Tom Brady might have to rely heavily on Rob Gronkowski Sunday.
The Patriots will likely be without several of their top offensive weapons against the visiting Bills at Gillette Stadium.
The Patriots (11-3) already ruled out running back Rex Burkhead (knee) for Sunday's AFC East tilt, but might not have Chris Hogan or James White. Hogan (shoulder) and White (ankle) are both questionable for the game and are not expected to play, according to ESPN. Starting offensive tackle Nate Solder is also questionable with an illness.
White has just 171 rushing yards this season, but is third on the team with 56 receptions for 429 yards and three touchdowns. Hogan has 34 catches for 439 yards and five scores. Burkhead has 264 rushing yards and a team-high five rushing touchdowns. He's also caught 30 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns.
Gronkowski has been on a torrid pace over his last two games with 315 receiving yards, which are the most yards in any two-game span by a tight since 1970. He caught nine passes for 147 yards against the Bills in Week 13, but was then suspended a week because of a late hit on Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White in that game. Gronkowski said this week he and Brady have a special connection.
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"We can look at each other and know what we're thinking," said Gronkowski, who has 64 catches for 1,017 yards and seven touchdowns this season. "It definitely just doesn't happen. I mean we've been playing for eight years but it just doesn't happen because we've been playing for eight years. It's happened because every time we go out on the practice field and we try to read each other. We try to feel out each other to know what kind of page we're on and that's what brings it to this level so far."
The Bills (8-6) could also be without receiver Kelvin Benjamin, who is questionable with a knee injury, as they try to keep their playoff hopes alive.