and Vereen combined for 219 total yards and four touchdowns in New England's 41-28 victory over the Houston Texans in the divisional round. The pair beat Houston on the ground and through the air, which was essential after the Patriots lost Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski (arm) for the playoffs.

After sitting on the bench last year against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC title game, both Patriots tailbacks will have significant roles in Sunday's postseason rematch.

“Last year, it was kind of devastating and heartbreaking to not be out there with the team in a big game,” Vereen said this week. “This year, I am able to contribute and I hope to help the team in the best way that I can.”

Trust is huge in New England. Ridley learned that lesson the hard way.

Talent was never an issue for the 2011 third-round pick. Ridley impressed coaches with his running style as a rookie and started to consistently earn double-digit carries in December.

But with more opportunities, Ridley had a couple of untimely fumbles. He put the ball on the ground in New England’s regular-season finale, which was recovered, then lost a fumble against the Denver Broncos in the first playoff game.

At that point, Patriots coach Bill Belichick had seen enough. Belichick clipped the already short leash with Ridley and made the rookie inactive in the AFC Championship Game and in Super Bowl XLVI against the New York Giants. Ridley understood the decision.

“This is an organization that is built on a lot of tradition, and they have been doing things the right way for a long time,” Ridley said. “If you don’t want to play football the [right] way, you’re not going to be here.”

Last season’s rookie disappointment motivated Ridley and Vereen to become better second-year players. The jump both players have made in Year 2 showed this past week against Houston.

New England started more experienced and sure-handed Danny Woodhead, who injured his thumb against the Texans on the first carry. Ridley and Vereen took over from there.

Ridley rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown. Vereen rushed for 41 yards, had five receptions for 83 yards and scored three touchdowns. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady called Vereen’s impressive, 33-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter to put the game out of reach a coming-of-age moment.

“On the last one, Tom threw a perfect, perfect pass and I was only able to bring it in because of where the ball was at,” Vereen explained. “It was a matchup that we were hoping to get, and we were able to execute the play. Everything lined up right, and Tom threw a perfect pass.”

Can Ridley and Vereen shine again? Last week was the first time both young tailbacks performed well in a pressure-packed playoff atmosphere.

The Patriots are heavy favorites for the second straight week. But New England knows better than to overlook Baltimore. The Ravens were underdogs this past week when they knocked off the top-seeded Broncos in Denver. The past three meetings between Baltimore and New England have been decided by three or fewer points. So expect another close game.

The running games could be huge for both teams, especially in the second half. Ridley and Vereen were sideline spectators last year in the AFC title game. But this pair must produce for the Patriots for a second game in a row to secure a spot in Super Bowl XLVII.

“They’re a great football team. I don’t care what the numbers say,” Ridley said of Baltimore. “History shows what they do in the playoffs: They go on the road and they win. They have great leadership. They have one of the best players to ever play the game. We have ultimate respect for the Ravens.”

The New England Patriots' top-ranked offense will be fine without Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski, who reinjured his arm Sunday against the Houston Texans and is out for the playoffs. New England got plenty of practice and was 4-1 when Gronkowski broke his arm the first time in the regular season. The Patriots also scored 41 points against Houston in the playoffs without Gronkowski for three quarters.

However, inside the red zone is where Gronkowski definitely will be missed.

Gronkowski is almost unstoppable in the red zone. His size, long wingspan and strong hands made him an ideal target for Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to spot in the end zone. Gronkowski caught 38 touchdowns in three seasons, and a majority of his scores were inside the 20-yard line. He caught 11 touchdowns in 11 regular-season games in 2012 despite being in and out of the lineup.

The Patriots will be fine between the 20s. Aaron Hernandez can stretch the field at tight end. Wes Welker can get open over the middle and move the chains. And other Patriots like receiver Brandon Lloyd, Deion Branch and tailbacks Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley will pick up the slack.

But the Patriots cannot afford to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns this deep in the playoffs. Outside of Gronkowski, no other Patriot caught more than six touchdown passes this season.

Five things to know about the New England Patriots' matchup with the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium:

1.Familiar foe: The Patriots and Ravens are almost like division rivals in recent years. These two teams always seem to meet in the regular season or playoffs with a lot on the line. This will be the second meeting this season. Baltimore beat New England, 31-30, in Week 3 in a game with several controversial calls from replacement officials. The Patriots feel they owe the Ravens from that game in this rematch.

