Tom Brady And Rob Gronkowski Become NFL's Top Postseason Duo
BOSTON (CBS) -- Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski did not connect for a touchdown in Tampa Bay's first three games of the postseason. It turns out they were just saving their best for the last game of the season.
It was the Brady-Gronk show in the first half of Super Bowl LV, and with the pair connecting for two first-half touchdowns against the Kansas City Chiefs, the duo is now the most prolific quarterback-receiver combo in NFL postseason history.
The Brady-Gronk combo entered the game with 12 postseason touchdowns, tied with the Joe Montana-Jerry Rice connection for the most touchdowns by a quarterback-receiver duo in NFL playoff history. Brady and Gronk broke that tie with an eight-yard score that gave Tampa Bay a 7-3 lead with 37 seconds left in the first quarter.
Several current Patriots seemed to enjoy their former teammates connecting for a touchdown in Super Bowl LV, and took to Twitter to celebrate.
That first quarter touchdown was not just Brady's first Super Bowl touchdown with the Bucs, but also his first first-quarter touchdown of his Super Bowl career. Heading into Sunday's game, Brady had only led his team to a total of three first quarter points in his nine trips to the Super Bowl.
Brady and Gronk connected again in the second quarter, a 17-yard hookup in the middle of the end zone. Gronk was able to shake his defender and get wide open for the touchdown catch.
That score added to Brady and Gronkowski's lead atop the NFL record books. Of course, a dozen of their 14 postseason touchdowns came when the two were wearing a Patriots uniform.
That second touchdown of Sunday's game was the fifth time Brady has hit Gronkowski for a score in Super Bowl action, which is also an NFL record. That touchdown also led to some more cheering from Patriots players.
Brady completed 21 of his 29 passes for 201 yards and had three touchdowns on Sunday night, earning him his fifth Super Bowl MVP award. Gronkowski had six receptions off seven targets for 67 yards and the two touchdowns.
