FOXBORO -- After Brandon Spikes forced a fumble with just over a minute left, Danny Woodhead was sprung free for an apparent game-winning touchdown in the Patriots 20-18 loss to the Cardinals. The run was called back, however, due to a holding call on Rob Gronkowski.
"I felt like it was a clean block," Gronkowski said. "My hands were inside [his shoulder pads], but I have to look at the film. You guys saw it too, you probably saw the replay, so you can tell me if my hands were outside or not."
Following the penalty, Tom Brady hit Wes Welker on a bubble screen to set Stephen Gostkowski up for a 42-yard field goal that would have won the game, but the kicker missed wide left, and the Patriots sufferred their first loss in a home-opener since Gillette Stadium opened in 2002.
Gronkowski was adamant the defeat was a team loss and not on the shoulders of Gostkowski.
"Stephen does a great job," Gronkowski said. "He kicked four great field goals to keep us in the game. The loss is definitely not on him. The loss could be on me. I got that penalty at the end holding the guy. It’s definitely not on Stephen. He’s a great kicker and great player.
"We were playing awful," he continued. "I was playing awful. I have to go out there play better, play faster, and play stronger and not just in the fourth quarter. Just staying in the game is not good enough. You have to go out there the whole game playing hard."
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