2. No Gronkowski: The Patriots must adjust again to life without Rob Gronkowski. The Pro Bowl tight end broke his arm a second time and will be out for the rest of the postseason. New England played five games without Gronkowski and went 4-1 in those games. The Patriots also scored 41 points in the divisional round against the Texans with Gronkowski sidelined for more than three quarters. New England has plenty of offensive weapons, but Gronkowski will be missed most in the red zone.

3. Youngs RBs: The Patriots have two emerging running backs coming of age in the postseason. Second-year players Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen combined for four touchdowns in Sunday's victory over the Texans. Ridley led the Patriots with 82 yards rushing, and Vereen showed his versatility with 41 rushing yards and 83 receiving yards. Neither player contributed to last year's playoff run. With Gronkowski out, there will be more opportunities for others to step up.

4. Chasing history: Patriots quarterback Tom Brady set an NFL record with his 17th career postseason victories Sunday. He surpassed his childhood idol Joe Montana. However, Brady is chasing Montana in the most important record for quarterbacks: Super Bowl titles. Brady needs one more Super Bowl title to tie Montana and Terry Bradshaw with four. A win over Baltimore would give Brady his sixth Super Bowl appearance.

5. Cooling off Flacco: New England's defense will face a hot quarterback in Joe Flacco of the Ravens. He outdueled Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in the divisional round and will be looking to topple Brady next week. Flacco has played well against New England in the past two meetings. He nearly upset the Patriots in the AFC title game last year, but had a key pass dropped in the end zone by former Ravens receiver Lee Evans. Flacco also beat the Patriots in their regular-season meeting in Baltimore. Flacco is 0-2 in AFC Championship Games.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- A few thoughts on the New England Patriots' 41-28 divisional playoff victory over the Houston Texans.

What it means: The Patriots advanced to the AFC Championship Game to face the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium for the second year in a row. New England moves one step closer to its sixth Super Bowl appearance under quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick. Brady threw for 344 yards and three touchdowns. Brady also set a new NFL record with 17 career playoff victories.

Young RBs growing up: New England's young running backs came of age in this playoff game. Second-year players Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley scored New England’s first three touchdowns -- and four touchdowns total -- in the win. Vereen showed his versatility with 41 rushing yards, 83 receiving yards and three total touchdowns. Ridley added 82 rushing yards and one touchdown. Neither player was a factor in New England's playoff run last year. But both made significant contributions in New England’s opening playoff game this year.

Gronkowski may be out for season: The biggest injury concern coming out of this game is the health of Patriots Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski. He re-injured his previously broken left arm in the first quarter and didn't return. He was in major pain before going to the locker room. Early reports indicate that Gronkowski could be out for the season. (Update: Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Gronkowski is out for the rest of the playoffs.) This is the second straight year Gronkowski is significantly injured for the playoffs.

Welker hard to guard: With Gronkowski out, Wes Welker became the focal part of the passing offense. Welker recorded eight receptions for 131 yards against Houston. He had six catches for 120 yards in the first half. Welker made several key catches to keep the chains moving.

Other injuries: The Patriots had several other key injuries to monitor next week. In addition to Gronkowski, New England starting defensive end Chandler Jones re-injured his ankle in the third quarter and didn’t return. The Patriots’ other defensive end, Rob Ninkovich, also was injured in the fourth quarter, and New England running back Danny Woodhead injured his thumb in the first quarter and didn’t return. New England needs its key players healthy for next week.

What’s next: The Patriots will host Baltimore in the AFC title game for the second straight year at Gillette Stadium. Both teams have had a good rivalry in recent years. Baltimore beat New England in Week 3 of the regular season and will be emotionally charged during linebacker Ray Lewis’ final playoff run. The Patriots will try to avoid being swept by the Ravens in two games this season.

» NFC Final Word: Packers-49ers | Seahawks-Falcons » AFC: Ravens-Broncos | Texans-Pats

Five nuggets of knowledge about Sunday's Houston Texans-New England Patriots divisional-round playoff game at Gillette Stadium:

Guarding against overconfidence: The New England Patriots are heavily favored against the Texans. New England trounced Houston 42-14 last month. But that means all the pressure is on New England to win again at home. This game could have shades of the Patriots' 2010 playoffs if New England isn't careful. That year New England drilled the rival New York Jets in the regular season 45-3, only to get overconfident and lose to the Jets in the playoffs. In fact, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, teams that lost in the regular season by 28 points or more are 11-11 in rematches in the postseason.

Gronkowski's impact: Despite the Patriots' blowout win over Houston, it is notable to mention that New England Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski did not play in the first matchup. Gronkowski missed five games with a broken forearm. He returned in the final regular-season game against the Miami Dolphins to shake off the rust and recorded two catches for 42 yards and a touchdown. He has had two weeks to get back in rhythm and continue to get closer to 100 percent. Gronkowski is New England's top red-zone threat and has 11 touchdowns in 11 games. "It will be big for us," Patriots receiver Deion Branch told reporters this week. "I'm pretty sure the coaches are going to continue to install Gronk through the game plan to make sure he gets his touches and he's around the ball."

Can Brady pass Montana? New England quarterback Tom Brady has a chance at another record that he would be proud of. With a win over Houston, Brady would pass his childhood hero -- Joe Montana -- for the most postseason wins in NFL history. Brady is 16-6 during the playoffs in his career, although he went 10-0 to start his postseason career.

Talib vs. Johnson: One of the key matchups in this game will be the cornerback-receiver matchup of Aqib Talib of the Patriots versus Andre Johnson of the Texans. They will see a lot of each other Sunday. Talib was acquired in a midseason trade from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quickly became New England's best cover corner. It has allowed the Patriots to played more man-to-man defense. Johnson had another monster, Pro Bowl year. He caught 112 catches for 1,598 yards this season, with eight catches for 95 yards in the first meeting.

Tailback concerns: The Patriots will enter this game with concerns at tailback. New England second-year players Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen have minimal combined playoff experience. They will have to earn the trust of New England’s coaching staff. Ridley and Vereen have had some untimely fumbles late in the season. Both lost fumbles in New England’s most recent loss, to the San Francisco 49ers. Ball security will be crucial in the playoffs. As a result, the Patriots may increase the workload for sure-handed veteran tailback Danny Woodhead.

The Patriots seemingly snickered after they blew out Houston on "Monday Night Football" back on Dec. 10.

The Texans arrived in New England wearing letterman jackets that they thought showed team unity, but instead came off as high schoolish, particularly after they were easily dispatched in what Andre Johnson called the biggest game in franchise history.

For the Patriots it was the next game on the schedule.

Before the Texans got on the bus, middle linebacker Bradie James said the Patriots had delivered a lesson in championship football. The Texans headed back to Houston, humbled and officially in a slump. They lost two of their next three, fumbling away the AFC’s No. 1 seed and a first-round bye.

A win over Cincinnati in the wild-card round earned the Texans a trip back to Gillette Stadium.

Can the Texans put up a better fight as major underdogs Sunday? James Walker of the AFC East blog joins me to discuss the game.

Paul Kuharsky: Tom Brady shredded the Texans in that regular-season game, James. He threw four touchdown passes in no time, recognizing Houston couldn’t keep up with his targets, particularly Aaron Hernandez. Now, Brady has Rob Gronkowski back.

Do you see any way the Texans can get Brady off his game at home in the playoffs?

James Walker: The key to stopping Brady is not a secret: You must beat him up. Brady doesn’t like getting hit in the face, especially at age 35. The problem is that is much easier said than done. New England is extremely good at self-scouting and schemes very well to keep Brady upright. Houston got only one sack against Brady in the first meeting, so it was no surprise that he threw four touchdowns. I expect New England to once again keep some running backs and tight ends in protection to keep Houston’s pass rush off Brady. The Texans will need to throw caution to the wind and blitz more defenders than New England has blockers, and that’s where the chess match begins. Brady is tremendous at reading the blitz and rarely gets fooled with coverages. That's why he's so difficult to beat. Speaking of quarterbacks, what do you expect from Houston counterpart Matt Schaub in his first divisional-round playoff game?

PK: Schaub finally had his first playoff experience last week and he’s now 1-0 in the postseason. But facing Cincinnati at home and New England on the road are two different things. He did fine against the Bengals, but I felt like coach Gary Kubiak was especially careful not to require many throws that were even moderately risky -- especially after Schaub threw that bad pick-six. Schaub has a bit of an unfair reputation for not being good in big games, mostly because he hasn't been in many big games. To spring an upset here, he’ll have to supplement the run game with some big plays and, obviously, avoid killer mistakes. To have a chance, the Texans need to really ride Arian Foster. He has gone over 100 yards in all three of his playoff games. He had 19 touches in that regular-season blowout. To maximize their chances, I’d say he’s got to have close to 30 this time.

JW: Paul, I agree: Foster is the biggest key for the Texans in this game. He enters with some momentum after rushing for 140 yards and a touchdown last week against the Bengals. Getting Foster 30 or more productive carries would not only wear on New England’s defense, it would keep the Patriots’ high-scoring, up-tempo offense off the field. New England has thrived this year by getting off more plays and offensive possessions than its opponents. Houston's best chance is to slow down the game and make it ugly. Teams that beat the Patriots this year, such as San Francisco and Baltimore, ran the football well and limited New England’s possessions.

PK: What’s the status of the Patriots' run game? Stevan Ridley ran fine in the regular-season game, gaining 72 yards on 19 carries. He earned a little doghouse time late in the season because of some fumbling issues. Has he regained the trust of Bill Belichick and the staff? And how much does it matter? It’s not as though New England needs to run or is afraid to play a game without handing it off a lot and we know that they will keep throwing it even in a blowout situation. So does it even matter if they can run it?

JW: Trust is big in New England, and Ridley has yet to earn it in the playoffs. Last year Ridley fumbled in the divisional round and didn’t play for the remainder of the postseason. The Patriots do not have the luxury to bench him again this year, which makes Ridley a key player to watch. New England’s offense usually passes to set up the run, but the ground game is more important than most people think. The Patriots rarely blow leads because they can run successfully when they need to. That time usually comes in the second half once they’re ahead.

I don’t expect Ridley to be a huge part of the game plan. His carries probably will be in the teens. But he needs to make the most of each carry and take care of the football. If Ridley doesn’t step up, look for the Patriots to go to a more dependable and sure-handed option such as Danny Woodhead. The Texans' defense allowed 42 points and 419 yards in the first meeting. What adjustments will Houston’s defense need to make to be more successful in the rematch?

PK: The coverage has to be way tighter. Johnathan Joseph played in the first meeting but had not been practicing and had missed time with groin and hamstring injuries. Brandon Harris was starting for the first time as the nickel after Brice McCain’s foot injury. The Texans set out to slow Wes Welker and they did, then got killed by everyone else. They know they aren’t going to get more than a sack or two on Brady because of how he gets rid of the ball and how skilled he is at changing protections. I expect they’ll mix it up on Hernandez and Gronkowski but they won’t be afraid to treat them as receivers.

The secondary had a bad night in Foxborough and a bad final quarter of the season. Joseph and Kareem Jackson and safeties Glover Quin and Danieal Manning are all better cover guys than they showed that night, when they were even getting beaten by Donte' Stallworth, who had been back in the league for barely five minutes. They simply have to be better if the Texans are going to be in this game.

JW: I was with you in Houston last weekend, and I noticed the secondary played much better than the last time I saw the Texans in Foxborough. Joseph looked more like himself and did a good job, for the most part, on Bengals Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Green. On the other hand, I think an intriguing matchup will be Patriots corner Aqib Talib against Houston’s Johnson, who had another monster season. Big games and matchups like this are why the Patriots acquired Talib in a midseason trade. He instantly became New England’s best cover corner. The Patriots usually play a lot of zone, but they’ve been able to mix zone and man coverages a lot better in the second half of the season with Talib in the lineup. Houston will have a few opportunities to take shots down the field with Johnson against Talib one-on-one, and I think whoever wins those battles will have an impact on this game.

PK: It’ll be hard for the Texans to pull a surprise if there aren’t a couple of big Schaub-to-Johnson connections.

Houston will arrive in New England with an "us-against-the-world" mentality, because the Texans are heavy underdogs. The Patriots aren’t invincible. But if they start fast, they may look that way to the Texans yet again.